When updating a kitchen for resale, try not to overspend. (Photo: iStockphoto)

Question: I am planning to put my home on the market, but my kitchen needs updating. I am thinking of installing new kitchen cabinetry to help my home sell. Is this a good move?

Answer: In today's sluggish real estate market, you want to do everything you can to appeal to hesitant buyers. But, today's buyers are looking for value and don't want to spend any more for a home than necessary. That means that if you plunk a lot of money into your kitchen, you are unlikely to make that money back upon resale …Full Story

This month, the Cyberhomes crew will share what's on our wish lists for the holiday season. Join us for 12 days of great gift ideas for home and real estate buffs.

Dave Fyffe, Cyberhomes database architect

On my wish list: A 36-inch Viking sealed burner rangetop to replace an existing 36-inch Creda cooktop. The difference between a rangetop and a cooktop is that a cooktop sits on top of the counter and a rangetop is built down into it, and usually has the control knobs on the front instead of on the top. Having the knobs on the front frees up additional cooking space — I would have six full-sized burners instead of the current five. It also makes cleaning much easier since spills can't get on or under the knobs. The real advantage of the Viking, though, is its burners. They provide very equally distributed and consistent heating across a wide range of temperature settings. These rangetops provide everything from an extra-low temperature setting to a very high one, a much wider range than standard stoves …Full Story

This month, the Cyberhomes crew will share what's on our wish lists for the holiday season. Join us for 12 days of great gift ideas for home and real estate buffs.

Reggie Nicolay, director of social media

On my wish list: I may not do much cooking, but I sure would spend more time trying to learn if I had the 15-inch Pandigital Kitchen Technology Center. The primary function of the Pandigital is HDTV, but it's really four devices in one — it also supports digital recipes, digital photos and wireless connection to photo-sharing sites. With this technology mounted under my cabinet (rather than taking up space on my countertop) I would dig in and use it as a digital cookbook. This is just the right amount of TECH for me to be inspired to create a delicious four-course meal. (Yes, honey, I said four courses!) And during appetizers I'd set the mood with a fun slideshow for friends and guests! …Full Story

This month, the Cyberhomes crew will share what's on our wish lists for the holiday season. Join us for 12 days of great gift ideas for home and real estate buffs.

Janine Sieja, Cyberhomes editor

On my wish list: While most caffeine-crazed Americans long ago stocked their granite countertops with a fancy espresso maker for morning home brew, I'm late to the latte party. (I didn't drink coffee till age 30, but that's a separate story.) So this year I'm dreaming of the sexy little Francis Francis X1 from Illy. Its key features include a continuous steam function (important for the froth on those quintuple cappuccinos) and electronic coffee temperature control. But, really, with this being the holiday season, the coffee maker's most important attribute is much more primal: The Francis Francis is the exact shining hue of Rudolph's proboscis. I only hope that Santa Claus, who will probably need an attitude adjustment himself by the time he flies over New Mexico, hangs around long enough to demonstrate how to whip up something rich and delicious …Full Story