5 Important Things to Remember When Remodeling a Kitchen

Kitchen renovations can be stressful, but given that your kitchen is the “hub” of your home, they’re not something to take lightly. Not only is the kitchen where you will spend a great deal of time prepping food and congregating with family, but it’s also the focal point of every home.

If you have ever sold a home before, you will know that the kitchen is often a huge selling point. So whether you want to prepare your home for sale, or just redo your kitchen to make it more comfortable for you and your family, kitchen remodeling deserves some thought. Here are 5 important things to remember when remodeling your kitchen:

1. Your budget

When it comes to any type of remodeling job, your budget is of utmost importance. You want your new kitchen to look and feel great, but you don’t want it to put you into debt. As a general rule of thumb, most people plan to spend between 5-15% of their entire home value on kitchen remodels. So, if they’re home was worth 200,000, they might invest anywhere between $10 000 and $30 000 into a new kitchen. But again, this really comes down to your personal budget. If you can afford to invest more, go ahead and do so. If you are on a tight budget, you might have to work a little harder to find great bargains.

Either way, it’s important that you sit down and plan out your budget long before you start your renovations. You’ll want to make sure you plan for the costs of planning, the costs of labor, and the costs of any additions. New appliances, flooring, cupboards, and counters can really add up in costs, so make sure you have it all planned out well in advance to prevent going over budget. You should also make sure you have some extra money set aside in case any unforeseen circumstances should arise.

2. Planning is everything

When it comes to kitchen remodeling, the last thing you want to do is skimp out on planning. If you have never done a remodel before, the best way to do this is by hiring a professional designer. Yes, this will cost you extra money, but it could also end up saving you money in the long run too.

A professional designer with background experience in kitchen remodeling will be able to give you tips and hints as to where you can cut costs and how you can save money on certain aspects of your design. Many designers also have special contacts within the design world, and may be able to get you good deals on specific items.

For a good designer, you should expect to spend up to 3-10% of your budget.  Yes, there are free in-store designers, but it is important to remember that you only get what you pay for. In-store designers may not be getting paid by you, but they are getting paid by product retailers and manufacturers to promote their brands. This means that the information they will give you will be limited in an attempt to sell a specific brand or product.

In the end, always remember that your kitchen will only be as good as your design. So it’s worth it to invest in a good kitchen designer – especially if it will save you  money in the long run.

3. Your personal preferences matter

When it comes to planning for a kitchen remodel, you need to consider more than just “what looks nice”. You also need to consider your personal preferences, and how you will be using the space. Ask yourself:

• Do I use the kitchen often? (If yes, maybe you’ll want to invest in a bigger kitchen)
• Do I do a lot of cooking? (If yes, maybe you’ll want to opt for more counter space or a nice large island)
• Do I entertain a lot? (If yes, maybe you’ll need to set some money aside for a long dining table)
• Do I use the kitchen for more than cooking and eating? Maybe your children do homework there? Or maybe you like to do work in the kitchen? (If so, you might want to invest in an island or fold-up kitchen desk)
• Do you need a lot of storage space?
• Do you have a lot of natural lighting? Or will you need to brighten up your space?

All of these questions can give you a better insight into how you will want to design your kitchen to maximize it’s use. They can also give you insight into what areas of the kitchen you will want to invest more money into, as well as the areas you may be able to lower your budget on.

4. You don’t have to break your bank for a new kitchen

Yes, it can be expensive to remodel your kitchen. But there are several different ways that you can cut costs. If expense is an issue, here are some tips to help you save money on your renovation project:

• Keep what works – If you don’t need to replace your kitchen sink, keep it. If you’re happy with your floors, keep them. If you can paint your cupboards instead of replacing them, do it. Anything that you can salvage from your old kitchen will save you costs on your new one.
• Keep your appliances where they are – When it comes to kitchen remodeling, plumbing accounts for a huge portion of the costs. If you don’t have to move your sink, dishwasher, and appliances, don’t. The less plumbing you have to do, the more money you will save.
• Buy used – The term “used” often gets a bad rep, but used appliances can be your best friend when it come to cutting costs. And contrary to popular belief, “used” doesn’t mean old or broken down. There are many newer used appliances that look and work like new, and they can save you hundreds of dollars.
• Don’t want to buy used? Try the scratch and dent section – This section has a variety of appliances and other items that are priced at significant markdowns, many times simply due to a small scratch or dent that is barely visible.
• Consider look alikes 
• Remember, you don’t have to do everything at once. If you can’t afford a complete kitchen reno, do it in stages!

You might also like: 5 Great Money-saving Tips For Home Improvement

5. Timeframe

When renovating a kitchen, some people can forget how extensive and time consuming it can be. Remember, you will have no place to cook during much of this time, so you will need to add take-out food to your budget. In terms of considering an actual time frame, be realistic. They might be able to complete a kitchen in 45 minutes on your favorite reality show, but this simply isn’t realistic in real life.

Your designer and contractor should be able to give you a pretty accurate time frame, but again, always be prepared for unforeseen circumstances, and always be prepared for the job to take longer than you originally thought.