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Working Kitchens Catch the Eye of Aspiring Chefs

By
Real Estate Agent with Prudential Tropical Realty

          It’s astonishing how many people believe they are the next Mario Batali and have taken to the kitchen in a serious way.

          Ratings for cooking shows are at an all-time high as viewers are enamored gourmet kitchen land o lakeswith the idea of being culinary masters. Home sellers are upgrading to professional-style kitchens to capitalize on the craze, and their investments are paying off in more potential buyers and attractive returns when their homes sell.

          One of the easiest steps appealing to today’s tastes is adding stainless steel appliances and sinks, as sleek stainless resists scratches and is easy to maintain. Cast iron is another attractive choice for sinks, as they add color and are large enough for the pots and pans most chefs require. Still another popular amenity for the kitchen is pot filler, which serve as extendible faucets and can be installed next to your stovetop or prep sink for easy water access.

gourmet kitchen land o lakesGranite and quartz countertops are among the favorites of home chefs, who require proper working space and cool surfaces for rolling out dough. The surfaces attractive, durable and popular. Consider adding moveable cutting boards, rinsing baskets and various trays. These features are not too expensive and will help open the eyes of potential buyers.

          Take advantage of the gourmet explosion with kitchen upgrades that appeal to the home chef. Your effort and investment may yield some tasty results.

Mel Ahrens, MBA, Kelly Right Real Estate
Kelly Right Real Estate - Hood River, OR
Customized Choices for your Real Estate Needs

It's interesting that really nice and well equiped kitchens have become so important, isn't it. My current kitchen has two ovens which I had never considered before but now couldn't do without. The kitchen truly is the center of our house.

Gretchen

Mar 04, 2012 03:21 AM
Julia Maher
Nestings: Connecticut Home Staging and Model Homes - Fairfield, CT
Connecticut Home Stager

Hi Rose - These words of wisdom may well help sellers do some necessary updating!  Reblogging!

Mar 04, 2012 03:27 AM
Don Sabinske
Don Sabinske, Sabinske & Associates Inc. - Zimmerman, MN
Sabinske & Associates Inc.

The kitchen is the heart of the home.  You did a great job on highlighting the importance of a great kitchen.

Mar 04, 2012 03:32 AM
Eileen Hsu
Douglas Elliman Real Estate - Manhattan, NY
LICENSED REAL ESTATE SALESPERSON

I agree that a renovated kitchen with an eye for detail is going to be impress almost any buyer, everybody likes to have the latest and greatest in a kitchen even if they won't use it all the time.

Mar 04, 2012 04:54 AM
Evelyn Kennedy
Alain Pinel Realtors - Alameda, CA
Alameda, Real Estate, Alameda, CA

Rose:

Most buyers do want a functional and up to date kitchen preferably with a family room near by.  However, I know a few people who don't cook must and prefer a compact galley kitchen.  You are right that most people do want up to date kitchend.

Mar 04, 2012 06:26 AM
Sharon Parisi
United Real Estate Dallas - Dallas, TX
Dallas Homes

Rose, you are absolutely correct.  Everyone watches the food network and HGTV.  It makes it difficult for most kitchens to measure up!

Mar 04, 2012 01:35 PM
Joy Daniels
Joy Daniels Real Estate Group, Ltd. - Harrisburg, PA

The kitchen explosion has come around the same time as the "cooking channel" explosion.   Thanks for sharing!

Mar 04, 2012 10:01 PM
Bill Reddington
Re/max By The Sea - Destin, FL
Destin Florida Real Estate

Watched a show last night called worst chefs in America. Reality TV has gone wild. Weird is good. A great kitchen definitley helps sell a property.

Mar 04, 2012 10:34 PM
Karen Crowson
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Rancho Bernardo, CA
Your Agent for Change
Upgraded kitchens tend to contribute to a quicker sale. They provide a better return on investment than most other improvements. However, it's not dollar for dollar. Consumers nedd to keep that in mind.
Mar 04, 2012 11:01 PM
Karen Steed
Tallapoosa, Bremen, Waco, Buchanan, Temple, Carrollton - Tallapoosa, GA
Associate Broker Haralson Realty

The kitchen is the best place to put money.  Just be sure not to over do it for the neighborhood and the house.

Mar 04, 2012 11:47 PM
Kimo Jarrett
Cyber Properties - Huntington Beach, CA
Pro Lifestyle Solutions

Renovating a kitchen shouldn't have any limits as some have suggested. It's the main room of any home and the more useful tools and appliances found in it will pay dividends to most daily tasks in an easy, simple and convenient manner. 

Mar 05, 2012 12:49 AM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

They say the kitchen is the heart of the home. I'll just never figure out why so many people want to spend their time in there playing with food. I do want it convenient, so I can get in and out as fast as possible. (No, I'll never be a gormet cook.)

Mar 05, 2012 03:23 AM
Karen Fiddler, Broker/Owner
Karen Parsons-Fiddler, Broker 949-510-2395 - Mission Viejo, CA
Orange County & Lake Arrowhead, CA (949)510-2395

Granite is the key....and stainless steel. I'm not fond of either....as a serious cook. Stainless shows fingerprints so easily and the sink is the worst. And granite will crack if a hot pan is placed on it. So...all for show. But....it does sell houses.

Mar 05, 2012 03:57 AM
Jon Quist
REALTY EXECUTIVES ARIZONA TERRITORY - Tucson, AZ
Tucson's BUYERS ONLY Realtor since 1996

Kitchens are usually the number one priority for my buyers, so, yes, a great kitchen is a huge plus.

Mar 05, 2012 05:44 AM
Jack Snyder
Loan Originator in Orange County for Nations Direct Mortgage, LLC, NMLS #109738 - Equal Housing Lender - San Clemente, CA
Loan Officer, San Clemente, Orange County, CA.

Marvin Dennis of Woodcrafters will tell you that the kitchen IS the most important room in the house. And it makes sense considering no other room in the house has as many features as the kitchen with the sinks, counters, cabinets and everything else.

Mar 05, 2012 09:04 AM
Wayne Jackson
Lakeshore Realty 208-714-4109 - Hayden, ID
North Idaho Realtor, Serving Coeur dnullAlene and Hayden Lake

Thanks for the post rose. Showing homes with resturant style kitchens is what I love about real Estate.

Mar 05, 2012 02:05 PM
Bob Miller
Keller Williams Cornerstone Realty - Ocala, FL
The Ocala Dream Team

Hi Rose, very nice post.  And I agree, I just sold a house with a very small backyard, but the buyers loved the kitchen.

Mar 05, 2012 06:44 PM
Sylvie Stuart
Realty One Group Mountain Desert 928-600-2765 - Flagstaff, AZ
Home Buying, Home Selling and Investment - Flagsta

The kitchen is a big selling point for a lot of prospective home buyers, an upgraded kitchen can sell a home!

Mar 05, 2012 09:36 PM
Gene Riemenschneider
Home Point Real Estate - Brentwood, CA
Turning Houses into Homes

I think Kitchen are only going to be more and more important to a home.  People are nesting, it is a family place, staying home saves money.  

Mar 06, 2012 12:58 PM
Frank Laisch
Orlando, FL
"The Insurance Guy"

Everyone loves a nice upgraded kitchen, and everyone is a Mario Batali in their own mind ;-)

Oct 10, 2012 12:46 AM