Often the countertop doesn’t need to be replaced to keep it looking great. If your counter isn’t damaged or worn, it might just need a good cleaning and some decorating to bring it up to date for the show. Consider the look you have and the look you want, maybe you can combine the two and simply update with borders or a wallpaper background?
Hiring a carpenter to replace your countertop can cost as much as $200.00 per running foot or more depending on the materials. If you opt to change the edge of your counter, your neighborhood handyman can do it for a few cents on the dollar in comparison. Consider buying a miter saw and do it yourself if you’re handy with wood.
A glue gun will reattach torn pieces of Formica. Sandpaper works a miracle on corning countertops. A little bleach on a cloth will remove most stains. Consider adding a built-in cutting board next to the stove where her mother-in-law cut a hole in the counter.
Backing the counter with a beautiful vinyl wallpaper border offers multiple options for the background look of your counter. Install a metal or cork frame if the price is right. Consider painting the area and using a layer of waterproof sponge polish to finish off the subsequent color wash. The stencil can be finished with a clear coat of waterproof paint.
For the show, display matching boats and a large fountain with a few ornamental plates. The appearance of your kitchen during showtime should resemble a cozy corner for tea. Perhaps a kettle on the stove and a kitchen table set for tea with a three-tier cookie tray?
This is a room your buyer will be spending a lot of time in, make it seem comfortable and inviting. Feel free to add a decorative pillow to the window seat or light a candle on the counter, if that’s how you’d live, your buyer might want to live that way too.
