What's Hot In Houses Today?

Kitchens

Part One of the What's Hot In Houses Series addresses kitchens. The kitchen continues to be one of the most closely examined areas of the home. The state and style of the kitchen can literally make or break the sale of a home. A strong, attractive kitchen definitely helps a home sell more quickly. A kitchen-centric home design – one where traffic can flow easily in and out of the kitchen for entertaining also continues to be an important factor to many buyers.

Here are some top features that contribute to a great kitchen:

• Lots of open space, as well as visually open to other rooms
• Good work areas with easy access to range, refrigerator, oven and sink
• Matching appliances, especially stainless steel
• Gas cooktops usually preferred, both cheaper and easier to control
• Side by side refrigerators popular – make sure it has enough freezer space
• Refrigerator door ice and water dispensers always a plus
• Dishwasher located to the right of the sink – easy for most right-handers
• Double ovens are a great convenience feature
• Granite, Marble, Corian, or Silestone countertops
• Kitchen islands increase work space and are a great bonus
• Consider at least 42” of walkway around island
• Can be used for additional cabinet space for storage
• Appliances such as the cooktop and oven can be moved to the island
• Lots of cabinet space, storage, and deep drawers
• Remember large drawers for pots and pans should be close to the cooking area
• Large pantry space for food storage
• Adequate storage space for household cleaning supplies
• Includes space for cleaners as well as mops, brooms, buckets, and so on.
• Eat-in kitchen area separate from main dining room
• Under cabinet lighting, in addition to main room light
• Instant hot water faucets
• Water filters on the sink and in the refrigerator
• Kitchen entertainment center – becoming a more common feature of kitchens
• Consider a TV, DVD/VCR, and/or an under counter radio/CD player
• Phone/answering machine and message center
• Space for trash, in addition to recycling bins

Please feel free to contact Robert Feichtinger with the Regal Eagle Estate Team of Coldwell Banker if you would like to discuss any of these ideas in relation to buying or selling a home.