Property Selling Points: why kitchens matter

To use the overworked cliché: the kitchen is the heart of the home. But there are good reasons for this - reasons that we can probably date back to the earliest times.

Even in cave dwelling time, we gathered around the hearth for food and companionship; the modern kitchen just continues this custom. The kitchen is the place of warmth, sustenance, and creativity. It's where we are busiest. Whether you choose cottagey or clinical, the kitchen is probably the room most likely to sell your home.

However, a full overhaul may run to over R100,000 and many people don't want to go to that expense unless they are planning to stay on in their home. If you're wanting to sell, but feel the kitchen is looking rather tired and out-of-date, there are many ways to upgrade without spending a fortune.

Tips to make your kitchen shine up your sale

• A worn kitchen can really shine up with a new coat of paint - both the walls and the cupboards. White is always popular in kitchens because it gives a clean look and will allow all kinds of colour combination choices for tiles and appliances. It's best to avoid trendy colours and stay as neutral and classic as possible. Shades of taupe or grey can still work depending on the fixed elements of the room such as appliances or the flooring.

• Cabinets are key. Paint them out - both inside and out. Or simply reface them. Add space with a work island rather than building in more cupboards and counters. This takes up open space and provides storage, worktop and seating space for breakfasts and lunches. It breaks up the flat line of cupboards and is more inviting, useful, modern and companionable than the open kitchen.

• Get rid of clutter. Remove all items - or as much as you can from counter tops - including all those tatty old notelets still hanging on the fridge. Clean countertops give a sense of space and organisation. It also opens up the possibility of new colours that might spring to mind in the view of a potential buyer.

• Upgrade plumbing by installing new taps, a new faucet, or even a new sink. New tiling around the sink draining board can also add to a fresh new look - as a small space of renewal, this shouldn't cost too much to effect.

• Lighting is very important - and often forgotten as an easy, relatively inexpensive way to really add light and a modern look to your kitchen. Under-cabinet lightening is particularly popular and can really bring an up-to-date look to an old kitchen.

• Installing new flooring can add considerable cost to your renovation, not to mention considerable inconvenience while the job is being done. Sometimes all a floor needs is a good scrub or new grout job to make it look fresh and clean. Vinyl tiles are an easy and fairly inexpensive solution to a tacky floor - they hide a multitude of sins and are easily applicable for a quick new finish to your kitchen floor.

• Counters are one of the most important areas to deal with. If you are able to replace all the countertops, you will lend a highly attractive upgraded effect to your kitchen. Stone tops are very popular at the moment, but they can be expensive. Not only that - but if your cabinets are rather worn and old, the weight might not be a good idea. While laminated wood can certainly fill the gap; or even better, real glossed wood such as pine can do the trick. Butcher's block is also currently popular and can provide warm harmony to the kitchen area, and is considered quite trendy in the design world.

• The back splash probably draws the eye more quickly than anything else. Often it becomes the focal point that takes attention off the counter. If you want to really make an impression, then marble tiling is the upmarket way to go. But if you are watching costs, then there is a range of stunning ceramic tiles readily available. Mosaic tiles are also in vogue currently, and can give the most stylish look to your working area, offering truly beautiful blends of colours and designs. The eternal classic subway tile is the cheapest (and yet very effective) option - and still popular for creating ambience in a kitchen. Granted, upgrading tiles is a dusty job - but certainly worthwhile; it can give your kitchen a new, modern clean look without breaking the bank.

A kitchen upgrade can range from a weekend-long, low-budget brush-up (think paint job and new cabinet handles) to a full-blown overhaul (with tens of thousands spent on granite countertops and luxury appliances). But either way, don't overdo things - aim for convenience and neat, clean lines. Make sure your budget or boom renovation fits with the general style and era of the house, so that nothing seems odd or out of place.

Leapfrog Property Group

Leapfrog Property Group offers a fresh and innovative approach to buying, selling, renting and property investments, ensuring the best property deals for clients across South Africa. Our agents are qualified, trained, experienced; our approach bold and spirited, driven by heart, generosity and honesty. It is our mission to advise,  eliminate obstacles and save you unnecessary expense. Trust is our watchword. And value our motto. Armed with our combined credentials, we are the bright face of excellence in the South African market. 

Find us at: www.leapfrog.co.za