What can I do to make my kitchen more appealing to buyers?

[InTheCludgie]

Hi, I am planning to put my house on the market a bit later in the year after doing a few odd jobs however I'm concerned about my kitchen. We have been here five years and its still the same kitchen as when we moved in. It's not that modern and quite drab (pics attached).

We live in an area where properties go fast and rarely stay on the market for long due to excellent local schools, but I would still like to make it a bit more appealing. Any suggestions short of ripping it out and fully replacing would be welcome! ps ignore clutter, cat dish etc these will be gone for viewings but couldn't be bothered to tidy up atm!

Don't spend money on it, don't paint the tiles (tile paint always looks naff).

Get rid of all the stuff off the sides (the clutter on and around the microwave, even the toaster) shove it all in a cupboard for viewings to give the illusion of more space. Get on your hands and knees and give the grout on the floor tiles a good scrub with cif and a brush. Make sure it smells fresh.

At the end of the day it's dated and the new owner will either not mind that or they will rip it out and put a new one in to their taste. The best you can do is make it look clean and like a place where you have space to prepare a meal.

Also, the red bin, for viewings shove it further back into the hole or replace it with a silver or white one. It stands out to much in the small room.

honestly just hide everything for viewings so its tidy and clutter free, we moved in here last july to a very dated but useable kitchen didn't bother us we have used it as it is till now and in the next couple of weeks our brand new our choice kitchen will be going in

*please don't paint the tiles...Painting or sticking.....** damb fingers and small keys!

As per pp, told paint makes people think bodge job rather and too lazy to change the tiles. Which then makes people think what else have they bodged? Do not paint the tiles!!

*tiles not told!

I think it looks okay, I would declutter and have everything ( bin etc) the same colour (ie, lose the red) so that it’s more neutral and flowing.
Otherwise it’s a lovely kitchen.

It’s fine, buyers can live with it while they decide what to do

Agree you’re best leaving it rather than wasting money and time on stuff that will just look naff i.e. tile paint. Chances are someone will want to start from scratch anyway. I’d make it look as clean and clutter free as possible to show that the room is a good size and also practically it’s fine/could be comfortably used whilst a new kitchen was planned out. Kitchens are very personal; we’re buying a house that was done up by a developer and it’s perfect in every way except that we hate the kitchen. So we plan to gut out a kitchen that has never been used!

The lack of space around the cooker with the toaster /microwave/ kettle was the first thing I noticed....Id get as much of that as possible away.

I also noticed the bin and would replace with a neutral colour.

I wouldn't bother painting the tiles but I'd buy a tube of grout refresher for £5 and go over that. It's surprising how much better it looks.

Flowers often lift a room

Just have the freshly brewed coffee permeating the air at viewings.
Please don’t do this! It’s a really strong smell and not universally liked. I hate it and it makes me feel sick. If I viewed a house where they’d done that it would make me wonder what are they trying to mask, and I’d be on alert for any other tricks they were trying!

I completely agree with @totiredtocare !

Agreed with most of what has already been said on here.

Only thing I can think of to add is - if you want to make your kitchen are appealing the selling and having viewers over, then make some bread and/or strong coffee. Seriously studies have shown that the smell of fresh bread and/or coffee helps influence buyers when viewing homes.

What smells will sell your house?

Top 5 smells that will sell your home

1. Bread (35%)
2. Coffee (32%)
3. Clean laundry (29%)
4. Fresh flowers (24%)
5. Open fire (19%)

oh - looks like coffee already been suggested. Missed that!

Thanks everyone, some really kind comments there, I appreciate it! I'll forget the tile paint but will focus on the tile grout, sealant and clearing counters - there is a lack of counter space in this house so need to maximise what we do have.

I would put some new vinyl flooring down (in a wood plank or wood parquet pattern), change the worktop (beech block) and hob, and paint over the patterned tiles. And get a new bin! I