Whether you decide to go down the route of selling your property online, or venture down the traditional route using a high street estate agent, ahead of putting that ‘for sale’ sign up, there are lots of things you can do to add value while increasing the chances of it selling.

As the heart of the home, it’s widely recognised that kitchens can add a lot of value to a house. In fact, it’s estimated that a new kitchen can add as much as five percent to a home’s value.  But let’s be realistic; kitchens are not cheap. It’s not uncommon for people to spend upwards of £10,000 on a newly fitted kitchen – with some spending even more. And although it is almost guaranteed to make your house more appealing to viewers and increase its value as a whole, it is a lot of money to part with, especially for a house you’re leaving behind.

So if your kitchen has seen better days but you either don’t have the money to buy a new one or simply do not want to fork out thousands for a house you’ll immediately put on the market, there are things you can do to give it a facelift without spending a fortune.

Paint cupboard doors

Once upon a time solid wood kitchens were all the rage. Everyone wanted that traditional farmhouse feel with varnished pine or solid oak cupboards. However times have change. Nowadays, these kitchens are seen as outdated; dark, dingy and altogether unappealing. But if your cupboards are still in fine working order, we don’t suggest you rip them out, instead think about painting them a neutral colour to help lift the whole room and bounce light around.

There are companies who specialise in doing this kind of thing if you’re unsure of your own artistic abilities, but if you do decide to do it yourself, we recommend getting good quality paint specifically for wood.

Change the knobs

This is one of the cheapest ways to change the feel of your kitchen cupboards. If you’ve got tatty, old knobs adorning your cupboard doors, think about updating them to either complement your soft furnishings or choosing a colour that will really stand out. This is so simple to do, taking around half an hour, but can make a big difference.

Update the tiles

If your wall tiles have seen better days, or if they’re old fashioned and unattractive, consider replacing them with something a bit more up to date. Brick-style tiles are extremely popular right now and don’t cost a fortune. Again, if you don’t feel confident doing it yourself, ask around family and friends. You never know, someone could have a hidden talent!

Change the worktops

This may see incredibly difficult and expensive, but believe us, it’s not as much hassle – or as expensive – as you may think. Worktops get a lot of use, so can be left looking tatty and dirty over time – no matter how much you clean them. Putting in a new worktop will instantly lift your kitchen and make it look like new once more – especially with the newly painted cupboard doors.

If you have a granite worktop however, we suggest you leave it in. Granite is incredibly expensive, so even if it’s not to your taste, we’re sure it’ll help to sell your house.

Update lights

Another simple and cheap way to transform a kitchen is to look at the lighting. Is the room looking a bit dull? Then think about getting a spotlight light fitting. You can angle the lights in whichever direction you like to ensure that every part of the work surface is covered. If you do want to spend a bit more, you can go the whole hog and get some spotlights put into the ceiling and really give it the ‘wow’ factor.

As well as ceiling lights, you can also add strip lights under cupboards and inside ones with glass fronts to make it look lighter, brighter and a lot more expensive. Most DIY stores sell these, and they simply fit into place and are either switched on manually, or come on when the cupboard is opened.

Change appliances

Is your hob looking worse for wear? It’s okay – it shows you love to cook. But it’s not okay for prospective house buyers. If your hob has seen better days, consider changing it for a shiny new one. This will only set you back about £200 but can instantly make a kitchen feel cleaner and more modern. The same applies to ovens, washing machines, dishwashers and fridge-freezers. Even if you’re not leaving them, it will make your kitchen feel much more loved.

Look at the floor

The last tip is to change something that we all forget about; the floor. If you’ve had the same lino for years, it’s time to get rid. Updating the floor is the perfect way to instantly lift a kitchen from the ground up – without spending a fortune!

Do you have any tips for those looking to do up their kitchen ready to sell?

If you’re ready to put your house on the market, why not do it the modern way and use an online estate agent? It could save you thousands!