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Kitchens on a Dime

By
Real Estate Agent with Keller Williams Ottawa Realty

It is a well know fact that kitchens and bathrooms sell homes. They are the two most important rooms in a house since, if we’re going to be politically incorrect, women spend 99% of their time in the kitchen and men 99% in the bathroom, right? Well, let’s focus on what’s important and review some great tips on how to remodel your kitchens on a dime, without breaking the bank!Kitchens on a Dime

Let’s start with cabinetry. I know it scares us all to think about having to tear down our old, shall we say “rustic” looking cabinets and replace them with sleek modern cabinets, but fear not, there is another way! Instead of paying between $5,000 to $20,000 dollars on new cabinets, why not paint and reface your existing cabinets? Sure it’ll take a little bit of elbow grease and time, but isn’t it worth the thousands of dollars of savings? For an extra great finish top off your newly finished cabinets with beautiful new hardware; how’s that for kitchens on a dime!?

The next most important item when thinking of kitchen renovation is definitely the countertop. Of course we all dream of having granite, natural stone or other pricy materials, but why would we go for that when we can buy fake-outs for a quarter of the cost? Ceramic tiles are a gorgeous alternative, and now they even have amazing laminates which look like faux natural stones or faux granites.  It’s like spanks for women… Why pay for plastic surgery when we can cover it all up so well with our handy dandy spanks! Go ahead and fake it!

The last item which can make or break a beautiful kitchen is the floor. Let’s face it; if everything else in the kitchen is beautiful and the floor is atrocious… it’s like indulging on a fabulous dinner with no dessert, talk about an incomplete night! The trend right now for “high end” kitchens is marble flooring which can cost from $10 to $30 per square foot, yikes! A great alternative for a fraction of the cost is to use ceramic or porcelain tiles which are $5 to $20 dollars per square foot, much more reasonable and in my opinion, will look just as beautiful!

So there you have it, a few great tips to have a wonderfully updated space for a reasonable price. How did you enjoy Kitchens on a dime?  Obviously these are only a few of the many wonderful tips out there, so here’s your chance… what are YOUR tips for renovating on a budget?

 

Posted by
Christiane Lafleur real estate
Dan Hopper
Dan Hopper - Gold Way RE - Westminster, CO
Colorado Broker / Referral Services

Thanks for posting the great tips, Christiane.  We all know the importance of an attractive and functional kitchen.  Having the right updates with an inexpensive cost to the seller, means a lot.

Jan 16, 2012 06:53 AM
Christiane Lafleur
Keller Williams Ottawa Realty - Ottawa, ON

Hi Dan, we both know kitchens & bathrooms sell homes! Many Sellers need to "freshen up" before selling but at a reduced cost. Thanks for the read & comment!

Feb 07, 2012 07:49 AM