I've noticed an interesting trend lately when doing open houses and showings, which prompted me to write this post. One of the first things excited potential buyers do is go in to the kitchen and open/close a drawer to see if is slams, or 'soft-closes'. I have heard Realtors preach to their clients, "LOOK AT THESE SOFT CLOSE.....IT IS A WELL BUILT HOME" (Meanwhile the foundation is cracked, the wiring is knob and tube, and the insulation is asbestoes), but at the least the drawers close slowly right? I have seen homes built with real maple cabinets that do not soft close, and other homes with particle board cabinets soft-close. Are we supposed to believe the particle board cabinets are of higher quality? When buyers are choosing between this condo or that condo, I have heard them make their list of pros and cons, and one of the pros frequesntly written is 'soft close drawers'

THE LOW DOWN

These hinges cost as little as $4.99 for 2 (good for 1 door) at Ikea with a 25 year warranty, or you could go higher end and get Blum hinges with a lifetime warranty for approx $12.99. So to turn a regular sized kitchen with 10 cupboards and 10 drawers in to all soft close, could cost you as little as $100 but can add thousands of dollars of value when selling. 

- Paul