Obviously, real estate prices vary depending on the area, but the median home price in the United States is just $200,000 at the moment. So if you’re looking to sell your home for well above market price, you’re going to have to put some work in.

This means renovations and upgrades for your home. There are a lot of parts of your home that can be improved, but there are few better places to start than your kitchen. We’re going to show you how to boost the market price of your home and prepare your kitchen for sale with these 5 tips.

1. Liven Your Lighting

The kitchen is the heart of the home, so it has to feel warm, open and inviting. No one wants to cook or eat in some dimly lit corner of your house. A cheap way to turn your kitchen into a centerpiece is with better lighting.

For many of you, this simply means getting brighter, warmer bulbs instead of using the fluorescents in your fixtures that are giving everything a sickly green or yellow tint. You might also need a new fixture entirely. There are nearly limitless cheap and elegant options at big-box hardware stores.

2. “Elevate” Your Countertops

Of course, light can only go so far if you’ve got nothing special to shine a light on. Upgrading your countertops with marble, granite, or quartz can drastically improve both the look and asking price of your home.

Beyond looks, they’re also extremely durable and will bounce that new lovely light all over your kitchen.

Oh, and you’ll want to match your cabinetry with your new countertops with Image Line Painting as well.

3. Create An Island Getaway

If your dining room and kitchen are one-in-the-same, you have the space to consider replacing that big dining room table with a spacious island. Kitchen islands are far more versatile — they can be used for both preparing and eating food — and give your kitchen a more open feel.

Granted, it is a costly, time-consuming task, but it will pay for itself and then some once you sell your home.

4. Appraise Your Appliances

A kitchen is only as good as its appliances. You could have the most magnificent kitchen in the world, but if your fridge is the size of a shoebox and it doesn’t have an ice-maker you’re going to be in trouble when it comes time to sell.

So take stock of your appliances — fridge, stove, oven, etc. — and think about what the modern homebuyer would want to see in their place. These days you can get a sophisticated stainless steel fridge for a good price.

5. Keep it Clean

Lastly, you’ve got to think about staging your kitchen for people taking tours. People like to imagine living their lives in your home, so try to keep your clutter to a minimum and keep the area pristinely clean.

Is Your Kitchen Ready for Sale?

If all of these tips sound like old news to you and you’ve got your kitchen ready for sale already, then you might want to check out the rest of our advice for home sellers.

We’ve got great tips for even the most experienced home sellers out there.