Due to the nature of the real estate market these days, many homeowners are choosing to remodel their current residences rather than moving to another house, as one might have done when home loans were easier to obtain. When it comes to remodeling the house, the first place that many homeowners choose to begin with is the kitchen.
The kitchen is long considered the heart of the house- having an inefficient kitchen area tends to be detrimental to the look, feel, and flow of the house. It is where food is lovingly prepared on the stove, oven, and counter tops, and is often a central place of gathering for family, especially when the dining room is immediately adjacent to the kitchen.
As many homeowners know, an upgrade to the appliances in and aesthetics of a kitchen can drastically change the feel of the house. In fact, a modern upgrade to a kitchen tends to have a high return of investment if the homeowner decides to sell the house later. According to the National Association of Realtors, in 2005: the average “upscale” remodel of a kitchen had about a 84.4% return on the cost of the investment, the average “major” remodel of a kitchen had about a 91% return on the cost of the investment, and the average “minor” remodel of a kitchen had about a 98.5% return on the cost of the investment.
Even if you cannot afford a full kitchen remodel, a minor modification in the functionality or aesthetics can not only bring about a more pleasing kitchen space, but it can also end up paying for (most of) itself in the future. For example, there are many different types of kitchen storage structures these days, with many modern twists on providing homeowners the most optimal amount of storage space. A simple upgrade to the kitchen storage spaces can both improve the functionality of the kitchen you need to use every day and improve your chances at selling your house for a higher price in the future.
While the return on your investment in your kitchen is something you should keep in mind while planning a kitchen remodel, that shouldn’t be the leading factor in your decision on how to remodel your kitchen. Your foremost concern when it comes to kitchen remodeling should be fulfilling your desires on what you want out of your kitchen. If you’ve long wanted that fancy new refrigerator, then you should make accommodations in your budget for it, and if you’ve always wanted your kitchen to have fancy countertops, you should spring for those luxurious quartz kitchen countertops you’ve had your eye on. Remember, YOU have to use the kitchen day in and day out once it has been remodeled- make sure that you remodel it in a manner that pleases you.
