Why fit in a second hand kitchen? Whilst it might be foolish to suppose that the real estate market will probably bounce back in the near future, brand new house sales and property values usually are two of the top signs that signal an economical recovery. And as the overall economy increases, families invariably make sizeable investments like households and new or used cars. This is especially true for present property owners which regularly dump capital back in to their own homes as the economic system betters. By far the most common and less expensive method to boost price of your own home would be to put in a used kitchen. Its all about one of the affordable ways to replace your kitchen and have the outcomes you wish with at the least fuss.

We are talking about ex display kitchens. Even if you don’t know what one is, it really is most likely that you just have seen a few of them in the past. These are the kitchens that you just may possibly admire at your local home improvement centre, and quite a few organizations provide them for sale. Why do they sell them? Well, these kitchens are employed to showcase a new design or style of kitchen and when the company wants to put a new model on display, they remove the old a single and give it for sale at a reduced price.

On average, an ex display kitchen costs less than half the cost of a new kitchen. Still, a lot of homeowners are hesitant to purchase a display kitchen. Not only do they usually believe that the kitchen may be old and out-of-date, but they also worry that a display kitchen won’t be as durable as a traditional 1. Fortunately, they are mistaken on both counts. An ex display kitchen is a regular kitchen and due to the fact it has actually never been utilised, they make the perfect replacement kitchen. In fact, with a little bit of shopping around its possible to come across an ex display kitchen in new or nearly new condition for the same low value.

Another great thing about buying a replacement kitchen is that many of these firms also buy employed or second-hand kitchens. So, you can sell whatever you choose from your old kitchen and use the funds to buy a designer ex display kitchen. That’s right! Since display kitchen frequently represent the latest in kitchen styles and designs, its most likely that you simply will be able to discover a modern kitchen to replace your old antiquated a single

Where once we might have taken out a loan and redone the room from scratch, now the newly budget-conscious can give their kitchen a spectacular facelift for a fraction of the cost. For a few thousand pounds, depending on the kitchen’s size, Kitchensynchwill take away doors, panels, recesses and other visible components, and sand, mend and spray paint them under factory conditions before reassembling them on site. They will also replace worktops, handles and appliances – which, together with a new, more contemporary paint colour can make the kitchen look as good as new.

Replacing your old kitchen with designer second hand kitchens can surely have a “dramatic effect”. Other cost-effective “tricks” include replacing old, painted kickboards under cupboards with contemporary stainless steel ones and taking off tiles in favour of glass or stainless steel splashbacks. Sinks have also changed, with larger ones replacing the old twin set-ups and ceramic sinks are going out of favour because they scratch and stain.

Sometimes, though, ripping out an old stone worktop can cause damage to underlying cupboards. Granite Transformations uses an alternative idea, originally from Italy, which involves sticking a 7mm layer of Italian granite, stone or glass over and around your existing worktop at a fraction of the cost. They raise sinks and other appliances to fit around the new worktop and make it look as if you have a new solid slab of granite or glass. The average kitchen is redone in a day, on-site, for about £2,000. If your kitchen doors are laminate or high-gloss, it is better to source new doors (specialists include www.Kitchensynch.co.uk).  Or better still, shop around for a second-hand or ex-display kitchen for a fraction of the price.

Kitchensynch sources from private clients second-hand kitchens in good condition and no more than four years old, and ex-display kitchens from designers. One such kitchen,  four year old bespoke white handpainted traditional solid wood framed kitchen with luxury granite is currently for sale at £3,750.
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When it comes time to renovate or completely re-do your home kitchen, then you may find your best options with second hand kitchens. For a fraction of the cost of brand new kitchen fixtures and appliances, you could have beautiful kitchen pieces that many will think you purchased from high end retail outlets.

Second hand kitchens are a collection of kitchen pieces that are often acquired through a sale by the owner to a wholesaler, who then deals in second hand kitchens and kitchen parts. Often, the homeowners will sell their entire kitchen sets or individual components , especially if they were unable to complete a given project for whatever reason. This is often due to the fact that they simply ran out of funds , and are now trying to recover some of their money.

This can be a fantastic opportunity however for other homeowners, especially for those of you who were looking to renovate an existing home, or potentially for a new home in this affordable housing market. Choosing second hand furniture for your kitchen is a great way to furnish the hub of the home, which the kitchen truly is.

You can typically find deals online, where there are many websites that have a huge selection of individual sections, kitchen pieces, and used parts, as well as entire kitchen sets too. One of the benefits of going with a used kitchen is the fact you can get a high-end or boutique look for a fraction of the cost.

As a result, you may ultimately be able to raise the value of the home that you are putting these pieces or sets in. For example, Kitchensynch offers a large designer collection of ex display kitchens and second hand kitchen sets at really affordable prices. They have a collection of “bespoke kitchens“, which are some of the most sought after sets and pieces due to the fact that they are handmade and completely original.

These kitchens would normally cost in the tens of thousands of dollars range, to be installed or refitted into a home depending on the size and materials being used. This is why second hand kitchens are on the rise in popularity, because it allows any home owners to get a designer quality kitchen at a much more reduced cost.

With the housing market in the United Kingdom being what it is, this area of home renovation is expected to boom, due mainly to the fact that many people are able to get very nice homes for affordable prices, often because they are foreclosure properties. This presents an incredible opportunity for some substantial real estate investment, by buying a quality property at a low price and updating one of the most important aspects of a home, which is the kitchen, and doing it with a designer quality kitchen at a fraction of the cost.

Be sure to do plenty of research, well in advance, before making any final purchases ,as there are many different websites that deal in secondhand kitchens. Many of them are wholesalers or warehouses that have large selections, and will often allow you to not only purchase pieces and sets from them, but also list and sell any that you may have.

These sites will often carry a wide variety of different styles like timber, vinyl wrap, Two-pac, laminate kitchens and more. Typically, they will not carry anything older than 10 years old, but sometimes you can find people listing retro and older sets, for those of you who are looking for a kitchen look from a specific time period or motif.

Choosing to install second hand kitchen pieces instead of buying everything brand new is a great option for home owners that are looking to save a buck or two, and saving money is the name of the game in the current economic climate.

news source : pressandjournal.co.uk

If you’re fed up with your current kitchen or bathroom, why not give them a new look for 2011?

Why Sell Your Old Kitchen?

There are plenty of reasons why you may not want your existing kitchen anymore.  Maybe it just isn’t your taste and you’d prefer to replace it with something that is.  Maybe you’re renovating the whole home and the existing kitchen doesn’t fit in with what you have in mind.  If your existing kitchen is in good condition, why not sell it on to someone else?  You’ll get money that you can put towards the cost of a new kitchen, and your old kitchen won’t take up valuable room in landfill.  As well as gaining money from the sale itself, you won’t be paying for the cost of removing the kitchen.

Guidelines for Selling Your Old Kitchen

If you do decide to sell your old kitchen, there are some general guides as to how much money you can get.  If it is more than 15 years old, expect between $500 and $1500.  Timber kitchens are popular and can get around $1500.  If your kitchen is less than 5 years old, you can get anything from $2500 up.  Kitchens that are in neutral colours are more popular than those that are more unconventional.  If appliances are included, expect the going price of your kitchen to rise.

When selling your kitchen, it is important to provide as much information to the potential buyer as possible (see below for a detailed checklist).  This will help to weed out the “looky loos” from the genuine buyers.  Also, when selling the kitchen, remember that you are responsible for disconnecting all of the electrical and plumbing connections.  You will need to get a plumber and an electrician to do this.  Ensure that you get payment for the kitchen before you start to disassemble it.  If your kitchen is bought by a secondhand kitchen company, they may remove the kitchen for you, but they will not disconnect the services.

We’ve all heard the news reports about the dire state of the American real estate market, but just because the economy is down doesn’t mean that selling your home is impossible. Whether you’ve been trying to sell your home for months or you’ve been thinking about putting your house on the market, a kitchen remodel is a fail-safe way to add value to your home and decrease selling time.

Now, just to be clear, we’re not talking about a complete top-to-bottom kitchen remodel. According to the Wall Street Journal, a full kitchen remodel (with appliances) cost over $54,000 in 2006, and sellers only recouped 80% of that cost! A small scale renovation is more cost effective and doesn’t drain as much capital from your pocket. The same Wall Street Journal article pointed out, “Less drastic jobs, such as changing out countertops and refinishing existing cabinets, bring better returns…”

The appearance of your kitchen is crucial to selling your home. Out of your entire house, the kitchen is likely the only single room that can make or break a sale. As California real estate agent Sherry Lee Cox stated in an article on the Real Estate Network, “Buyers are usually passionate about the kitchen in any home they are considering buying.” So, especially if you have worn linoleum or tired-looking Formica countertops, it makes sense to refresh your used kitchen a bit if you’re trying to sell.

There are a number of small changes you can make to bring out the best in your kitchen, from replacing an old porcelain sink to adding cheerful new curtains. The two best improvements you can make are replacing the flooring and installing new countertops; not only are these remodeling jobs relatively affordable, they also give you the most bang for your buck. That’s because in the last five or ten years, market standards for kitchens have shifted away from synthetic materials like vinyl flooring and laminate counters to hardwood floors and stone countertops. For your home to be competitive in the housing market, your kitchen needs to live up to these standards.

Remember, it’s best not to go overboard when you’re making small improvements as an investment. In order to recoup as much of your initial outlay as possible, you need to keep spending in check. Focus on the areas of your kitchen that would most benefit from an update and shop around for budget-priced materials. For example, imported granite countertops are gorgeous, but so are the less-expensive engineered quartz counters.

The most desirable kitchens today feature hardwood flooring and solid surface stone countertops. Depending on your budget, it’s best to remodel both areas of your kitchen in order to keep the overall look coherent; replacing your laminate counters with granite slabs only does so much good if your floor is still 20-year-old vinyl! The good news is that with all of the different stone countertop and wood flooring materials available today you’re sure to be able to find quality products that fit within your price range.

Additionally, it’s important to keep in mind that even if you don’t recover 100% of your investment, remodeling your kitchen is worth it in the end. Home buyers will fall in love with your fresh, modern kitchen, whereas a dated, tired, or nondescript kitchen might turn them off. The improvements you make to your kitchen will invariably be what sell the house: real estate broker Daniel Johnson of Colorado tells of two comparable homes in his area, one “with a refurbished kitchen, listed at $710,000, [that] recently sold, while an identical unit without the new kitchen, listed at $699,000, has had no takers.” So, even if your investment isn’t completely recouped, the kitchen renovations will attract buyers and produce results. As Johnson says, “Upgraded kitchens sell units.”

Style and function

This area has to be both stylish and functional to help sell your property. If you’re trying to sell your home to a family market then cutting-edge gadgets, futuristic cupboards and a super minimalist look might not be the most practical solution for many families. It’s a much better idea to focus on getting the balance right by thinking about how the room will be used. Including a small dining area and plenty of work surfaces will be very appealing to the family market. Whether you’re aiming for a sale from the family market or young professionals, don’t be tempted to second guess all the tiny details buyers could be looking for. This could lead to you spending money on features which won’t necessarily appeal to everyone and you could even narrow your market. When you refit this room with a view to selling your property, try to keep things simple and stylish and make the most of the space available as small and cluttered areas can really put buyers off.

Quick updates

With money being tight for many people at the moment it’s not always an option to install completely new units and appliances. Clever and affordable ways to update the look of the room can include changing cupboard door handles, repainting or retiling walls and replacing fittings such as taps. You need to create a feeling that the room is one where buyers would like to spend time even if it is just doing the dishes. One way to make the room inviting is to add extra lighting to brighten up the space and clearing away unnecessary clutter from worktops, a table will also give the illusion of a larger area. Giving the room a spring clean can instantly update the area and appliances and give the room a feeling of calm and cleanliness. Kitchens which double up as dining rooms are very popular with families and people who want to entertain so if you have the room, consider investing in a small set of tables and chairs. This will make potential buyers feel as though they are getting more for their money and they’ll be able to visualise themselves enjoying the space.

On the day

When you’ve made as many preparations as possible, it’s time to open your home to the viewing public. On the day of the viewing take the time to air the room by opening windows and using a subtle air freshener to wipe out any nasty odours. Give your worktops one last wipe down and wash, dry and put away any pots. Open your blinds as wide as possible and switch the lights on so the room looks brighter and bigger. Evidence of pets using areas which are used for cooking can put off home buyers so ship your pets and their belongings outdoors for the day.

These simple tips can help sell your home and leave an attractive living space for the new owner.

Delia Smith is the first lady of British cooking – she’s been teaching the nation how to make our favourite dishes for over 30 years. Delia’s TV career began in 1973 with her first series Family Fare, followed by Delia’s Cookery Course. Her programmes and books aim to bring people back to the basics of cookery, teaching fundamental and easy-to-follow techniques. In 1998, her How to Cook series was broadcast, and the accompanying book became her most successful yet.

One of Delia’s other great passions is football – in November 1996 she became Director of Norwich City FC. She also runs food and wine workshops from her cookery school at Norwich football ground.

Gordon Ramsay

Gordon James Ramsay, OBE, (born 8 November 1966) is a Scottish-born British chef, television personality and restaurateur.[1] He has been awarded a total of 16 Michelin Stars, and in 2001 became one of only three chefs in the United Kingdom to hold three Michelin stars at one time.Ramsay currently ranks 3rd in the world in terms of Michelin Stars behind Joël Robuchon and Alain Ducasse.

Ramsay is known for presenting TV programmes about competitive cookery and food, such as Hell’s Kitchen, The F Word and Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares.

Gordon Ramsay is Britain’s most famous celebrity chef, and a global cooking star. After catering college, he trained with some of the world’s best chefs – Marco Pierre White and Albert Roux in London and Joël Robuchon and Guy Savoy in France.

He’s now the owner of 7 restaurants in London and 8 Michelin stars. But it’s Gordon’s legendary temper that’s made him a hit across the world. He’s starred in the popular TV series Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares, Hell’s Kitchen and The F Word.

Heston Blumenthal

London-born Heston Blumenthal is famous for his scientific approach to cooking – ‘molecular gastronomy’. One of his signature techniques is the use of a vacuum jar to increase expansion of bubbles during food preparation. He has also experimented with personal sound amplification systems to enhance the sounds, such as the crunch created while eating various foods. Apart from a week’s work experience in Raymond Blanc’s kitchen, he’s completely self-taught.

Jamie Oliver

James Trevor ‘Jamie’ Oliver, MBE (born 27 May 1975), frequently nicknamed The Naked Chef, is an English chef and media personality well known for his growing list of food-focused television shows, his more recent roles in campaigning against the use of processed foods in national schools, and his campaign to change unhealthy diets and poor cooking habits for the better across the United Kingdom.

He shot to fame in his first TV series The Naked Chef, followed by The Return of the Naked Chef and Happy Days with the Naked Chef. In his series Jamie’s School Dinners, Jamie tried to improve school meals in Britain. The show saw him take on the British Government – as a result, the government increased funding for school meals. His latest TV show Jamie at Home explores growing and cooking your own produce. Jamie lives in London with his wife Jools and their 2 daughters Poppy and Daisy.

Marco Pierre White

Marco Pierre White is Britain’s original celebrity chef. He’s also been described as the ‘enfant terrible’ of the UK restaurant scene and the Godfather of modern cooking. Marco was born in Leeds, and was the first British chef to gain 3 Michelin stars, and at the age of 33, the youngest chef in the world to do so.

Nigella Lawson

Nigella Lawson is Britain’s favourite domestic goddess. Her first book ‘How to Eat: The Pleasures and Principles of Great Food’ led to her first TV series ‘Nigella Bites’, which was a huge success. Her second book ‘How to be a Domestic Goddess’ concentrated on the art of baking, and was voted Cookery Book of the Year. In 2002, Nigella starred in another TV series, ‘Forever Summer’, and published ‘Feast’ in 2003. In her most recent series and book ‘Nigella Express’, Nigella shows you how to cook up a feast quickly and easily.

Search for designer kitchens for sale at discount rate with KitchenSynch

Good kitchens help sell property, but there are certain ways to present yours in the best possible light. Here we look at our top ten tips to do just that…

1 Good kitchens help sell property, but they have to be attractive as well as functional. A kitchen is also the most expensive and inconvenient room to refurbish, so its condition will influence the value of your property.

2 Use your eyes: does your kitchen look dated? Check out what’s new in kitchen design to pick up some ideas. Handles on unit doors, for instance, are easy to change and an inexpensive way to give kitchen units a lift. Choose handles that are similar in size and shape to your existing ones so that fitting them does not leave holes or marks. Replace damaged or missing cupboard doors.

3 Remove all evidence of pets. Put bowls, beds, bones etc out of sight. Never have caged rodents, birds or other fauna in the kitchen when showing your home.

4 Kitchens should smell fresh and clean, so use your sense of smell. Even with extractor fans, kitchens can harbour odours, especially from fish, curries and other strong-smelling foods. Opt to go out or keep your cooking bland if you have visitors the next day.

5 Baking bread and brewing fresh coffee does not enhance the saleability of property. The aroma of baking makes us feel hungry (which is why supermarkets use it to encourage us to buy food). It does not make us desire a new home. If you’ve made coffee you should really offer a cup to your visitors, but do you really want them hanging around for a chat? Not on a first visit certainly, so leave the coffee till they return for a second view.

6 Use your ears: do not run appliances in the kitchen when showing your property. You want to create an impression of calm, efficiency and style, not humdrum housework.

7 Does your tap drip? If so, have it fixed (or think about replacing it if the style is dated or limescale-encrusted).

8 Use your sense of touch: is your kitchen really clean? Run your fingers over the work surfaces and units to feel for stickiness or grease. Units must be spotless, inside and out.

9 Keep surfaces as clear as possible. Put anything away you do not use on a daily basis. This will also make your kitchen easier to keep clean.

10 If your kitchen is large enough to accommodate a table and seating, make sure there’s one there even if you have a separate dining room; an extra eating area in the kitchen suggests value for money.

Bespoke Oak

My top kitchen tips

• Be disciplined with clutter – you need a space that not only looks great but that is easy to maintain.
• Plan more lighting than you think you will need. The more lighting you have, the more choices you have about creating mood within a room.
• Use your walls to create surprises – build excitement with over-scaled images or unexpected accent colours.
• Revamp your kitchen by replacing the doors or investing in some slick new designer appliances. If tight with budget you can also get away with cheap kitchens from a used kitchen company.