Pulls vs knobs

13 years ago

We are in the process of updating our kitchen for resale, the cabinets are oak and in very good shape , but they have a built in type pull and I have been thinking about adding hardware type pulls and or knobs. Once I make that first hole I am in too deep.

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Peggy Poulos Interior and Exterior Design

13 years ago

I know eztia. A lot things done to sell a house seem counter intuitive. You would think that leaving that undone would make little difference.

The best experience for those of us who do home staging, is taking a house that is on the market for $400,000 and not getting a single offer. Not even an offer of $380,000. Then it is taken off the market and the stager comes in, with an investment of say $5000 and about a week or two later, it is recieving multiple full price offers at $440,000. Ask any stager they will tell you that happens.

The seller was lucky that he hadn't sold earlier, because he grossed at least $40,000 plus above what they would have had if it had sold unstaged.

I have had this experience more than once.

Lesson: Don't be penny wise and pound foolish. Call in a stager, they won't cost you, if they are really good you could come out with more money, a faster sale, and a more committed buyer on your terms.

Oh by the way, on one of these experiences, the seller's agent find the seller now turned buyer a property he was able to buy way below the neighbor hood value, because the house looked so neglected. With some paint and other quick detailing that stagers know that knew house looked fabulous and he had instant new equity.

Okay, off my soap box :o)

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Comments (7)

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Peggy Poulos Interior and Exterior Design
13 years ago
last modified: 13 years ago
Absolutely add the hardware. I have done so many of these for clients who are selling. I use normally the bronze 8 pack of knobs that you can get at Home Depot for about $15.00 or something. On the doors place knob straight across from hinge on the opening side.

DO NOT use brush nickle on these cabinets or they will look cheap. The bronze enhances the nature of the wood. And it is absolutely okay and in this case correct to not have your knobs match your faucets.
nasmijati
13 years ago
I would leave the cabinets and drawers as they are. Let the people who buy the house decide what kind of hardware they want, or if they want any hardware at all.
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Peggy Poulos Interior and Exterior Design
13 years ago
last modified: 13 years ago
The very reason we don't leave these thing for buyers to decide, is that studies show that when you stage homes - properly aesthetically complete the picture for them- they pay on average in the vicinity of 300% of the cost of the ivestment of the staging. Plus it sells the house faster and the buyer is more emotionally committed to it.

When homes need work Buyers feel like bargainng more, because they feel it is going to take them a lot of time money and inconvenience. Plus they do not realize how much nicer this kitchen is going to look with these knobs. It is a lot like you or me without our make up or our hair done. Yes we are basically still the same underneath, but others will assess us according to how they see us, not how we can look.
PRO
Reviving Design
13 years ago
As a certified home stager...I couldn't agree with you more Mary ....on both comments!
tsmcfarland
Original Author
13 years ago
We have been on the fence about the knobs but now no that is the right decision ,thank you .... We are changing the floor adding back splash and paint but now the next decision -counter top ---it's outdated but not wore out .
nasmijati
13 years ago
Oh, now I understand about putting on hardware before selling a house.

If I may make a suggestion based on my experience, I prefer a cabinet/drawer pull rather than a knob. It is easier for me to use with my arthritic fingers. A pull that is three inches wide with a one-inch depth to accommodate fingers works well for me.

One can purchase templates at a hardware store so that each knob or pull is aligned "just so."

Best wishes.