Patricia Katz

• The kitchen plays a pivotal role in winning over potential homebuyers.
• Considered the heart of the home, it’s typically the most important, family-centric room for buyers.
• Those touring for-sale properties will inevitably imagine themselves throwing dinner parties, simmering soup on a chilly day, or working their way through a favorite cookbook in this space.
• So, what does that mean for sellers who are hoping to net top dollar for their home?

https://www.thekitchn.com/realtors-kitchen-decreased-value-23704705

• While savvy buyers won’t get too hung up on things they can easily change, like paint colors that don’t suit their own tastes or outdated cabinet hardware, there are some kitchen design features that they’ll have a much harder time looking past.
• Checking with real estate and design pros what things in a kitchen immediately turn off homebuyers, and here’s what they had to say.

The following turns off potential buyers:

1. Butcher block countertops:  “they scar easily when used   heavily,  – around sinks, it can be challenging to seal & can allow water to creep in, causing rot”
2. Mismatched appliances: “white refrigerator paired with a stainless steel oven or dishwasher may seem like a minor issue, but buyers will perceive clashing appliances as an extra expense to achieve the cohesive & aesthetically pleasing kitchen that they desire”
3. Older appliances: “Many homebuyers prefer to have a kitchen with newer appliances — even if the appliances are not high-end. The peace of mind in knowing that they don’t ‘have’ to make this type of purchase after buying a home can be a major selling point.”
4. Fluorescent box lighting: “Buyers tend to prefer warm lighting and can be put off by the harsh institutional lighting of fluorescent box lights, which creates an unwelcoming atmosphere and casts unflattering shadows. Layered lighting with recessed LEDs, statement pendant fixtures, and under-cabinet lighting are all trending for 2025 “.
5. Oak Cabinets: “heavy grain and outdated color makes smaller kitchens feel cramped. Today’s buyers are gravitating towards cabinets that are warm white, greige, or sage green with clean lines and minimal graining. Buyers also appreciate soft-close hardware and organized storage solutions” .
6. Overly thematic design: ‘over-accessorized kitchen that seems too personal gives buyers the “ick”. “Most buyers go in expecting to find a blank canvas where they can picture their own family get-togethers, and excessive décor — like a brilliant red “diner-style” theme replete with fake neon signs — may destroy that idea before they’ve even had a chance to investigate the rest of the room,”. 

Patricia Katz, Broker,

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