Updating the Look of Your Kitchen Cabinets on a Budget

As a Realtor in Queen Creek I often get asked, “What upgrades will help my home sell faster and/or for more money?” That is a great question. And depending on your home, the location, and the condition, the answer could vary greatly. So, if you have specific questions about your home in particular, please reach out to us at the information below and I will be able to give you an accurate assessment and provide a little bit of advice.

In this post, I wanted to talk a little bit about your kitchen cabinets. Everyone knows that kitchen and master bathroom sell houses, so when one of the biggest fixtures in your kitchen is outdated or not very attractive, it can really hinder the salability of your home. Kitchen cabinets are a giant investment, and it’s not in everyone’s budget to install updated looking cabinets. If this is true for you, one option to give your kitchen a facelift and increase the desirability of your home is to paint them instead.

Once this comes up, the second question I get asked is “Can I paint them myself or should I hire someone?”  This is a very important question because how they are finished can either increase or decrease the desirability, depending on if it’s done properly. If not completed in the right way, it can take away from the value of your home. So, my answer is if you have experience with this type of wood refinishing or you’ve done all the research about how to do it properly before you start, it is absolutely a job that can be done yourself!

 If you choose to paint them yourself, invest in a high-quality primer and a high-quality paint.  I used “Aristoshield” from Dunn Edwards.  It is an amazing paint that has the durability of an oil based paint, but the cleanup of a water-based paint.  It is a little on the pricey side, but is absolutely worth every dime.
Another vital choice when it comes to painting is the color you choose. Choose wisely! Make sure that the color you choose goes well with the other finishes in your home that are not being changed, such as the countertop or flooring.  The best way to make sure you have chosen the right color is to buy a sample, paint it on a large piece of cardboard or foam core, and let it sit in your kitchen and view it at all times of the day in different lights. You want to know how it looks when it’s on the wall, as it often looks different than the paint chip in the store,  before you commit the entire kitchen. I learned this the hard way and had to repaint.  I will stop my advice here, because a tutorial sponsored by Lowes will give you better advice than I can detail here. Click HERE to view.
If you decide that you’re just not up for the task and hiring someone is a better choice for you, my advice is to make sure they provide references and before and after photos of jobs they have already done. Just because they know how to paint walls or the exterior of home does not necessarily mean they know what they’re doing when it comes to refinishing cabinetry.
Below is a photo of the finished product in my own home. Though it may have been a lot of work, the painted cabinets absolutely updated the look of the entire kitchen and for a fraction of the cost it would have been to replace them entirely!
Refinishing your kitchen cabinets is a big investment either way, but can repay big dividends if done correctly.  Good luck with your project, and keep checking back for additional posts on how to improve the value of your home!

We are full-time, experienced Realtors working in Queen Creek and the surrounding areas.  With decades of East Valley real estate experience under our belts,  we are here to answer any questions you may have.  Please do not hesitate to reach out to April Anderson at 480.272.1977.
We’re looking forward to hearing from you soon!

–April Anderson

United Brokers Group
21321 E Ocotillo Rd F113
Queen Creek, AZ 85142