I see a lot of houses and a lot of kitchens…..some really fantastic and some not so great. Generally, my clients want an open concept kitchen with an island – and while those kitchens look great, sometimes they are very dysfunctional. When you are shopping for a new house and your kitchen is important to you, follow our check list:
- What’s the angle of the triangle? You want to make sure your refrigerator, sink and stove are in a triangle shape. Cooking requires all three of those things in different order throughout meal prep and if you have to walk clear across the room to get something from the refrigerator, that doesn’t make sense. Your kitchen should make sense!
- Check out the lighting when you are standing at the counter. So many times the lighting casts shadows or doesn’t reach the area where you need it.
- Counter tops need to be fairly maintenance free. While you may love white Carrera marble, honed and soft to the touch, it requires sealing, constant cleaning and quick wipe ups if anything that stains spills on the counter. Keep all that in mind when you are being wooed by that beautiful counter.
- Consider the size of the oven space. Many homes that have been ‘flipped’ are brand new, no one has lived in them before. You want to make sure the oven is large enough for a lasagna pan. Also check the heating element – is it gas or electric?
- Open the cabinet doors and open the drawers. They should have a soft close hinge if you are paying a lot for a newer kitchen. Sometimes the kitchen cabinets are just painted, check the sides of the drawers to see if the connections are dove tailed or not. That helps to keep the drawer in shape for years to come.
Can’t wait to see your new house with that great kitchen! Please call us if you are considering buying or selling your home!