Home Staging Room by Room: The Kitchen
Home Staging the kitchen is crucial when it comes to selling your home. The kitchen includes much more than just walls, floor, and ceiling. With so many components in the kitchen, many buyers evaluate the condition of the entire home based upon this one room. A sparkling, well maintained and organized kitchen speaks volumes to buyers that you have attended to every detail in maintaining your home.
The first step in staging a kitchen is to eliminate any unneeded “stuff”. Grand Rapids home buyers look for kitchens that are functional and spacious therefore the goal is to maximize all counter and cabinet space. Countertops should be clear of all items except for a few decorative pieces displayed in the corners. Leaving appliances on your countertops gives buyers the impression that your kitchen has limited cabinet space. Also, eliminate any items inside the cabinets that you will not need for the short-term. I recommend taking everything out of each kitchen cabinet and drawer and putting back only those things you absolutely can’t live without. While you are at it you may as well have some cleaning supplies handy and wipe out the cabinets. When putting items back in the cabinetry be sure to arrange them neatly and orderly. Remember that you want the kitchen to look as organized as possible.
Next, depersonalize the kitchen spaces. The biggie here is to totally clear off the front of your refrigerator. Sorry, but no more photos, kid’s drawings, notes, or magnets while your home is on the market. We all need a calendar handy so I suggest hanging it on the inside of a kitchen cabinet door. In addition, the telephone station should be free of any papers, mail, pens, etc. You have already cleared out the cabinets so you should have plenty of space to put these items in a cabinet or drawer near the phone.
Now it’s time to address any repairs needed in the kitchen. Inspect the entire kitchen including the lighting, faucet, sink, appliances, floors, walls, cabinets, and countertops. Look carefully at the caulk along the countertop and backsplash. In many cases it is wise to freshly caulk in order to achieve the goal of an immaculate kitchen.
Now that your kitchen is clutter- and repair-free, you are ready to tackle the most important “C” of home staging CLEAN! A kitchen can never be too clean so clean like you’ve never cleaned before. Here’s a list to get you started cleaning your kitchen:
- Sink, including the disposal (freshen with a fresh lemon)
- Countertops
- Backsplash, including grout
- Cabinets – inside and out – don’t forget under the sink too
- Floors and baseboards
- Stove top – use a good degreaser
- Oven – inside and out
- Exhaust fan and hood – degrease and change filter
- Microwave – inside and out
- Refrigerator – inside and out
When home staging your kitchen, please don’t ignore any of these items. I have clients ask, “Do they really look in the cabinets and the oven?” My answer is a definitive, “YES!” A buyer will inspect any and everything they are considering buying. A little elbow grease and organization will have your pristine home screaming, “BUY ME!”
Contributed to GrandRapidsResource.com by:
Grand Rapids Real Estate 