Kitchen ideas for landlords

Ideas

Achieve a look that will appeal to tenants. Getting an idea of how you can use and make your kitchen look, can be achieved by using a design mood board. Take a look at pinterest for inspiration.

Most kitchen retailers also offer a free virtual kitchen design, so why not make the most of using this type of service. It'll help you see how to make the best use of space and avoid any design mistakes being made, as you can do a virtual walk through.

Identify your target market

This can be easily assessed by looking at similar properties to yours, how they've been decorated and which have been successfully let out. This will also give you an idea of the spec tenants expect in your target market for you to achieve the best rental yield. It is important to set a budget and try and stick to it, you might face unforeseen costs as well, so it's best to factor this into the equation. Many home improvement stores have a range of kitchens to suit all budgets, they also have styles that will appeal to potential tenants.

Ex display kitchens can be a bargain way to get a dream kitchen on a budget, however you may face unforeseen costs making the kitchen fit, if it wasn't designed to fit your space and there can be problems sourcing extra units or other parts you may need. So this route could end up being a false economy. If you take this route make sure that what you are buying will work for you. Keep the design simple and make sure to get multiple quotes from contractors and to check their reviews.

Find Contractors

There are websites like checkatrade, rated people and mybuilder which can help you to find local contractors by simply popping your postcode into their search engine. You could make a huge saving by doing this.

Budget/Financing your project

Take advantage of 0% finance deals, however make sure this is a financially viable option for you to pay off in the set time frame. There are attractive deals to be had with retailers such as Homebase and alike offering interest free credit options on their kitchen range which could give you a bit of flexibility financially if you have a lot of expenditure going out all at once. Many DIY retailers such as Homebase, Ikea now offer good quality and attractive flat pack kitchens which are very reasonably priced. This is the most cost effective way to get a new kitchen.

What Guarantees are offered

The Swedish retailer IKEA also provides a great range of sturdy kitchens at very competitive prices and offers a free 25 year guarantee. Homebase also offer a quality guarantee on their kitchens of up to 20 years, so it might be worth taking a look at some of the retailers who offer long guarantees, it's important to make sure to read the terms and conditions of the guarantee to be clear on what's covered.

Work Tops

Kitchen worktops can vary quite a bit in price, a good smart entry point work top at IKEA called the Saljan in black marble effect/laminate, 246x3.8cm retails for just £50. However if you are look to give a kitchen a high end look on a budget we suggest taking a look at IKEAS Karlby worktop, walnut/veneer. This will end up a lot cheaper than fitting a simulated stone work top which will cost you thousands, although it's not exactly cheap at £120 for 186x3.8cm, it has great reviews for its aesthetic, quality, being strong, durable and easy to maintain. Square edged worktops are also a good way to achieve a high-end look. B&Q has a range of these worktops, one which caught our eye was the Algata Matt grey stone effect square edged worktop which costs £29.33 per M.

Appliances as a Focal Point/Wow Factor

If you have a large kitchen another way to make it look expensive is by having a range cooker with a matching splashback and extractor to make it a focal point and a American style fridge freezer. These days it's not expensive for these items. For instance a dual fuel range cooker can be bought at Curry's from £390 (LOGIK LFTG90B18 90 cm Duel Fuel Range Cooker – Black ). Argos also have a American fridge freezers from £399 (Bush MSBSB20 American Fridge Freezer - Black).Also check out offers as Curry's has an offer on at the moment whereby if you spend £750 or more on two large kitchen appliances you're eligible for a £75 discount.The LOGIK L90CHDX17 Chimney Cooker Hood - Stainless Steel (£119.99 at Curry's) which can be nicely matched with the LOGIK L90SPLX10 Splashback (£34.99 at Curry's)

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Shop Smart

It's a good idea to check out the sales for appliances and fixtures. Furthermore you might be able to get cashback through topcashback if the retailer you use is listed.

Sinks/Taps and water pressure

Kitchen sinks and taps come in all shapes and sizes. If you're looking for a simple sink we suggest the Vattudalen sink from Ikea which retails at £60 or the Wickes Lexin sink range which is £44. These would match well along with a simple wickes Monobloc Kitchen tap that costs £35. If you're looking for a more high end look try a butler sink, these retail from around £130 or less if you shop around and give great charachterful addition to a shaker style kitchen. Don't be afraid to shop around or check out prices for these items online. Also be aware if you have low water pressure, you might need to source specific taps accordingly.

Tiling

Tiles are another aspect of your kitchen, stone and slate options can be very expensive and don't have the practicality of ceramic tiles which are much cheaper. Classy looking Metro tiles for instance can be sourced from Homebase at £12 per M2 in a range of colours. Wickes is also another retailer which provides a wide selection of reasonably priced ceramic wall and floor tiles.They also offer Metro tiles from a very reasonable £10 per M2.

Appliances

Another aspect to consider are your kitchen appliances, we suggest you try retailers such as currys. They have a great range of hobs, ovens, fridge freezers, washing machines, kitchen extractors, dishwashers and whatever else you could want. A stainless steel finish is recommended and try to go for the cheapest product with good reviews and decent energy efficiency. Remember that this isn't for your own personal home to live in, so don't incur undue expense trying to personalise the kitchen to your taste. Make sure the spec is right for the market you have in mind.

Finishing Touches

Keep it Neutral, if you have plastered walls it's a good idea and practical to use a trade magnolia or white paint that can easily be touched up after tenants move out if need be. Choosing a colour that might be discontinued or is difficult to match up won't allow you to do this. Lighting is also something to think about, this need not be expensive and can easily be sourced from the likes of Argos, The Range and Ikea.For instance spot light bars and plates start from £7.50 from the Argos Home range. If you're shopping online, be sure to check out the likes of topcashback to see if your retailer is listed and if so how much cashback you could potentially earn. Every little helps.

Flat Pack Kitchen installation service

IKEA has a kitchen range that is designed to be built by yourself. However if you don't feel up to the job they have a installation service which they can quote for once you've completed the planning stage and this includes a 5 year workmanship guarantee. Homebase also has a installation service which covers all aspects of fitting your kitchen including tiling and electrical installations. There installation service is provided by a company they've teamed up with called HOME PROJECTS. The workmanship provided by this company is covered by a 2 year guarantee which covers any installation defect due to a failure in workmanship.