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Updating Your Kitchen on a Budget

By
Real Estate Agent with Keller Williams Chervenic Realty

So it is time to sell your home or just want to remodel your kitchen. Here are a few tips to fix up your Kitchen on a budget:

One way to open up your kitchen is to remove the wall between the kitchen and dining room or remove half of the wall and turn the lower half into an eating bar with cabinets below. This will give you more counter tops and still allow you to have some cabinet space as well.

For kitchens that don't have much counterspace install appliances that mount under the countertop. I also heard of a special Rev-A-Shelf. It is a lift that you put your appliances on so you don't have to leave them on the counter.

Replacing counter tops with granite is the hot buttons for buyers today. As I mentioned in a previous post, quartz counter tops look like granite and are less expensive. You can also find thinner granite slabs. Most granite is 1 1/4" thick and if you shop around you can find a 3/4" version which is less expensive.

You can buy cabinets that need to be assembled or cabinets that need to be stained and finished. I chose to buy cabinets that were ready to be installed. I had a friend help me install them and saved the installation cost. If you shop around you may even be able to find them on sale and save another 10% or more. If you are on a really tight budget, paint the old cabinets which will give them a fresh new look.

Don't move the plumbing. It might be tempting, but moving the plumbing can add big bucks to your remodeling job.

Replace the old flooring with vinyl or ceramic tile flooring to finish off your kitchen remodel.

Liz Flint
Century 21 Hardee-Team Realty - Houston, TX
Houston\Tomball Realtor (832)816-8066

Thanks Susan, I have a home I'm trying to sell and the kitchen would definately be helped by granite countertops.  I'll check into the 3/4 inch ones.

Dec 10, 2009 03:17 AM
Gary Swanson
Century 21 Harris & Taylor - Grants Pass, OR

Susan, great blog.  I've been finding the feature that either sells the home or not is the kitchen.  I have a home that I think is priced right, but just isn't getting any offers and maybe doing so updates to the small kitchen will be the trick.  I didn't realize quartz was less expensive than granite, personally, I like it better.

Dec 10, 2009 03:33 AM
Pat O'Reilly
RE/MAX..214-289-6176 Irving and all of Dallas Fort Worth - Irving, TX

Susan, Thanks for the tips. Good information in these tight times..

Dec 10, 2009 03:34 AM