Looking to Remodel for Greater ROI? Start with the Kitchen

Wondering how to put your residential rehab loans to the best use? Start your planning in the kitchen. Recent studies have found that American families are spending more and more time in the kitchen. More than the family room or bedrooms, the kitchen is the focal point of most modern homes. It’s a place where we eat our meals, congregate at the end of the day, and talk about life. A great kitchen is of central importance to any house flip. In many cases, the value of a pre-flip home can be brought up dramatically simply by remodeling the kitchen.

So, what specific aspects of the kitchen should you focus on with your limited time and house flipping loans? Here are the five kitchen features that you should consider revamping, in order.

• The Layout

Every fix and flip investing pro knows that open layouts are preferred by buyers in almost every (if not every) market. If the home you’re working on has a closed in floorplan, see if there is a way that you can knock out a wall of your kitchen so that it opens up to the dining room or family room. A more open kitchen will feel larger and like a more welcoming space. If you can’t take out an entire wall, you might be able to add a window or larger open doorways to help create a sense of flow and openness in the home.

• The Cabinets

Old, ugly cabinets make the whole house feel dingy. Fortunately, in many cases cabinets can be refinished or repainted and made to look new again without any major construction. You can also help make old cabinets feel new again by replacing old hardware with new handles and knobs. A simple facelift of the existing cabinet is much less expensive than replacing the cabinets altogether. It will save you a great deal of time and effort.

If you have to replace the cabinets, you can usually get away with putting in midgrade cabinetry rather than high-end options. If the countertop is high-end, it will make the cabinets look more luxurious.

• The Appliances

Shiny new appliances will help make an old kitchen feel new again in a flash. The cost of new appliances is relatively low, and the overall effect on the kitchen will be dramatic. You might even be able to find slightly used kitchen appliances that look new but have a significantly lower price tag.

• The Flooring

Old stained floors in the kitchen are a dead giveaway that a home is past its prime. Fortunately, it’s simple to replace flooring and make it look great. You don’t even necessarily need a contractor to put in a new kitchen floor, though it never hurts. Just make sure that you choose a tile or hardwood surface that isn’t too light. Homeowners don’t like kitchen floors that will show dirt and scuffing.

• The Lighting

If at all possible, you want the kitchen to be well lit, preferably with natural light. Cut back overgrown trees outside kitchen windows and install recessed lighting with dimmer switches so that the new residents can set whatever mood they like in their new kitchen.