A Guide to Investing in a Kitchen

What You Need to Know

1. The kitchen is seen by many homebuyers as the heart of the home, meaning investing money here can make your property more attractive and boost its market value.
2. Fix your budget according to the value of your home. A £10,000 kitchen is unlikely to add much value to a £1 million home, while a £50,000 kitchen won’t push up the value of a modest semi.
3. Whatever your budget is, it’s crucial that you try and stick to it.
4. Keep on top of the latest trends, but remember that simplicity will never go out of fashion.
5. Consider investing in the latest eco-friendly kitchen gadgets and appliances. Again, this will make your kitchen more attractive to prospective buyers.
6. Try and ensure that your new kitchen matches the rest of your house.

Benefits of Investing Money in Your Kitchen

For many people, the kitchen is the heart of a home. As such, it’s widely-regarded as one of the best places to invest your money, not least as a clean, contemporary is likely to impress prospective buyers.

Indeed, according to property market experts, a well-executed kitchen improvement project can boost both the attractiveness and the value of your home considerably, more than justifying any upfront costs.

Planning a Kitchen Makeover

As with all home improvement projects, planning is key to ensuring your kitchen makeover goes to plan and stays within budget. So, firstly, you need to set yourself a budget for your planned makeover. Angie Hicks, personal finance expert at the US consumer group Angie’s List, advises capping your kitchen makeover budget at 20 per cent of the total value of your home, though even this can be far too much for some people. Regardless of your budget, the important thing is that you stick to it, though it’s a good idea to leave a little leeway as most DIY projects end up costing more than you might initially anticipate.

Once you have your budget down on paper, you can start thinking about what changes you want to make to your kitchen, Home makeover shows, friends’ house, design magazines and kitchen showrooms can all be great sources of information, so use these when doing your homework and be willing to mix and match ideas. Also, if your budget allows, consider investing in the services of a home design expert.

Note that, if you’re planning on doing up your kitchen in order to sell your home at a premium, then you should refrain from letting your personal preferences influence your plans. Instead, check to see what types of kitchens are popular with buyers and opt for one of these designs.

Go Green

Investing in energy-efficient gadgets can not only reduce the size of your home’s carbon footprint, it can also make your home more attractive to would-be buyers. Quite simply, it will reassure any prospective buyers that they won’t be required to invest in contemporary appliances themselves anytime soon, while realizing they will also be able to benefit from lower-than-average utilities bills.

Invest in Quality

Whatever your budget, it pays to invest in quality workmanship and well-respected brands. After all, any would-be buyers viewing your home will be looking out for these, so impressing them can play dividends in the long-run.

So, when it comes to gadgets and appliances, try and find money in your budget to buy those made by recognizable and well-respected brands rather than going for budget options. Similarly, investing in good-quality work surfaces is also likely to pay off in the long-run. For example, brushed nickel, quartz or granite countertops can give a home a contemporary look, potentially boosting its value and more than making up for the upfront costs.

Small but Effective Improvements

Even if you only have a small budget at your disposal, you can still make a number of small changes to your kitchen that could boost the value of your home. Try one or more of these:

• Spend a few pounds on contemporary knobs and handles. This can be a cost-effective and simple way of bringing old drawers and cupboards up to date.
• A new set to chic curtains can make a huge difference to the look of a kitchen.
• If you have prospective buyers coming around, invest in some flowers to make your kitchen look brighter and more homely.

Further Information

• Read our guide to buying the right dishwasher for your kitchen here.
• Shop for kitchen surfaces and accessories at B&Q.
• Giving the whole house a going over? Read out guide to bathroom improvements.