ListingLife
NOV 2009Upgrade Your Kitchen Appliances: New trends draw excitement at resale
By Lynn Coulter
Upgrading your home is always appealing, but which enhancements get you the best return for your money when it’s time to sell? According to the 2007 Cost vs. Value Report by REALTOR Magazine, “The Kitchen remodel is one project more likely than any other to add value to the house and improve sale ability. Costs range from $11,427 (in Raleigh-Durham, N.C.) to $18,538 (in San Francisco), and, taken as a national average, the minor kitchen remodel recoups 88 percent of that cost.”
What could transform a home more then a new kitchen? You can give your kitchen a facelift with a fresh coat of paint and some new flooring. But to get the most return on your value, you should upgrade key kitchen appliances.
Jeff Payne, co-owner of Atlanta’s kitchen appliance dealer, the Howard Payne Company, agrees. “Kitchens and baths are absolutely the most important places to spend your upgrading dollars.”
When you’re ready to upgrade your kitchen appliances, consider some of today’s hottest trends:
DISHWASHERS
- Models that offer high energy-efficiency, whisper-quiet technology, and superior cleaning results.
- Multiple drawer models that can scrub heavy-duty pots in one drawer, while cleaning crystal glassware in another.
REFRIGERATORS
- Recessed depth or built-in refrigerators with wood cabinet fronts. These appliances blend almost seamlessly into existing cabinetry.
- Multi-door models, with two doors on the refrigerated top, and drawer for the freezer at the bottom. The French doors open wide, for easy storage of large items like party trays and oversized platters.
- Specialty appliances for cold storage like home wine coolers, which pre-chill wine glasses and cool bottles to their optimal temperature. Look for features like the double-paned thermal glass door so you can keep an eye on your inventory.
COOKING
- A Microwave Drawer, which opens with the touch of a button. Imagine being able to open the door when your hands are full. The microwave can be installed under the counter, or at a comfortable height in a kitchen island.
- Microwaves with built-in sensors that regulate cooking times and power levels. This makes microwaving foolproof.
- Cook up a new look with restaurant grade ranges, which allow you to cook like a professional chef. New designs offer low-simmer settings and high-heat burners.
When you’re ready to make a change, check out what’s new and trendy in the kitchen. You’ll be glad you did when it’s time to sell.
