New Kitchen Listings Across Greater Vancouver

Ask What the New Kitchen Actually Replaced

New Kitchen on a Greater Vancouver listing covers everything from painted doors on the old boxes to a full rebuild with new plumbing, so ask what was replaced, when and by whom before you write an offer.

Refacing and rebuilding photograph identically. Open a drawer and look at the box rather than the front: dovetailed sides and soft-close runners belong to a real replacement, stapled particleboard behind a fresh door does not. Check whether the layout moved. A kitchen in the same footprint with new fronts is a cosmetic refresh, while a kitchen with the sink or the range in a new place involved plumbing, wiring and, in most municipalities, a permit.

Check the Work Behind the Cabinet Doors

Open the cabinet under the sink with a flashlight. Look for staining, a new trap on old pipes, and whether the shutoff valves were replaced along with everything visible. Run the taps and the dishwasher together and watch the drain. Check the countertop seams, the caulking at the backsplash and whether the cabinets sit level against the wall.

Then look at the range hood. A hood that recirculates into the room rather than venting outside is a common shortcut in a fast renovation, and it matters daily. Have your inspector confirm the electrical work at the panel, because added circuits for an induction range or a wall oven should appear there.

Confirm the New Kitchen Was Permitted and Insured

Request the permit history for the address from your municipality, and in a strata ask for the alteration agreement. Unpermitted work follows the property rather than the person who did it, and it can affect your insurance and what a lender is prepared to accept. Ask the listing agent for receipts, the contractor's name and any remaining warranty on cabinets, countertops and appliances.

Then price the difference honestly. A genuinely rebuilt kitchen supports the asking price and saves you a disruptive project in your first year. A cosmetic refresh over tired bones does not, and it is easy to pay for one while receiving the other. Ask your real estate agent for comparable sales in the neighbourhood before you settle on your number.