Finding A Great Real Estate Agent

Posted on: 13 February 2017

For those who like cooking or eating homemade meals, the kitchen is one of the most important rooms in a house. Therefore, if you are shopping for a house, you need to be able to tell whether a kitchen is both beautiful and functional. To do that, start by evaluating these four major components of a kitchen:

Appliances

A kitchen isn't just a room; without the right appliances, it would be difficult to use a kitchen comfortably. Therefore, you should have a list of all the appliances the seller will leave in their kitchen, plus their respective faults. If you don't do that, you might think you are getting a big family fridge only to find out later that it doesn't keep food cold.

Plumbing and Electrical Fixtures

Apart from appliances, the plumbing and electrical fixtures in the kitchen are also integral to its operations. For example, you can't use a kitchen with malfunctioning lighting and leaking sinks. As an amateur, it might not be easy for you to spot faults with plumbing or electrical fixtures unless they are obvious. Luckily, you can use the home inspectors report to identify faults that might be festering unnoticed.

Cabinetry and Shelves

Here, you need to concern yourself with the material and condition of the cabinets and shelves. People love hardwood cabinets, and they are common enough, but hardwood isn't cheap. Other options include hardwood applied as a veneer over plywood, aluminum, and even PVC. Do your research to know the pros and cons of the cabinet materials. Next, evaluate the conditions of the cabinet material (for example, is the wood warped?), doors, knobs and other fixtures. All these will determine how long you will use the cabinets before replacing or upgrading them, as well as their effects on the resale value of the house should you decide to sell it.

Flooring

Here, again, you should evaluate the material and its condition. Aside from your personal preferences, you should also consider the cost of the materials since that determines your overall kitchen's cost. The common materials here include hardwood (will always be beautiful), laminate (scratch-resistant), and tile (water-resistant). Look out for rotting hardwood, scratched vinyl, broken and missing tiles, warped laminate and other forms of material damage in the kitchen.

Hopefully, the tips above will help you get a great kitchen for your next house. Don't forget to set aside ample time for evaluating the kitchen, listen to the advice of your real estate agent, and scrutinize the inspector's report before making up your mind.