The Benefits of Kitchen Remodeling
It's where your family gathers at the end of the workday, and where everyone ends up during a party. It's your kitchen, the command center of your home, and it's the number one priority of those shopping for new homes. Even in the declining housing market, the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) reported that homeowners spent more than $96 billion renovating 7.6 million kitchens in 2007.
Of all home improvements you can make - even in today's tough economy - the best one in terms of return on investment is kitchen remodeling. Forbes calls it one of the 10 "Recession-Proof" home improvements, because homeowners can generally count on recouping at least 75-80 percent of their costs. In fact, in certain areas of the country, including Charlotte, N.C.; Seattle, WA; and several other Pacific Coast cities, minor kitchen renovations have paid homeowners back 100 percent or more at the selling table.
Spend Your Money Wisely in a Kitchen Redesign
Tearing up your kitchen just for remodeling's sake isn't the best course of action. Today's most popular kitchen improvements - and hence, the improvements that prospective home buyers are looking for - are those that enhance energy efficiency and the utility of kitchens.
For example, granite countertops are always a plus; they not only add beauty and luster to any kitchen, but they last for decades and, because of their strength and texture, are ideal for any kind of cooking or serving. Bamboo, recycled glass, cork flooring, and day lighting are also very popular "green" upgrades, as are energy-efficient appliances and radiant floor heating, which the U.S. Department of Energy says can save homeowners about 20 percent on their energy bills.
Explore this site to learn more about a new kitchen's costs and benefits to your home.
