Plumbing Blog

A nice kitchen is what is gonna sell!

You’ll probably get more return for your investment by upgrading the kitchen.

Which one is in need of it more? They are both big ticket items when selling a house. A 70s kitchen might be where to start. Then you could always spruce up a bathroom. Go with the kitchen you won’t regret it. Good Luck

I would redo both. Adding a modern window in the bathroom with a bright color, a vanity and adding safety bars around the tub will help a lot. The kitchen? It depends on the style it is now. People like cabinets, plenty of light around the sink and stove, a counter for preparing food and windows that compliment the room itself.
If the rest of the house has a 70’s look, I would not change the kitchen to a 2007 look. Just clean it up, replace broken or cracked windows and wood paneling on cabinets and walls. If you have room for flowers around the house, plant some along with small shrubs, especially evergreens. You will be surprised at the amount of people that love the older look. Good luck

Well being a woman we always put our 2 cents in. We like a nice kitchen that is has workable space to spread out and move.
Also think about the amount of time spent in the kitchen vs. the BR.
I like to cook, but the is my preference personally.. But just don’t put so much money in either that you will not be able to recoup your money and make a little profit as well.

As John said… do both. Having said that, take a look at the kitchen cabinets. You may be able to strip the doors off and toss them… drawer fronts too. Hinges, handles and hardware. Once it’s all clear, fill all the holes with wood filler, sand and paint everything that is left; white… a semi-gloss bright white… brightest you can find (Benjamin Moore - “Moore Style” white is a good choice)… inside and out. Go to Home Depot (or Rona or Lowes) and find some replacement doors and drawer fronts to fit your budget and your taste of the rest of the house. You can get white or oak or maple or… get some new knobs and hinges and put them up. A laminate counter top is not as expensive as you think… about $8- $15 per running foot. Easy to install. The floor can be upgraded by using peel and stick tiles over the existing floor (provided it is vinyl). If it’s ceramic or ? tile, scrub the grout and brighten it up. Get a new sink and faucet for the kitchen too. Scratch and grime-free. Sink $100 and faucet $100… go for the sale item.
Then go for the bathroom. Go easy on the fixtures, inexpensive is ok because it’s all new. Go with white fixtures and get a snazzy faucet for the sink and a snazzy light fixture that sets the tone… go for the “eye candy”… decorate with a framed pic or 2 and a nice mirror… maybe oval-framed and hanging as opposed to the mounted one. Maximize the impact but minimize the cost… could all be done for about $2k and WOW!!!!
Your kitchen job will add between $5K and $10K and the bathroom the same or more in added value.
Good Luck!

Adding a bathroom will bring up the value of the house, especially if you only have one bathroom right now because it’s a structural enhancement. Changing the kitchen floor and countertop, and cabinets is for aesthetic reasons, not structural. I’d go with the bathroom. Kitchen stuff can always be part of the asking price negotiation.