Best bang for my buck (investment wise) on updating kitchen?

[SMKR]

Our kitchen is still the same as it was put in in 1997 when the home was constructed. My wife is wanting to update it and I am trying to make a list of what items will really add to the value of the home and give us the best return when we go to sell it in a few years. Please feel free to add to or comment on my list.

Upgrade List
1. Granite counters
2. new sink
3. all new appliances
4. new cabinets or re-do cabinets?
5. currently have tile in the kitchen, replace or update?

We just scored a kick ass fixture for the kitchen, which looks great, but now looks way out of place among the rest of the kitchen.

What else?

[krazy kris]

you have a lot of money in what you got there and I don't know if you will get it back when its time to sell the house

[SMKR]

well we havent bought anything but the light fixture yet, we are still planning. if say one thing will give us 20 return, and another will give us 60 percent return, we will go with that one. but if the whole remodel will give us 65 percent combined, then its worth it in our opinion. we just know we have to update it before selling to differentiate from other homes in the neighborhood.

[yellowstang]

New cabinet doors maybe, but not entire cabinets. New paint, nice backsplash (glass tiles are in now) are fairly cheap and a good ROI. Also, maybe just new hardware on the existing cabinets, that can make a huge diference.

[beefed88]

use granite tile instead of solid for the countertops looks great and cheaper

[yellowstang]

use granite tile instead of solid for the countertops looks great and cheaper

Not for resale

[Thehead]

You are on the right track.... For kitchen counters i would put solid Granite counters not tile. If it were a bathroom or bar then that would be different. Undermount sink or a lot of people are going with the country sinks right now. A nice gas range if you have gas and double ovens help a shit ton also. Anything that creates good usable counter space but doesn't disrupt the flow of the kitchen will also help, like an island if there is room. Under cab lighting. New paint and or texture depending on if you have popcorn on the ceiling. A nice backsplash that will help bring things together. I'll post some pics of what we did in our kitchen to give you an idea.

[Thehead]

We gutted the kitchen and started with everything new including sheetrock. It turned out pretty nice but there are a few things I would have changed if i could have.

[scootro]

pretty fancy! love the colors of the back splash

[beefed88]

Not for resale

granite tile relative to formica is a great alternative to solid granite, yes of course solid granite is awesome looks great durable but I can tell you that the $250 I spent on tile compared to the couple grand for solid was well worth my BANG for the buck. The tiles have a bevel edge to be able to butt them together. My counter looks like solid unless you are standing over it.

[KBScobravert]

I would hit up appliance wholesale and distributors for floor models and discounted items. My brother hooked me up with $12,000 in Bosch and Jennaire for less than $5,000.