A kitchen is the focal point of the house

Maximising Your Home's Value 10 Tips On Presenting Your Kitchen

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Date Published:
23/05/2008

Good kitchens help sell property, but there are certain ways to present yours in the best possible light. Here we look at our top ten tips to do just that...

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1 Good kitchens help sell property, but they have to be attractive as well as functional. A kitchen is also the most expensive and inconvenient room to refurbish, so its condition will influence the value of your property.

2 Use your eyes: does your kitchen look dated? Check out what's new in kitchen design to pick up some ideas. Handles on unit doors, for instance, are easy to change and an inexpensive way to give kitchen units a lift. Choose handles that are similar in size and shape to your existing ones so that fitting them does not leave holes or marks. Replace damaged or missing cupboard doors.

3 Remove all evidence of pets. Put bowls, beds, bones etc out of sight. Never have caged rodents, birds or other fauna in the kitchen when showing your home.

4 Kitchens should smell fresh and clean, so use your sense of smell. Even with extractor fans, kitchens can harbour odours, especially from fish, curries and other strong-smelling foods. Opt to go out or keep your cooking bland if you have visitors the next day.

A kitchen should always smell clean and fresh.

Credit: Magnet

5 Baking bread and brewing fresh coffee does not enhance the saleability of property. The aroma of baking makes us feel hungry (which is why supermarkets use it to encourage us to buy food). It does not make us desire a new home. If you've made coffee you should really offer a cup to your visitors, but do you really want them hanging around for a chat? Not on a first visit certainly, so leave the coffee till they return for a second view.

6 Use your ears: do not run appliances in the kitchen when showing your property. You want to create an impression of calm, efficiency and style, not humdrum housework.

7 Does your tap drip? If so, have it fixed (or think about replacing it if the style is dated or limescale-encrusted).

8 Use your sense of touch: is your kitchen really clean? Run your fingers over the work surfaces and units to feel for stickiness or grease. Units must be spotless, inside and out.

9 Keep surfaces as clear as possible. Put anything away you do not use on a daily basis. This will also make your kitchen easier to keep clean.

10 If your kitchen is large enough to accommodate a table and seating, make sure there's one there even if you have a separate dining room; an extra eating area in the kitchen suggests value for money.

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  1. Great article! If you were really sneaky you could get a bunch of stuff from the likes of John Lewis for example then return them when you’re done. There are also companies out there that will hire plants and of course you could always ask friends or family to borrow some nice feature pieces. Often some new doors, or repainting the existing doors plus new handles can transform the kitchen. This can usually be done for a fraction of the price of an entire refit. I hope that helps. Jo
    Posted by Jo Miller on 26/09/2008 16:41:57
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  2. Hi Chido There are lots of companies that do this - you need to ask a search engine for your local one - or check out the Yellow Pages
    Posted by Lucy 4Homes Ed on 02/09/2008 21:51:38
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  3. I remeber on one of your programes there was a picece on a company who hire out funture and fittings for those hoping to sale the home. what was this company called please
    Posted by chido on 26/08/2008 23:25:04
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