Flaws will make you hate the kitchen in your Beverly Hills house

Unless you eat out and only use your kitchen to store snacks, it’s probably one of the most important rooms in your house. It’s a well-known fact that a beautiful kitchen really catches a buyer’s interest.

That’s why sellers often do a little remodeling or upgrading before offering their Beverly Hills homes for sale.

Sometimes, in their efforts to make the room visually appealing, they make mistakes that ruin the kitchen’s functionality in your Beverly Hills house.

Here are a few of the problems that can make you hate your kitchen:

Too few drawers, or misplaced drawers. A whole lot of things that belong in the kitchen do best in drawers.

Flatware and cooking utensils come to mind, along with items like storage bags, plastic wrap, and kitchen towels. Further, these drawers need to be handy to the areas where their contents will be used. A utensil drawer on the other side of the room from the range or primary work surface will be an annoyance in your Beverly Hills house.

Cabinets over the sink. Most kitchen sinks are positioned beneath a window, but sometimes that’s not possible. Cabinets of standard height will be “in your face” and obstruct your view of the sink.

Upper cabinets too shallow. Those upper cabinets should be deep enough to house a good sized dinner plate, so if in doubt, measure. Uppers should be at least 12″ deep.

Poorly placed dishwasher. The dishwasher should be right next to the sink – not 2 or 3 feet (or more) away. In addition, the dishwasher door should NOT block your access to the sink when open. That sounds like a no-brainer, but some people really do place them at a right angle.

Poor ventilation. Check to see that the stove, oven, and microwave are vented outside – not into the attic and not back into the kitchen.

Too few electrical outlets. Your home inspector will check to see that the circuits are proper for the appliances in the kitchen, and will check to see that the outlets are GFCI’s – but might not pay attention to how many outlets are located above the work areas.

Are there outlets where you might want to plug in a crock pot, a fryer, a mixer, a toaster, or a coffee pot?

Backsplashes that are impossible to clean. Some surfaces look beautiful when new, but once they’ve been spattered with grease or splashed with cake batter from a raised mixer, they’re terrible. Check for non-porous, smooth surfaces that will stand up under vigorous scrubbing.

Counter tops that burn or stain easily. Counter tops in well-used kitchens take a lot of abuse, so check to see that the materials used can stand the pressure.

When you’re ready to find that special Beverly Hills house, get in touch. I’ll be happy to show you what’s available in your price range for your perfect home. And as we’re searching for your perfect home, if I notice any design flaws that you miss, I’ll point them out.

My goal is to help you find a home that you’ll love for many years to come.

Are you considering a move in the near future?

Powerhouse Real Estate is here to help you before, during, and after the process. Darryl has prepared an e-book “Home Seller’s Guide to Money Making Fix-Ups” that we would like to offer you or anyone you know.

To get a free copy, contact us on the site directly or our “24 Hotline” at 888.739.0922 Enter ID # 726

Darryl West

Powerhouse Real Estate

433 N. Camden Dr Ste 400

Beverly Hills, CA 90210

dwest@powerhouserealestate.net

The Latest in Home Decor Trends Without The High Price…

Whether you’re getting your Los Angeles house ready for sale or decorating the home you just purchased, it’s tempting to go with the latest colors and home decor.

But… there is a danger.

Some of those trends only last a short while – fine for people with mega-bucks who can afford to then switch to the next “latest and greatest,” but perhaps not for people with budgets to maintain.

In addition, some of them that seem like a good home decor idea at the time don’t seem so good after a few months.

One of the hottest trends this year is plaid. And not just the traditional plaids we’re used to seeing in say, a flannel shirt. These plaids are big and bold – and in some cases, “noisy.”

So – we don’t recommend papering an entire wall in plaid, nor installing plaid carpeting. If you love it and know you’ll continue to love it, go ahead and buy the couch, because you can take it with you.

Otherwise, invest in some less expensive touches. I’ve seen plaid in:
Bathroom towels
Tablecloths and placemats
Sofa pillows and throws
Throw rugs
Wall hangings
Bedspreads

You’ll offer a feel of “trendy and new” home decor without breaking the bank – and without feeling that you have to live with the look for years because you spent so much to create it.

When you’re ready to sell your Los Angeles home, give me a call. I’ll be happy to share the home decor trends and looks that are drawing buyers’ attention this season.

Are you considering a move in the near future? Powerhouse Real Estate is here to help you before, during, and after the process. Darryl has prepared an e-book “Home Seller’s Guide to Money Making Fix-Ups” that we would like to offer you or anyone you know.

To get a free copy, contact us on the site directly or our “24 Hotline” at 888.739.0922 Enter ID # 726

Visit our office at 433 N. Camden Dr. Suite 400, Beverly Hills, CA.