Kitchen Fires

One of the most common places for house fires to start is in the kitchen. If you have had a house fire that started in the kitchen or your kitchen was damaged in a fire that started elsewhere, this article contains tips for making the most of your kitchen remodeling. But first, let’s take a closer look at kitchen fires.

USFA.FEMA.GOV says “each year, from 2014 to 2016, fire departments in the United States responded to an estimated average of 188,800 cooking fires in residential buildings. These fires caused an estimated annual average of 195 deaths, 3,800 injuries and $463 million in property loss.”

Kitchen fires can be particularly troublesome for homeowners who want to sell a fire-damaged house. This is because the kitchen and the bathrooms tend to be the rooms most scrutinized by prospective buyers of a house. Therefore, these rooms should be you first priority when repairing a fire-damaged home.

Remodeling Your Kitchen After a Fire

This does not mean undertaking a complete or expensive remodeling. Real estate experts concur that remodeling your kitchen is not always cost effective when you plan to sell. There are some great small things you can do in terms of minor improvements and generally sprucing things up. Here are some remodeling tips from industry experts that will provide a great impact on both the speed of sale and the price of your home.

The Kitchen Sink

There are several little tasks that you can handle in and around the kitchen sink that will make quite a bit of difference, but are also easy and inexpensive. For example, you should make sure there are no leaks. Take the time now to be absolutely sure there are no leaks and you will not have any surprises later on when prospective buyers are visiting.

It is also a good idea to remove any stains from the sink itself as well as surrounding areas. Make sure the sink and sink hardware shines. This can be as effective as replacing it.

Kitchen Appliances

Even if you do not plan to leave your kitchen appliances behind, you should be sure they are well cleaned and shine like new. This includes providing a thorough cleaning of the:

• Refrigerator
• Oven
• Dishwasher
• Toaster
• Microwave
• Coffee maker

This is particularly true for any kitchen appliance you will be leaving behind. Giving everything a thorough cleaning will provide an overall impression of a well-maintained, sanitary and friendly kitchen.

Appliances, which are dirty, make prospective buyers feel as though the rest of the home is dirty as well. Even if everything is immaculate except for one small thing; that one little bit of grime could be enough to change the entire impression the buyer has of the home.

Kitchen Cupboards and Cabinets

Provided your cupboards and cabinets are in good condition, there is no need to replace them and spend a lot of money.

To give them a bit of a facelift, you can simply make sure they are clean and well kept. This can be done by:

• Replacing out of date, old hardware
• Applying fresh, white shelf paper
• Wiping down cupboards to eliminate smudge or fingerprints
• Applying a fresh coat of paint on cupboards that cannot be wiped clean

Kitchen Surfaces

There should be no clutter in your kitchen whatsoever. If there is anything in your kitchen that is not absolutely necessary, it should be removed. Remove any floor obstruction, clean out the cabinets and clear off the table and countertop. This will open up your kitchen and provide a much cleaner and even more spacious appearance.

In today’s market, buyers want large kitchens. They desire room for their own belongings as well as room in which to move around. If you cannot demonstrate that your kitchen has that, they will look for a home that can.

Paint

A simple coat of fresh paint can rejuvenate your entire kitchen. With a fresh coat of paint applied to the ceiling, walls and cabinetry, you can literally take years off the appearance of your kitchen and make it look much cleaner.

Focus on using neutral colors that will make your kitchen look cleaner and larger.

The Center Island

If you want your kitchen to have a custom look and you have a sufficient amount of room in which to work, consider connecting two or three stock base cabinets and overlaying them with a new countertop to create an island. Allow room on one side for bar stools.

Introduce Flair with Molding

If your cabinets are somewhat on the plain side, consider using molding to give them a more luxurious look. Picture or regular panel molding can redefine doors and drawers that are flat.

You might also consider adding elaborate crown molding where your cabinets meet the ceiling to create an appearance that is elegant and classic.

Make a Splash with a Backsplash

Inexpensive glass mosaics, natural slate, porcelain tile or even a faux paint finish can be used to create a backsplash that is both unique and custom.

Light Things Up

Adding lighting to your kitchen will increase the appeal as well as the appearance of size and overall brightness. Lights can be added almost anywhere in a kitchen. Possible ideas include:

• Above cabinets
• Under cabinets
• From the walls
• From the ceiling

Dress up the Windows

There are many different window treatments that can be added to add to the appeal of your kitchen. Venetian blinds, Roman shades and wood blinds are all great ways to add style while keeping out the glare of the sun.

If your kitchen has more of a country style, consider adding lace or some other type of fabric curtains to provide a warm and pleasant appearance.

Don’t Want to Remodel Your Kitchen? Consider Selling

If your kitchen or home has been seriously damaged in a fire, you may not want to go through a time-consuming and expensive repair process.

Another option would be to sell your fire-damaged house directly to “We Buy Fire Damaged Houses“. We pay a great price and in all cash so you get your money fast and can move on with your life.

Just fill out the form below to see if your home qualifies for a free, no obligation quote.