Even a moderate kitchen refresh can meaningfully shift buyer interest — here's what to prioritize.
Prioritize cabinets, counters, and lighting over a full gut job
Refacing or painting existing cabinets, upgrading counters, and improving lighting return more per dollar spent than a complete teardown in most cases.
Match your kitchen's finish level to your neighbourhood
A $60,000 high-end kitchen can be the right call in one home and an over-improvement in another — match your spend to what buyers in your price range actually expect.
Get a permit for any electrical, plumbing, or structural work
Moving a sink, adding a circuit, or removing a wall all typically require a City of Ottawa permit — see our Permits & Inspections guide before starting.
Budget a 10–15% contingency
Kitchens frequently reveal surprises once cabinets and flooring come out — outdated wiring, hidden water damage, or plumbing that doesn't match the original drawings.
Often the single highest-return kitchen upgrade — a fraction of full replacement cost with most of the visual impact.
A material and finish upgrade that buyers notice immediately, without the cost of a full layout change.
Under-cabinet lighting, updated fixtures, and new hardware are low-cost, high-visibility changes.
Moving plumbing and gas lines for a new layout is expensive and rarely returns its full cost — only do it if the existing layout genuinely doesn't work.
Book a free consultation with Narges for a read on what will actually move the needle at resale, or ask HAI a question.
