Trophy Kitchens Sell Houses
Once a small, functional space tucked away at the back of the house, the kitchen has emerged as the showpiece of the home. Luxury appliances, beautiful cabinetry and gleaming stone countertops are status symbols—and catnip for homebuyers.
Pound for pound, your kitchen is the most valuable space in your home. Nothing attracts a buyer (or turns one off) faster than this room. Nowhere else is it more evident than listing descriptions, which contribute more words to describing the kitchen than any other room.
Buyers are savvy these days. They can look past a small bedroom or laundry room located in the garage, but many will not overlook an outdated kitchen—mainly because everybody knows renovating one is big bucks.
So whether or not you’re considering selling, if you’ve been thinking about giving your kitchen an overhaul, consider these few tips to drive up your property’s value.
A trophy kitchen will sell your home faster
A good kitchen will sell your home faster than similar homes in the same market. A great kitchen is often the difference between an average offer and one that’s above asking.
Of all the homes listed for sale on realtor.com, 69% tout the kitchen as their main selling point, while 49% mention bedrooms, and 21% mention the living room. Makes sense, because in a 2022 survey, 55% of consumers said a good kitchen could even make them buy a house they would not otherwise buy.
A small home doesn’t necessarily mean a small kitchen
Kitchens are no longer proportionate to the size of your home. Open floor plans show no sign of letting up, so a bigger kitchen can still be the showpiece of smaller home. Affordability and efficiency in design are still keys, but you’re no longer limited to the overall scale of your home when considering a kitchen remodel.
Kitchen features that add big value
When remodeling your kitchen, consider the features that add the most value:
Custom cabinetry
Large island
Specialty lighting
Stone countertops
Luxury pantry
Most buyers, by a large measure, consider the kitchen the most important room in a house, so investing in yours before you sell your home makes sense. Enjoy it while you live there, and then enjoy the ROI when you sell.
