Eight kitchen inspection essentials
It's no accident buyers tend to spend the most time in the kitchen when inspecting a home.
A great kitchen is a gathering place for the family and will be crucial in the enjoyment of your new home. A poorly designed or shabby kitchen causes frustration and makes life difficult.
So when attending an open home, do what everyone else does and take your time in the kitchen.
Always check for storage space and the quality of the cupboards and drawers. Even if you don't like the style, you still want to be sure the structure is sound because it's pretty simple to change the doors and handles down the track.
You also want to be confident the oven, stovetop, tapware, and sink are in excellent working condition. Good quality European appliances are a bonus.
Make a judgment on whether there's sufficient space and if you'd be able to eat at a separate kitchen table or at the benchtop.
Below is a list of kitchen inspection essentials.
Quiz the agent – Find out how long the owner has had the property. If it's being “flipped”, be wary: owners tend to take shortcuts and go for style over substance when renovating the kitchen for a sale in the short term.
Mind the gap – Large gaps between cabinet doors and frames are a giveaway of a cheap kitchen installed purely to sell it quickly. It may look good now but is unlikely to age well.
Open and shut case – Open and close the cabinet doors and drawers. Savvy buyers do this habitually to check the quality of the frame, hinges and installation.
Blind corners – A poorly designed kitchen will have blind corners in the cupboards where there's space but practical storage is impossible.
Touching distance – A cheap, rushed kitchen will often feature shelving you can't reach without standing on a box or a small ladder. It won't take long for that to drive you crazy.
Benchtop check – Establish the brand of the benchtop. It may look fantastic, but a cheap imitation of a quartz top will dull and stain over time.
Electricity outlets – Does the food preparation area have power outlets so you can use kitchen gadgets? Where will you put these gadgets?
Appliance installation – Check around the oven, cooktop and dishwasher to ensure they've been installed correctly and will be easy to replace when the time comes. You don't want to have to rip a kitchen apart to install a new appliance.
