'You can get five times your return on investment' – the one area you should upgrade, says Jason Oppenheim

Selling Sunset's Jason Oppenheim is among the most famous realtors in the US – and he's also the 'best' – according to those in the know. So, of course, when he shares advice on selling – we take note. 

The Netflix star and founder of the Oppenheim Group sat down with H&G to discuss the room he calls the 'centerpiece of your home: the kitchen. Perhaps unsurprisingly, this space is the one that Jason recommends upgrading (above all else) before listing. However, the process doesn't need to be as expensive as it sounds – and it can often lead to a 'significant' return. 

'If I’m uplifting a home slightly, I like to paint the kitchen cabinetry, often just white. You can replace the cabinet pulls for a couple of hundred dollars, and often, you can get away with just replacing the countertops,' Jason says. 

While it helps to replace your cabinet poles and countertops, Jason explains that paint is the most impactful way to elevate your kitchen – and the entirety of your property. 

Jason Oppenheim

Jason Oppenheim is the president and founder of The Oppenheim Group and was awarded the 'Best Real Estate Agent in the United States' at the International Property Awards. The star of Netflix's Selling Sunset and Selling the OC has more than $3 billion in closed sales and currently has more than $300 million in active listings around Southern California.

'I always look for bang for your buck. Everyone wants to make sure whatever they invest in their house – they will get at least a two to three-dollar return. The first thing I would have to say is paint. This is generally the best – and most cost-effective – way to add value to any property,' he says.

And, while many fresh colors are likely to add value to your home, Jason recommends going white (or off-white) – an apt choice – considering his recent partnership with Behr. Jason used their Designer Collection shades in his recent penthouse renovation – but he often chooses neutral tones for his clients, too.

'After painting, you can go to hardwood flooring, cleaning, countertops, and staging; these are all things that offer pretty significant returns.'

In terms of kitchen colors, Jason uses the same hues in his own residence. 'I bought a home in Newport Beach; I didn’t redo the entire kitchen – I just repainted the cabinets white and replaced the poles and the countertops for around $8-9K,' he says. 

Changing these three things upgrades 'the centerpiece of your home' without the huge investment, but the return may pleasantly surprise you. 'You can get five times your return on investment for doing so. Begin with your kitchen and then your living room – these are the two most important.'

You can shop for the all-important white paint, along with other shades from Behr's designer collection below.