undertake a major renovation project. Think back to that example of the unnecessary $20,000 kitchen remodel. Don’t make that mistake. You want to be aware of what constitutes a substantial investment. The key is to consider the mass appeal for the sake of resale value. So, when it comes to kitchen resale value, consider giving your kitchen a “facelift” rather than an entire renovation. Here’s an example of a kitchen “facelift”: One homeowner decided to add more cabinet space and a new backsplash in the kitchen, and then updated the appliances and refinished the flooring. The total cost was just $4,000 — compared to the ~$20,000 for a complete kitchen remodel. So, what happened as a result of this improvement? The seller kept the price comparable to sales in the area and ending up selling for $27,000 more than the asking price because interested buyers started a bidding war! That’s a fantastic ROI! Read on for some specific tips on improving your kitchen and bathroom. Hardware replacement. First, inspect your kitchen and bathroom hardware. Put yourself in a critical buyer’s shoes. Old, worn-out fixtures are not going to speak to them the way nice, new shiny hardware will. If knobs, pulls, handles, hinges, etc., are broken down, worn out, or quite unappealing, it’s best to replace them. Check these specific hardware items closely and replace them, as needed:
• toilet paper holder • door handles • towel bars and racks • dated light fixtures
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