I’m an estate agent – the worst DIY kitchen renovations you can do that can knock thousands of your home’s value
IS YOUR kitchen in need of an update? Well think twice before you attempt any DIY.
It turns out some of the common hacks might knock money off the value of your home, not to mention look cheap and tacky.
Property expert spoke to Fabulous to reveal the dos and don'ts of kitchen upgrades - and some might just surprise you.
According to the pro, before you do anything it's important to consider how long you plan to stay in your home, since this can affect what's worth spending time and money on.
Peel and stick options
It might be tempting to avoid forking out for new worktops, floor tiles or backsplash and instead opt for stick-on options, but this is usually a red flag for potential buyers.
READ MORE ON DIY
Alex explains: "Buyers will ask themselves why the owner has cut a corner.
"If they are prepared to cut a corner with this, then what else throughout the house have they done that can't be seen?
"This will knock a buyers' confidence and by virtue your end selling figure."
Property expert , agrees, she told Fabulous: "I would NEVER fit stick on floor tiles, this can look really cheap and peel really easily."
Most read in Fabulous
She suggests going for a cheap option like a backsplash upstand instead, "I generally stay away from tiles as a whole as I don’t like the look of them and how dirty and mouldy the grout can get," she says.
Bad lighting
Lighting either above or below kitchen cupboards can instantly upgrade the look of a kitchen.
That said, avoid cheap lighting strips, "there are so many cheaper lighting options when selling or flipping a home," Emily says.
Steer clear of dirt cheap strips and instead shop around for alternatives that won't break the bank.
The pro quipped: "Strip lights do not look good!"
Choose colours carefully
If you want to play it safe, always stick with neutral colour options in your kitchen, bright colours can be visually jarring and turn buyers away.
Emily explains: "I had a client that wanted to paint their kitchen yellow to sell. Always stick to more neutral colours.
"You may like bright colours but not everyone does."
Get the details right
Even if you're not DIY savvy there are plenty of how-to videos online to lend a helping hand.
But that doesn't mean you should cut corners and ignore the finer details - this is what can make a big difference to the value of your home.
Painting kitchen cabinets is a great way to upgrade your space, "as long as you buy a decent quality paint," Emily explains.
Cheap paint can often chip or peel - so make sure you find quality paint, since this will still be cheaper than forking out for new units.
The pro adds: "make sure siliconing is done well, if this is done badly this can make the kitchen look like a bad job has been done."
Think twice about appliances
If you want to impress potential buyers you might not even have to break a sweat with DIY jobs.
Alex recommends spending your money on "stand alone appliances" instead.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
Read More on The Sun
This might be a range cooker or an American fridge-freezer, just keep it simple.
"Many like to think that an instant boiling water hot tap will add value, they are great if you are going to get the use out of them, but they don't add true value when looking to sell," he shares.