Real EstateHow to Prepare Your Charleston SC Kitchen for Sale

By Alexa Collins, Guest Contributor

Your Charleston SC kitchen is the focal point of your home, especially when you are getting ready to sell your house. One of the best ways to sell your house fast is to prep your kitchen for hungry house hunters to walk through the door. Think about it like this: you wouldn’t leave the half-eaten loaf of bread on the counter or the trash full of rotten food before a brunch or dinner party. You’d throw out the trash, move the bread, and scrub the kitchen clean so that it shines. You’d also light a few candles, set out some lilies, and get the party started. It’s the same when you sell.  You want to design an experience that buyers love so much they want to make an offer on your property – so we’ve outlined some key tips for getting your kitchen ready to sell. 

Deep Clean the Space

You know how big of a difference it makes when you come home from a long day at work (or from a long vacation) to a clean space. Scrubbing the kitchen from top to bottom has a big impact on the way the space looks, feels, and smells – this just might be one of the best ways to sell your house fast! Make sure to clean areas you might ignore in your weekly or biweekly cleaning sessions.

Get under the grates on the stove, polish the refrigerator door, vacuum and mop, scrub every single surface and dust everything. Clean out cabinets with a solution of Murphy’s Oil Soap and hot water.

You should go as far as to run the dishwasher on an empty cycle with baking soda or lemon peel and scrub out the oven. Clean the sink until it sparkles. Give tile or stone counters a thorough clean with an all purpose product like Softscrub. Make sure any grout in between floor, counter, or backsplash tile is as white as it was when first installed.

Major Cabinet Rehab, DIY Edition

The look of your cabinets has a big impact on the way your entire kitchen presents itself to buyers. Don’t worry though–you don’t have to rip out and replace them if they look dirty or feel dated.

You’ve already made big headway with the serious scrub you gave the cabinets in step 1. If scrubbing was all you needed to make the cabinets look like new, all you need to do now is replace all knobs and drawer pulls. Switching out existing hardware makes the cabinets feel so new that buyers will think a handyman installed them the day before.

If scrubbing didn’t have the desired effect, a good polish can help. Take a product like Howard Feed-In-Wax and polish up cabinets with exposed wood. If the polish still doesn’t impress you and your real estate agent, it’s time to paint them. We recommend buying cabinet paint in white with a satin finish for maximum shine and durability.

Make It Light & Bright

As stated in an earlier post, your kitchen should feel “light bright and airy” to keep up with current Charleston trends. In order to accomplish this, you’ll need a fresh coat of white paint on the walls and some updated light fixtures. Get the space repainted by a professional for a few hundred dollars in a soft white hue. This will immediately give the kitchen a bright facelift and make the room feel clean.

Replace any dated light fixtures. Look for simple clear glass or chrome pendants (keep the tone of the new hardware in mind). If you have a single light fixture, look for a contemporary shape and the same glass and chrome combination. If you need advice on the style that best fits your home and neighborhood (or just need help picking), your real estate agent can help you!

Fill your kitchen with the scent of fresh lemons by squeezing a fruit throughout the space. Fill a bowl with oranges or bright green apples, set fresh flowers on the counters, and limit clutter to a shiny toaster oven or artfully displayed cookbook. Now your kitchen is ready for house hunters!

Note: We’ve included these tips and more for preparing your whole house in our  “Ultimate Guide to Selling your Home. ”  Download a copy for yourself and find out why it’s more important than ever to work with an experienced Realtor – let us know how we can help.