Would Building An Outdoor Kitchen Increase Your Home's Value?

Taking out loans for remodeling is an reinvestment into the largest purchase of a lifetime for many - your home. That's why everyday people are tasked with making informed decisions about the most beneficial way to put hard-earned money to work in their homes. These are questions worth considering before hiring a contractor and writing a check.

• Which part of the home needs a makeover?
• How will an upgrade enhance your quality of life experience?
• How much return on investment will a particular home remodeling project deliver?

One of the possibilities that often flies under the home remodeling radar is an outdoor kitchen. If you make a quick Internet search for Top 10 Home Remodeling lists often include decks, patios and indoor kitchens. However, creating an outdoor kitchen could outpace all of them.

What Is an Outdoor Kitchen?

Outdoor living spaces rank among the top home remodeling investments because they deliver a sound return on investment and leisure benefits. Converting otherwise unused square footage into seasonal or daytime living space easily checks those boxes.

But the same areas that allow homeowners to enjoy the fresh air and spend time with friends and family members remain limited. While property owners often place a gas grill on them to barbecue a light meal, the majority of foods and appliances remain indoors.

An outdoor kitchen involves building countertops, installing a built-in liquid propane or natural gas grill, refrigerator as well as adequate drawer and storage space. An outdoor kitchen utilizes specialized appliances that withstand the elements to create a second complete kitchen.

Benefits of Building an Outdoor Kitchen

A complete kitchen typically provides the following:

• Ability to prepare and serve any complete meal while enjoying fresh air and sunshine.
• Enhanced ability to relax in solitude without interruptions or having to go indoors.
• Increases the total square footage of your usable living space.
• Increases the resale value of your home.

When homeowners factor in the potential return on investment of an outdoor kitchen, estimates can range from 100-200 percent, according to Forbes. That far exceeds home remodeling projects such as bathrooms, wood flooring or energy-efficient windows.

One of the keys to maximizing return on investment involves creative designs that include stone veneer counters, high-quality stainless steel gas grills, overhangs to protect against inclement weather and the footprint leveraged to prepare food and enjoy them in an informal outdoor dining setting. It may take a little extra effort and some thinking outside the home remodeling box to conclude that an outdoor kitchen delivers everything homeowners desire. Those that make the investment often consider the upgrade a game-changer.