This question recently turned up in a
search and it is a good question. When we decide to update our
kitchens it is really important to prioritize our updates according
to our budget and our needs. If you are thinking of selling your home
in the near future that is also a major factor to weigh in on your
decision. The biggest expenses are listed below.
Appliances- I'd have to say this is
probably where a majority of money would be spent in any thorough
renovation. Many homes for sale fail to update appliance and when a
buyer sees old appliances they know the price of the home has gone up
several thousand dollars. No buyer wants to replace old appliances.
Would you? If you are considering updating and renovating your home
and your appliances are more than 10 years old, you can not go wrong
replacing your appliances. Newer appliance not only sell your home
faster, but if you're not selling the newer ones are far more
efficient and will save your money on your utility bill. The
refrigerator is the big energy elephant in the room and as such you
may want to opt for a slightly smaller one, with the freezer on the
bottom. Studies indicate these are the most energy efficient of all
designs.
Cabinetry- This renovation may be
almost as expensive as replacing all appliances depending on how
expensive your tastes are and if you are planning on doing a complete
tear out and replacement. However, unlike appliances that pretty much
have to be replaced, cabinetry is one way you can save money by
simply refacing, refinishing or painting. If you are trying to sell,
evaluate the overall condition of your cabinetry first and foremost.
If they are older solid wood, you may want to refinish, repaint
and/or replace hardware and leave it at that and use your money in
other areas that are more important like appliances.
Counter Tops- Again, depending on
material used, this can be right up there with appliance replacement.
If your counter tops are laminate, you may want to opt to replace
with an updated granite look laminate. Brands like Wilsonart laminate
create some beautiful glossy texturized laminate that have the look
of granite at a fraction of the cost for materials and installation.
Considering the housing market, this may be the most cost effective
improvement with counter tops you can do. Any update is an upgrade to
old, dated, worn out counters. There are also products that will
allow you to paint and refinish your own counters. The most expensive
counter top materials are always going to be your natural solid
surfaces like granite, marble, quartz, etc. They will however last a
lifetime with proper care.
Flooring- At the risk of sounding like
a broken record, again we have to consider the materials used. If you
opt for hardwoods and tiles expect to pay much more. Less expensive
alternatives may be peel and stick tile that are made to look like
stone with bevel edges and texture to mimic solid stone. These tiles
are attractive come in a wide variety of colors and you can save
money by installing them yourself. The main question is what can you
afford and what condition your floors are in. If your floors are
damaged, faded, stained or dated, even a fresh new linoleum floor is
still an improvement over leaving them as is.
With all renovations it is truly about
your budget, and your needs. If you have but one chance to make an
impact, your best bet is to replace the big ticket items and then
adjust your budget from there, especially if you are going to live in
this home for a long time or planning on selling. You may not get a
second chance to do it. Good luck and enjoy! Remember regret is the
dearest price we pay in the long run.
For more on Interior decorating, see:
Dawn's
Interior Decorating Solutions.
