| How to Stage your Kitchen

Kitchens are often the focal point in most houses. It’s where they spend much of their family time.  A kitchen can sell a house, or be a deal breaker! 

Match the style of your kitchen to the style you’re creating in your house to what your target buyers are looking for and you’ll be sure to sell quickly.

This article provides you some valuable advice in presenting your kitchen in its best light. You can give your kitchen a total makeover which will always add value to your home. (but that’s another article completely).

Hygiene is king.
A dirty, messy, greasy kitchen is a definite turn off and deal breaker.  Deep cleaning your kitchen is the most cost effective way to add desirability to your home. A bit of hard work goes a long way to attracting buyers.

• Give your oven and hotplate a deep clean
• Scrub and sanitise all bench tops
• Clean and polish the sink & taps
• Make sure your bin is empty and smelling fresh
• Give the floor a good wash and scrub in the corners
• Wipe down all cupboard doors
• Refresh dirty/off coloured tile grouting 
• Make sure you clean inside cupboards, fridge and shelves

De-clutter
People like to see clean clear counter tops – not full of personal clutter.  Ensure you put away all:

• Dishes
• Appliances
• Papers
• Any mess whatsoever

Also make sure your cupboards and fridge are tidy and organised.  It shows that you take care of your home.

Lighting
Good lighting is important, as it creates atmosphere and atmosphere sells.  Generally speaking, kitchens need two types of lighting.

Spending just a few dollars on nice lighting. For example spotlights and countertop lighting placed under the wall cabinets can make a massive difference to the look and feel of your kitchen.

Floors
Floors are important, but they don’t have to cost you a fortune. Tired looking flooring will not help you sell your home.

If you already have nice flooring in your kitchen.  Get on your hands and knees and make sure they are absolutely sparkling clean.

If your flooring needs an update, there are many options for you to choose from.  You don’t have to spend a fortune.  But make sure they are high enough quality to match the style and price tag of your home.  If somebody is buying a prestige home, cheap vinyl kitchen flooring simply won’t cut it.

Walls
As with the rest of the house, a light neutral paint job is the safest and most effective option.

Although with kitchens, you often need a splash of colour. You can bring colour in using a splash back and/or tiles above counter tops.

If you have old and cracked tiles, it is a good idea to get them replaced if possible.

Cabinets
If you have cabinet doors that are made from dark wood, they can have a downer effect on your kitchen.  It maybe an easy fix just to re-paint these doors in a light neutral colour. Or you can just replace the doors and some nice new handles, without spending a fortune.

In older kitchens, you may have too many cabinets?  If this is the case, try taking the doors of one and convert it into open display shelves, giving a more open feeling.

Accessorise
You need to give your kitchen that “show home” finish.  It doesn’t take much. In a kitchen “less is more”, just a few nicely placed objects such as:

• Designer kettle & toaster
• Beautiful flowers in a vase
• A stylish bowl filled with fresh fruit.
• A display of designer Italian olive oil bottles.

Kitchens are vital to the presentation of your home. The more buyers you attract, the more money you’ll sell for.

Match the style you’re creating in your house to what your target buyers are looking for and you’ll be sure to sell quickly.

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