Tarek El Moussa reveals the one thing not to forget when renovating a kitchen

The HGTV star warns against this kitchen renovating mistake

modern, light and bright kitchen with gold tap
(Image credit: Norsu Interiors)

A new kitchen involves making about a billion decisions - and when updating a space with view to sell, there are many other considerations to factor in. On a recent episode of Flipping 101 on HGTV, host Tarek El Moussa highlighted one feature a couple of novice flippers had totally overlooked.

The married couple named Jun and Jessica had forgotten to include a dishwasher in their kitchen renovation. According to the real estate investor, you can't sell a house without one - but is this really the case?

inside a dishwasher with plates and cutlery

(Image credit: Fisher & Paykel)

The kitchen renovating mistake to avoid, according to Tarek El Moussa

Jun and Jessica were flipping a home they'd bought in Carson, California, to sell on. When it came to the kitchen, they knocked down a wall à la Jo Gaines, used the best white paint with warm wooden accents to bring a homey touch.

The addition of lots of modern kitchen ideas made it an inviting space you'd want to hang out in. There was a peninsula with plenty of nice wicker seating, a large farmhouse sink and textural pendant lights. 

But, there is (gasp!) no dishwasher. While Jessica tells Tarek she didn't think there was enough space for a dishwasher, the HGTV host thinks she and Jun should have made it work.

Tarek El Moussa from HGTV's Flipping 101

(Image credit: Alamy)

'You can’t sell a house without a dishwasher,' he says, putting it bluntly. While the majority of homes in the US do have a dishwasher, many families don't actually use them that often. 

According to a 2017 study by the US Energy Information Administration, around 68 per cent of households have one. However, little more than half actually use it at least once a week.

As Brian Davis from Spark Rental points out, they’re more common in urban places - such as the city of Carson - and some suburban areas. They are however less common out in the countryside.

modern, light and bright kitchen with gold tap

(Image credit: Norsu Interiors)

You can spend hours choosing the perfect hardware, paint colors and materials, but if a kitchen isn't functional, it could be a sticking point for potential buyers. For a lot of us, a dishwasher is a bonus. 

It certainly makes life easier when hosting, particularly for the holidays with thanksgiving around the corner. But depending on where you are, a dishwasher certainly isn't an absolute must-have. 

Millie joined Real Homes in early 2021 as a homes news writer. When she isn't writing about trends, makeovers and houseplant care, she spends her free time making tweaks to her rented flat in North London. Her next project is a very basic armchair reupholstering job to help create a cosy reading nook in her living room. She loves browsing antique centres, tending to her small front garden, and is never without some fresh flowers at home.

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