{"id":27702,"date":"2026-05-08T15:15:20","date_gmt":"2026-05-08T22:15:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/blog\/?p=27702"},"modified":"2026-05-08T06:15:09","modified_gmt":"2026-05-08T13:15:09","slug":"high-end-kitchen-upgrades-worth-making-some-are-better-off-without","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/blog\/2026\/05\/high-end-kitchen-upgrades-worth-making-some-are-better-off-without\/","title":{"rendered":"High-End Kitchen Upgrades Worth Making, Some are Better Off Without"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">If you\u2019re planning a kitchen remodel, resale value is likely part of the equation. To take the guesswork out of it, we asked a panel of real estate agents which high-end upgrades actually deliver return on investment, and which ones aren\u2019t worth the splurge.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Here, they offer their expert take so you can prioritize what pays off.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Is It A High-End Kitchen Upgrade Really Worth It?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">At the end of the day, the answer seems to be an enthusiastic yes.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">&#8220;If the kitchen is clean, updated, and well-kept, buyers will assume the rest of the house is too,&#8221; says real estate agent Jessa Teel.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">However, agents emphasize that the payoff varies from feature to feature. Some expensive features underdeliver, while other simpler updates can punch above their weight.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">First up, four upgrades agents say always justify their investment.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>4 Upgrades Worth Making<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">If you&#8217;re dead set on upgrading, start with any of these expert-approved areas.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Cabinetry<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">With the amount of real estate they take up, cabinets arguably have the biggest impact on a kitchen\u2019s overall look and feel. Which is why Teel says refreshing them is one of the smartest updates you can make.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">That said, a full cabinet demo isn\u2019t always necessary for a strong return. Teel points out that swapping pulls, or painting or refacing, can come surprisingly close to the payoff of new cabinetry.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cIt really depends on the condition of the cabinetry itself,\u201d she says. \u201cRefacing cabinetry is a best-value way to update it without spending an arm and a leg installing all-new.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">If you\u2019re tempted by the prospect of ripping out old cabinets and resorting to lower-cost open shelving, Teel recommends staying away from open shelving or glass cabinetry to keep your space from looking cluttered.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Countertops<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cCountertops are one of the most expensive kitchen upgrades, but you will see the most ROI here,\u201d Teel says.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Though marble carries undeniable luxury appeal, its upkeep can deter certain buyers, making slightly less costly, lower-maintenance options a better resale strategy.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Quartzite and porcelain are dependable middle-ground choices, while butcher block remains an even more budget-friendly option with broad appeal.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Lighting<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Compared to more expressive spaces like dining rooms and entryways, kitchen lighting is often underestimated, but Teel insists it\u2019s not an area to skimp on.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Teel recommends starting by updating existing lighting fixtures, then potentially adding lighting where it\u2019s lacking, such as over the kitchen sink or in a dining nook. Teel calls such an approach \u201clayered lighting\u201d which allows for flexibility, especially when paired with dimmers.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Flooring<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">At this day in age, Teel recommends considering an engineered wood flooring as a way to layer in natural warmth since so many are waterproof or water-resistant.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cOutdated flooring can really date the whole space,\u201d she says. \u201dNo one wants to be on their hands and knees cleaning grout.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>3 Upgrades It&#8217;s Okay to Skip<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">If you&#8217;re set on a reno, but still looking for places to save money, our experts gave us these upgrades you&#8217;re probably better off without.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Fancy Appliances<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">While there\u2019s nothing wrong with loving the hush of a near-silent dishwasher or the craftsmanship of an Italian-imported stove, know that many buyers won\u2019t feel compelled to pay a premium for one.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cIf appliances truly need to be replaced, go for a tried-and-true brand, but stay basic,\u201d Teel says. \u201cA buyer may or may not care about appliances with bells and whistles and you won&#8217;t make your money back on them.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Opening Up Walls<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Short of a few, rare floorplans where the kitchen really does need to be freed from its boxed-in footprint, opening up your kitchen to your living and dining room isn\u2019t necessarily where you\u2019ll see a return.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cNot every buyer wants an open concept kitchen and it can compromise the structural integrity of your home,\u201d says Teel. \u201cLean into the style of your home&#8217;s build and don&#8217;t try to make it what it isn&#8217;t.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">In many older homes, taking down upper cabinets that separate the kitchen from the dining room can open things up considerably, making it essentially a no-cost update that can modernize a home in an instant.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Anything Too Custom<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">\u201cIf a client is working within a tighter budget, I always advise against over-investing in highly personal or overly detailed finishes like intricate or expensive backsplashes,\u201d says real estate agent Shelton Wilder.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">You may not feel passionate about white subway tile and white quartz countertops, but few buyers feel strongly against them either, giving them strong move-in-ready appeal and resale value.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thespruce.com\/should-you-upgrade-kitchen-11942959\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Should You Really Upgrade to A High-End Kitchen? What Real Estate Pros want Homeowners to Know<\/a> by Marisa Suzanne Martin | The Spruce<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you\u2019re planning a kitchen remodel, resale value is likely part of the equation. To take the guesswork out of it, we asked a panel of real estate agents which &hellip; [<a href=\"https:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/blog\/2026\/05\/high-end-kitchen-upgrades-worth-making-some-are-better-off-without\/\">read more<\/a>]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10,13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27702","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-home-lifestyle","category-real-estate"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>High-End Kitchen Upgrades Worth Making, Some are Better Off Without &#8226; Rory C Real Estate | Oakwyn Realty<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.roryc.ca\/blog\/2026\/05\/high-end-kitchen-upgrades-worth-making-some-are-better-off-without\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"High-End Kitchen Upgrades Worth Making, Some are Better Off Without &#8226; Rory C Real Estate | Oakwyn Realty\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:description\" content=\"If you\u2019re planning a kitchen remodel, resale value is likely part of the equation. 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