If you're planning to sell your home in a few years, then an expensive kitchen remodel doesn't make sense. One solution that provides a great payback on your investment is cabinet refacing.
Everyone loves a shiny new kitchen, but the reality is kitchen remodeling can be a costly home improvement project. When you consider buying and installing new cabinetry, appliances, lighting, flooring, and a countertop, the cost can easily reach $25,000 to $50,000. Whether you hire a contractor or do the work yourself, it is hard to get around the product and material costs.

If you plan to move within three to five years, that cost will be difficult to recoup. Unless your neighborhood is seeing rapid home appreciation, it will take longer for your housing value to catch up with your investment.

Cabinet Refacing is an Economical Alternative
The answer for many home owners is cabinet refacing, which is a fairly quick home improvement project to reface your kitchen cabinet doors and drawers.

A cabinet refacing project can cost $2,000 to $6,000, depending on the size of your kitchen and your product selections. Many cabinet refacing contractors also install countertops, sinks, faucets, windows, and other products. This makes it easy to reface the cabinets and also replace a few select products. The result is a sparkling new kitchen--without the high price tag.

Investment Numbers
If you bought your house for $150,000, put in $15,000 in new windows, and then spend $35,000 to remodel the kitchen, your total investment in the house is $200,000. Conversely, if you forego the expensive kitchen remodeling and spend $5,000 on cabinet refacing, your investment is $170,000. Depending on your market, this should leave you with plenty of room for profit when you sell your home.

About the Author

Allison E. Beatty is a syndicated real estate writer who has been writing home improvement columns for 15 years.