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Reproduced with permission.
It has become a well-established fact that renovating your home, or parts of your home, is a great way to add value. This monthly series of articles will provide tips to prospective renovators to help them make the best decisions and maximise the value they can add to their home.
THE KITCHEN
The kitchen is somewhere you’re likely to spend a lot of time and prospective buyers or tenants always note the condition of the kitchen when inspecting a property so it’s a good place to start.
When designing your kitchen, aim to implement a work triangle. This means the stove, sink and fridge are in a triangular formation, one step from each other so as to make the most efficient use of kitchen space.
So far as colours are concerned, use neutral colours like whites and off whites. This is the case for both paint and tiles.
The kitchen floor should be the same floor covering that you have in other ‘heavy traffic’ areas of your home, such as timber or tiles. They’re easy to clean and will ensure your new kitchen still blends in with the overall theme of your house.
Making the most of the space you have is very important. Use wall space by installing overhead cupboards and install deep set drawers as well as cupboards as they can store more than cupboards. Make good use of a corner space by creating a walk in/step in pantry.
An appliance cupboard with a slide or rolling door is beneficial in creating more storage and minimising bench top clutter.
If you’re renovating an expensive home, you are better off using high end materials such as granite or Caesarstone for bench-tops, as opposed to a cheaper property where you could use less expensive finishes. The same rule applies to appliances such as stoves, fridges and cooktops. If your end market is willing to pay more for it, install European stainless steel appliances.
A dishwasher and a range hood are essential appliances to any new kitchen. Upright stoves are no longer in and as such, when installing your appliances make sure you have an under bench oven (preferably fan forced electric) and a gas cooktop. Whilst built in fridges and microwaves may look nice, it’s important to keep in mind that they can become an issue if they need to be replaced.
A double bowl kitchen sink is preferable; however, if this isn’t possible, a 1.5 bowl sink is the minimum you should aim for. Also ensure that you install a mixer tap (one tap for both hot and cold water).
Finally, install a double power point on each wall in your kitchen so as to minimise the use of extension cords.
So there you have it! Neutral colours, make efficient use of space and storage and don’t overcapitalise by spending money on expensive appliances, fixtures and fittings if tenants or potential buyers won’t pay extra for them.
