In another time, on the North Shore, friends of ours had their home listed and while they were getting some lookers they weren’t getting any offers. It was a nice house…four bedrooms on the same level, family room with fireplace, dining room, generous living room with fireplace, two-car garage, large backyard with an in-ground pool.
They called it the “Father Knows Best” house, the ideal family home.
None of those attributes is what sold the house.
None of those attributes is what sold the house.
The kitchen did.
It was also large, with a breakfast “nook” that was over-sized. It had ample counter space and cupboards and all the trimmings for a kitchen of its time. It was in the heart of the house, both literally and emotionally.
The soon-to-be buyers were seeing the house for the first time. It was a couple and when the woman saw the kitchen, her reaction told the sellers without a word being spoken that they had found the right people. Within days, the sale was completed.
The point is, you never know what about your home is going to trigger the “offer” button at a showing.
Often, it is the kitchen.
So if your home is soon to go on the market, cast a critical eye on the kitchen. Consider spending a few dollars to upgrade it with things like new countertops, cabinet hardware, impressive appliances. It may feel like an unnecessary expenditure at the time, but it may also trigger the offer button.