![\"\"](\"https:\/\/rtacabinetstore.blob.core.windows.net\/rtacabinet\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/22193209\/Layout-1-1024x536.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nLayout<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Millennials settling down with younger families are a huge part of the market right now. One of their biggest must-haves is an open-format layout. \u201cYounger families raising children want to have close contact with the kids; they want all-inclusive togetherness,\u201d McQuade said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Interestingly, these buyers have little interest in formal family rooms like the dining room or formal living room. They want practical spaces that work with their everyday lives. Things like dining rooms that are only used a couple times a year are simply wasted space in the minds of these buyers. \u201cThey favor a big table right in the kitchen instead of a separate dining room,\u201d said McQuade. \u201cThey want a clear line of sight from the kitchen right through to the living room.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Real estate professionals are often heard to say, \u201clocation, location, location.\u201d But Michelle McQuade adds, \u201cright up there with location are condition and layout; these are the homes that get the premium prices.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Near the end of 2018 and into 2019, retiring baby boomers shifted the trend from moving elsewhere to staying in place. For many of them, the plan is to stay until the end of their lives. That had a huge impact on the market. At the same time, millennials made a shift as well. They started looking to come back home to settle down and raise their children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Combine all that with a pandemic in 2020, which also shifted the focus to staying home, and you have a low-inventory, high-demand market. This has made several things more important for you, the seller. Remodeling the kitchen and bathrooms are certainly one. But another, less expected one is the emphasis on outdoor spaces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBackyards are important because people are home now more than ever,\u201d said McQuade. They spend vacations at home, they entertain at home, they value family time at home. Giving some attention to making the backyard an at-home destination will attract buyers and boost your sales price.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We\u2019ve already established that an updated kitchen is probably the best thing you can do before you put your home on the market. Michelle McQuade went into detail as to the elements that make a big splash with her clients when they look at homes. Here’s what she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhite cabinets will never go out of style and they make it easier for buyers to imagine themselves in the space. White subway tiles have been a favorite for a while but still look fresh. High-contrast schemes are another timeless favorite. I see a lot of buyers gravitate towards cabinet variations on the high-contrast theme. So instead of black and white, they love gray and white, dark brown and white, or even dark blue and white.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n \u201cBuyers get excited by kitchens that shake things up, like an island countertop in a different color or material than the perimeter countertops. Or different cabinets on the island than the perimeter.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n \u201cBlack walnut is the wood of the moment for cabinets and other wood in the kitchen. It\u2019s richness promises to have long-lasting style. Stone countertops with either a smooth look or a veined look, like quartzite, are hot with buyers too.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019ve noticed that buyers love a mix of doors and drawers in the kitchen cabinets. Drawers in the island especially add character and functionality to the kitchen. Buyers aren\u2019t afraid to open up cabinets to check out functionality. What\u2019s inside is just as important as what they look like from the outside.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n McQuade says there are a few things you should steer clear of when you renovate your home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGet rid of or repurpose formal spaces. Open up the layout as much as possible for a more livable space,\u201d she says. You could turn the formal dining room into a home office. So many people are working from home now, a designated office may be viewed as a perk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOak is out. Don\u2019t use it. Paint over it,\u201d said McQuade. Paint over oak with a soft white. White never fails to be on-trend. It produces a fresh feel that buyers always love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Countertops and backsplashes are a key visual feature in the kitchen. When you select new ones, be sure not to get granular granite style countertops. \u201cThat speckled granite look is not wanted in today’s modern kitchen. They want more neutral, smooth looks like leathered granite or quartz. Carrara marble is always a winner,\u201d said McQuade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Where is your money best spent during a remodel? Take the advice of experienced real estate agent, Michelle McQuade, and renovate your home for a future sale. A few well placed improvements aimed at what your buyers really want can make all the difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Get ready to renovate your home with more advice from an experienced contractor and designer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/rtacabinetstore.blob.core.windows.net\/rtacabinet\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/22193226\/Outdoor-Space-1024x536.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nOutdoor Spaces<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/rtacabinetstore.blob.core.windows.net\/rtacabinet\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/22193241\/Updated-Kitchen-1024x536.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nUpdated Kitchen<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Homeowner](\"https:\/\/rtacabinetstore.blob.core.windows.net\/rtacabinet\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/01140416\/Plans-1024x536.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nRemodeling Don\u2019ts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"This](\"https:\/\/rtacabinetstore.blob.core.windows.net\/rtacabinet\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/24140552\/McQuade.jpg\")