Seattle

[stone]

So new job opportunities are making us contemplate the sale of our house.  We planned on converting our 36 inch ceramic 5 burner electric cooktop to a 4 or 5 gas burner 30 inch cooktop because 1) we love gas cooking and 2) it would give us a bit more counter space.  we have a long L shape with the burner on the long part of the L with a corner sink at the tip of the L and a little more counter  on the other side of the sink.  The short part of the L is also counter.  We have a gas furnace and the gas pipe meter and pipe is along the wall outside and the furnace is just below the kitchen.  So I guess the question is:  is it worth it?  Also the current electric unit is a GE profile, older but works well and has one burner that's a warmer.  Oh and the current counters are formica, older but cute and we plan on replacing those before sale.  But is it worth it to do the gas conversion?

[bld999]

How long would be cooking with gas? I have always thought that last minute upgrades are dubious because the next owner may not agree with your selections and want to remodel the entire kitchen immediately anyway. So the dwell time you have left would make a big difference if it was me. Some people are terrified of gas and would tear it out.

If you think the kitchen is a bummer, maybe new counter material and a cooktop would help it,

[stone]

Oh it would be probably three to six months.  We would definitely redo the countertops in a neutral formica. (The existing counterops are formica.) That would be a plan.  If we were staying long term I would have gone with white quartz or corian, but that's just me.

I was just wondering before a whole cut out is done. if converting to gas was worth it in terms of value-added in terms of the sale.  Meaning do people really prefer gas cooktops to electric and would that impact the overall look and feel.  The kitchen is definitely not a bummer and even though we were planning on making some changes (white corian to start) its cute and works so after moving we just painted and worked on other projects.  Ktichen change over was one of those things we were like, yeah, we'll get to that, let's redo our entire basement instead.

We already have a gas furnace.  This would just be a gas cooktop.  You do raise a good point about maybe a smaller electric cooktop instead, but I think folks generally like the GE profile series.  It is a good cooktop, I just like cooking with gas better and wondered as a whole if others did too.

And yes, I bought the house with the electric, but there were some other cool things about the house and the gas conversion seemed pretty straightforward ( I already talked to my plummer about it).  Oops, maybe I answered my own question thanks to you

[bld999]

It sounds like the gas piping couldn't be easier with a funace below. You may want to check with the gas utility if you go with the cooktop, and if you heat your water with gas too, you may get a break on your gas rate. Yes, cooks generally love gas. Some tops have a very large burner, two normal ones and a simmer one, comes in handy.

[Nanomug]

If you live in an area where the norm is gas cooktops then seriously consider it.  If the norm is electric that's what the buyer would expect.

I don't think it adds much if any value to have a new cooktop.  I'd run the gas line to the location to make it easy for the next owner if I thought that would be a win.

I like to bake in electric and cook on gas even tho I am considering the induction cooktops for our retirement place.  We've run gas or electric several times to the kitchen so that I could have my preferred cooking and baking choice.

Personally I prefer old appliances when buying because I will purchase what I want rather than feel like I should keep what is new.  I'm thrify in weird ways.  I put up with cheap, hard to clean carpet for 5 years when the kids were little because it was new when we purchased the house. 

[Ready-Set-List]

Hi there,

Even though the gas furnace is just below, it will still require a decent amount of plumbing, a permit and perhaps some venting as well.  Additionally, in recently shopping gas ranges for a kitchen reno we're doing get a property ready for sale, a decent one costs at least $700.  So, in the end, you're probably looking at an expense of between $1500-2000 when all is said and done.

As a contractor who exclusively works on getting properties ready for sale, I would be looking at several things to help you decide if the ROI is there.  Converting from electric to gas cooking solely for the purposes of resale is rarely on my list of good places to throw money unless the following are all true:

-The rest of the kitchen is what people would consider a serious cook's kitchen:  newer appliances, solid surface countertops, quality hood, excellent layout.

-Your sales price in Seattle/Eastside area will be over $500k.  The more expensive the home, the less flexible people tend to be with cooking fuel.

-Your exterior & interior paint are fresh, flooring is in good condition, landscaping is trimmed and handsome, lighting is updated and sufficient, front door looks nice... (Basically ALL of the other places where you could spend a similar amount of money don't need any attention.)

The most important money you will spend is money to get people in the door and visualizing themselves living comfortably in the home and making sure you have minimal concerns on an inspection report.  If everything else is in order and you have a quality electric range, while most people would prefer gas, it's shouldn't be a dealbreaker.  

Have you asked your real estate broker for their opinion?

Best wishes with the new job opptys and sale of your house.  Exciting stuff!

Eleanor

(BTW, there are truly some AWESOME Formica selections out there right now!  We're seeing a lot of new laminate installs in homes under $500k, even on the Eastside, that have saved the sellers hassle, time, and thousands of dollars without sacrificing buyers.  People always think I'm nuts for recommending it because granite has become so prevalent, but tastefully done in the right pattern the objections seem to fade pretty quickly in many -certainly not all- cases.  Additionally, I've seen a lot of it used in bathrooms in new construction at places like the Issaquah Highlands... and not just in the condos there.)

[godboutd]

I agree with bld999. Personally, the biggest downer in a kitchen is seeing a brand new mid-grade kitchen. When I see granite tile, new "cherry" cabinets, and mid-grade stainless steel appliances (a.k.a. the stereotypical "time to sell the house" kitchen update) I instantly think "that's $10-15k wasted that could've gone towards a good kitchen." I am also disappointed when I see an old kitchen with a new granite countertop (are you trying to fool me?).

Here is a great example: LINK. We wanted to make an offer on this house until we walked into the kitchen. Then we thought "where else did they cut corners?" We started digging into everything at that point and walked away. All because of a kitchen remodel...

I would personally much rather see an original kitchen, within reason, where the listing price is not trying to cover a half-baked kitchen makeover. If a kitchen has been updated, I want the WHOLE thing to be updated, and I expect it to show that someone put thought into the UTILITY of the kitchen, not the resale value. It's very easy to spot the differences between a bean counter's kitchen and a cook's kitchen- and a house with a bean counter's kitchen loses points in my book.

I'm just one buyer, hardly statistically significant, but if I was looking at your house I'd either want to see your original kitchen, or a nice, complete makeover with materials and appliances matching the asking price of the house.

[oddman]

 I would like to add.

If you decide to move to gas,  be aware that your gas line/trunk  (whatever its called)  may not be rated for adding a cooker,   and the "upgrade" can cost a lot of money.

[stone]

Thank you for those comments.  And I'm totally like you with the bake cook fuel action - and I will look into the gas vs. electric in the area. Sounds like keeping with what's there is the best option.  Thanks again.

[stone]

Thank you so much for all your comments!  When you put it like that it makes the decision pretty easy