Let’s talk for a moment about cabinets, especially kitchen cabinets.Attractive cabinets carry a lot of impact with home buyers. But, over-working the cabinets can turn into an expensive and difficult MESS for a flipper.What value-added work on the cabinets do home buyers really appreciate – and what is more than buyers want or will pay for?

Kitchen cabinets greet a home-shopper’s eyes with an impact equal to carpet and paint (sometimes greater). But they don’t have to be elaborate or cutting-edge to satisfy the majority of home-buyers – just attractive, clean and functional.

• Cabinets should appear very clean and fresh, from the instant a home shopper or real estate agent first catches sight of them. Don’t let cabinet cleaning be an afterthought, and don’t skip it. The buyer will be putting their food, plates and eating utensils in there! There is no quicker turn-off than the thought of moving into a house with soiled, cobwebby cabinets.
• Are there dings and scratches on the outside of the cabinets? A fresh coat of paint or stain can cure many ills at minimal expense.
• If paint or stain won’t cover the flaws, it is often possible to replace only the cabinet doors. After removing the old doors, do paint the remaining outside sections of the cabinets with a color that is a subtle blend with the new doors to match the new look.
• Replace knobs and pulls with something simple, current and attractive.
• Resist using bold or exotic looks on paint, knobs, pulls, doors and even replacement cabinets,as they won’t match the tastes of many home buyers. Basic, clean and attractive appeals strongly to home buyers.
• Fully replacing cabinets can be an expensive job that usually isn’t cost-justified by buyer appreciation. Review all the options before deciding on full replacement.
  • What do the buyers in your market want in terms of cabinets?In most cases, a paint color, knobs and pulls with an updated look are enough.
  • Avoid costly cosmetic extras. Remember that just because in your own home you need a designer look on bleached imported wood to be happy, that doesn’t mean that a buyer in your flip market needs that or wants to pay for it.
  • Completely replacing functional cabinets only for cosmetic reasons is almost always a costly, unnecessary mistake that contributes to over-spending and lowers your profits on the flip … without helping your marketing.Full replacement does not usually add value or justify the cost if the current set is in basic good repair.

If you must replace the cabinets because the old ones are in disrepair beyond hope, stay with basic, reasonably-priced options. A good paint choice and attractive knobs and pulls will go a long way toward positive marketing impact, without breaking the budget.

Cabinets are very important – but basic, clean and pleasant are almost always enough for the market!

Where do you find the most attractive cabinet knobs and pulls? Do you have a special source of reasonably-priced items not found in home improvement stores?

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