by Blake Herzog
Higher interest rates have put the real estate market in flux in Greater Prescott and throughout the U.S. — homes aren’t turning over as instantly as they have over the past year or two.
If you think you might sell your home in the near-term, it’s a good idea to consider what improvements you could make to ratchet up its desirability and value, for yourself as well as prospective purchasers.
The kitchen is the room that usually gets the most scrutiny during the decision-making phase and the one where you have the most opportunities to boost your home’s overall appeal. But, don’t go overboard unless you want to and have the resources for it — homeowners typically see a higher return on investment for low- to mid-range renovations than a blowout. q
Update or replace cabinets
Home shoppers today put a premium on plentiful storage, especially when it’s also aesthetically pleasing. If your cabinets are looking shabby and creaky, it’s definitely worth replacing them.
If they are structurally sound, though, they can be spruced up pretty easily with new hardware that complements the other finishes in the kitchen and a fresh coat of paint, preferably in a light neutral shade.
Replace countertops
Trends have truly evolved for these over the last 20 years. Granite at one point became a near-synonym for “countertop,” but since then it’s become passe compared to quartz or quartzite, which offer swirling “vein” patterns instead of speckled “grains.”
Replacing outdated granite counters still in good shape can be painful but makes a huge difference. Tile countertops have intermittently staged comebacks as fresh designs come into play, but older ones may be a harder sell.
Upgrade appliances
This is where kitchen overhauls can get truly expensive, but again you don’t need to spring for the top-of-the-line, luxury model for the best return on the money you’re putting in. If your stove, refrigerator, oven, dishwasher or any other hard-wired appliance is at all iffy when it comes to performance or looks tired and grungy even with a good scrubbing it probably needs to go.
Stainless steel surfaces are generally the best bet as far as resale goes but white may not be a too-distant second. If you live in an upscale neighborhood, it may be beneficial to go with commercial-grade, but consider all of your other options first.
Add multipurpose workspace
With working from home at least part-time approaching being the norm rather than the exception in many fields and multitasking gaining traction with almost everybody, sliding a desktop in among your countertops can be a savvy way to boost your appeal to a broad cross-section of buyers from busy young families to busy remote employees to busy, active retirees.
