Essential Kitchen Remodeling Tips

Has the time come to finally get that new kitchen you’ve been promising yourself (or your better half) for years? Have you saved up and are ready to invest in your home and create your dream kitchen?

Did you know that the average kitchen remodeling project in America costs an average of $50,000? That’s certainly not just pocket change for most people. Fortunately, there are things you can do to help keep costs under control and ensure your remodeling project goes smoothly.

Set Your Budget

Before you start on any remodeling work in your home, it is vitally important to set your budget. Kitchen remodeling costs can easily spiral out of control if you don’t have a good idea of how much you can spend. Once you’ve established your budget, you’ll have a good foundation to start from. Try to be as granular as you can, allocating a cost to different sections and stages of the work. 

Tackle Some Tasks Yourself

There are countless choices to make when selecting products for your kitchen remodel. Accordingly, each item has a wide cost range. Kitchen faucets range from $60 to $1000. Kitchen sinks range from $100 – $1000. Kitchen countertops range from $500 to more than $5000. That’s why it’s so important to set your overall budget before you begin. It really helps to narrow down your options when selecting your products.

A kitchen renovation is a big undertaking and can take a fair bit of time. One great tip to help keep costs down and on budget is to roll up your sleeves and do some of the work yourself. Some tasks such as framing new walls, electrical, plumbing, cabinet and countertop installation are best suited for the professionals. However, tasks such as demolition, daily clean up, painting and hanging window treatments are things many homeowners can accomplish and enjoy. As an added bonus, getting your hands dirty in the project affords you a deeper understanding of the overall remodeling process.

Tackle Some Tasks Yourself

There are countless choices to make when selecting products for your kitchen remodel. Accordingly, each item has a wide cost range. Kitchen faucets range from $60 to $1000. Kitchen sinks range from $100 – $1000. Kitchen countertops range from $500 to more than $5000. That’s why it’s so important to set your overall budget before you begin. It really helps to narrow down your options when selecting your products.

A kitchen renovation is a big undertaking and can take a fair bit of time. One great tip to help keep costs down and on budget is to roll up your sleeves and do some of the work yourself. Some tasks such as framing new walls, electrical, plumbing, cabinet and countertop installation are best suited for the professionals. However, tasks such as demolition, daily clean up, painting and hanging window treatments are things many homeowners can accomplish and enjoy. As an added bonus, getting your hands dirty in the project affords you a deeper understanding of the overall remodeling process.

Keep Upgrades and Growth in Mind

A remodel now is great, but what happens a few years from now? While you may not be able to predict the future, you can certainly plan for it. Maybe you don’t quite have enough money for that professional level gas range you’ve had your eye on for years. That’s OK. You could reuse your existing electric range for now, but go ahead and run a gas line to the range location for future use. Just make sure you check the specifications of your professional level gas range to make sure everything is ready when you are. 

You might not have a house full of little ones at the moment, but what about a few years from now?. An eat-in kitchen countertop is great to keep the kiddos in view and participating in your meal preparation without them being directly underfoot. While it may not be something the single you needs right now, thinking ahead at how you may grow into your space will keep you from having to renovate again down the road. 

Hire a Professional

Planning is just as important as execution, often times even more so. It’s imperative you don’t rush the planning stages of your kitchen renovation. The last thing you want is a kitchen that doesn’t match your expectations once completed or a remodeling project that takes two or three times as long as you expected and is over budget. 

Unless you are extremely handy and a fantastic planner, hiring a professional kitchen designer and specialized remodeling company could possibly be the most important decision you will make when you consider renovating your home. They will often be the difference between the kitchen of your dreams or a disaster.

A professional will not only help you make product selections that fit your budget, but they will also create both functional and aesthetically please work environments. They are skilled at assessing your needs and will create designs that meet and exceed your requirements. Additionally, their knowledge and experience will ensure your project stays on schedule.

Do your homework when selecting a contractor. Asking your friends and family for references will often lead you to one or two professionals – and is a good place to start. You could also seek the help of national organizations such as the NKBA (National Kitchen and Bath Association) for references. Their CKD (Certified Kitchen Designers) program will ensure you find the best of the best in your area.