Remodeling a kitchen is a big commitment, and whether you’re doing it yourself or hiring a kitchen designer, you’ll want to keep these 8 tips in mind before you get started:
- 1. Don’t remodel to sell
- 2. Set up a budget
- 3. Measure your space
- 4. Consider your layout
- 5. Set up a time frame
- 6. Hire a professional
- 7. Communicate effectively
- 8. Take pictures
Don’t Remodel to Sell
Before getting started with your remodel, it’s always a good idea to consider why you’re remodeling, and it’s almost never a good idea to remodel your kitchen if you’re planning on selling your home in the next 1-2 years.
Yes, kitchen quality will play into your valuation somewhat, but most buyers aren’t concerned with whether your home has a decked-out kitchen as much as whether it has a functional roof.
You could spend tens of thousands of dollars for your remodel and not get any of that back in your home valuation. As such, you should almost always remodel because your kitchen needs an update, not as a way to impress potential buyers with your space.
Set Up a Budget
The most important thing you should do before remodeling your kitchen is to establish a budget. Anyone who remodels a kitchen can tell you that it’s incredibly expensive. The average kitchen remodels cost $25,000, but it’s hard to see those numbers adding up if you don’t create a budget.
Do some evaluation around your kitchen. What needs to be repaired or replaced? What changes do you want to make? What materials are you going to use?
This last question is particularly pertinent since the materials you choose will factor heavily into the cost of the entire project. Laminate or wood countertops, for example, are a less expensive option than marble. The cost of your materials also depends largely on how much of the material you’re using.
Installing a marble countertop, for instance, will be less expensive than replacing the entire flooring of your kitchen with marble.
At the end of the day, the design choices you make are up to you, but it’s well worth researching the cost of the changes you want and the materials you want to use and tying it into your budget.
One effective strategy to account for unexpected costs is to establish how much you can afford for a kitchen remodel. Take 80% of that and set that as your maximum budget, leaving the other 20% on reserve for any unexpected costs you may incur.
Measure Your Space
Another important step when you’re remodeling your kitchen, especially for anyone taking the DIY route, is to measure the space you have.
Proper measurements are crucial to making sure the remodel doesn’t leave any unappealing gaps in your space, which is particularly relevant when it comes to appliances.
If your stove needs replacing, make sure to measure the dimensions of your available space, your current stove, and the prospective new stove before you purchase.
Consider Your Layout
Something else that goes hand in hand with careful measurements is careful planning. Setting aside the aesthetic changes you want, make sure that your layout is functional for use. First and foremost, your kitchen is a workspace, not a decorative landscape to be admired.
You’ll spend a lot of time cooking and cleaning in your kitchen, so it’s important not to let your dreams of an Instagram-worthy kitchen cloud your design choices.
There’s nothing wrong with wanting a beautiful kitchen, but we all need to take the rose-colored glasses off sometimes and prioritize the functional over the aesthetic.
Set Up a Timeframe
Kitchen remodels take time. You probably already knew that one, but it can be easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of contractors and designers in your home.
Don’t forget that you’ll likely be unable to use your kitchen properly for a few weeks—sometimes even months—depending on what remodeling you’re doing.
Material choice can play a role in this timeframe, too. If you’re having your floor remodeled, for example, a hardwood floor will take a few days, while concrete can take weeks to install.
Hire a Professional
Unless you have plenty of experience, it’s almost always best to hire a professional if you’re going for a full-scale remodel of your kitchen. A professional designer can help you plan out the kitchen of your dreams—and make sure it all goes according to plan.
Of course, it’s always vital that you trust your contractor fully when it comes to your kitchen remodel.
Shop by reputation and do your research on any contractor you’re planning on hiring. Ask for references to make sure the contractor is worth their salt.
Finding a reputable professional to get the job done ensures that your kitchen remodel will be completed according to your specifications with a team of experts.
Communicate Effectively
When you find a contractor you trust, it’s important to walk through the design process with them as thoroughly as possible.
Take their suggestions on board, of course, but make sure that you are on the same page with your general contractor before starting. An error on the blueprint is always a lot easier to fix than something that’s already been installed.
Take Pictures
You may find this hard to believe now, but in a couple of years, you won’t remember the way your kitchen used to look.
That’s why it’s always valuable for posterity to chronicle the progress of your kitchen. Having before, during, and after pictures to show your family and friends can make your stunning remodeled kitchen stand out all the more.
The Bottom Line
Preparation is key to a successful operation, and that’s no less true when it comes to remodeling your kitchen. If you do not have a plan, you are far more likely to make a mistake, overspend, or design something that does not work as cohesively within the kitchen as you might have wished.
For best results, start by setting up a budget for the entire project, hiring trustworthy contractors to get the job done, and planning out exactly how you want your new kitchen to look.
Plan ahead, and you’ll be well on your way to remodeling the kitchen of your dreams!
