Kitchens and bathrooms are key to selling a home because they’re the most expensive rooms to renovate, plus they’re the easiest place to turn buyers off with what I call the “yuck factor.”

If you’ve been out looking at homes on the real estate market, you know what I mean. You’ll find anything from sticky floors and filthy appliances to countertops and refrigerator doors covered in clutter.

Then there are the factors that go beyond neatness and cleanliness. These might be expensive things like cabinets and countertops that need replacing or less-expensive eyesores that only need cosmetic changes.

The projects where I get to solve cosmetic issues quickly and inexpensively are among the most satisfying projects for me as a home stager. After all, anyone (with taste!) can throw $20,000 or more at a kitchen and make it look better. But transforming an ugly kitchen for a few hundred dollars (or even a few thousand) is where home stagers really earn their fees! It’s also where our clients make the biggest bang for their buck!

> Read more about how to stage a kitchen

On occasion, home stagers also have the opportunity to coordinate more extensive kitchen renovations. Karen Totten of Karen’s Finishing Touches (ON) took a dated 1980s-style kitchen and completely transformed it into something that looks like it’s right out of a magazine.

Updating the floor and removing the Florida ceiling were an important first step. Repainting the existing cabinets (a huge savings over replacing them), adding an island and new stainless steel appliances completed the redesign. While this is a bigger project than some, it’s obvious that Karen has increased the value of this home considerably!

If you’d like to expand your knowledge about decorating homes to sell, check out the Staging Diva Ultimate Design Guide: Home Staging Tips, Tricks and Floor Plans.