The most important part of your kitchen remodeling project is setting a realistic budget. You can dream about antique lighting and hand-scraped hardwood flooring — but if your budget won’t allow for these coveted features, you’ll be hard pressed to create a functional, beautiful kitchen.
Start with some essential questions to uncover your biggest needs and desires, and then work backwards from there.
1-Start with the plan
Before you can pull together your dream kitchen, you’ll need to envision the final plan. Follow these steps:
- Assess the room. How much space do you have? If you clear out all of the cabinets, could you maximize the space with a new layout? Or could you simply add a new island to increase counter space?
- Take stock. Consider the features of your existing kitchen and the ones you’ve always dreamed about. Are the appliances out of date? Is the layout awkward? Start with the biggest needs that will drive function and beauty at the same time.
- Make goals. If you’re tackling an all-over remodeling project, list your top goals (functionality, lighting, storage space, etc.). If you’re taking on a minor project, for instance, giving the space a facelift, consider the most important tasks, like replacing the countertops and adding new lighting.
- Run the numbers. Now, work within the confines of your budget and see what you can realistically do. If money is no object, and you’re creating the kitchen of your wildest dreams, then go for broke. Install top-dollar flooring and splurge on fancy appliances. Install granite countertops and a backsplash and replace the cabinets, too. But if you’re on a tight budget, consider your top priorities, such as resale value, reworking an awkward layout or giving a smaller kitchen more space.
2-Plan for the cost
Once you’ve established your set budget for the project, you can break down the remodel by task. Keep these factors in mind:
- If you’re on a budget, it’s ok: You don’t have to go full throttle on the remodel to improve the room. The home’s overall value should dictate the budget. As a rule of thumb, keep the cost under 20 percent of the home’s market value. This will keep you in the safe zone and you won’t end up overspending on the project.
- Save for a rainy day. As with most remodeling projects, with a kitchen remodel, you can expect surprises. So your budget should allow for these expenses. For example, you may pull up flooring only to discover a mold problem underneath, which will require the additional costs of hiring remediation services or replacing the subflooring.
- Plan the budget so that the most important projects come first, for example, revamping the layout. Then, account for other expenses, like replacing the appliances and swapping out the countertops. You may be able to put less money toward middle-of-the-road appliances (rather than top of the line) so you can afford to invest in a show-stopping backsplash, for instance.
3-Select features
Here’s where it pays to spend your remodeling budget:
- Cabinets
- Countertops
- Sinks
- Faucets
- Flooring
- Lighting
- Backsplash
- Appliances
- Cabinet hardware
Knowing where and how to spend your money is the first step in the project. Hiring an expert to complete the remodeling project on task and on time is the next. We’re happy to help homeowners with their kitchen remodeling projects. Feel free to give us a call. We’ll walk you through the entire remodeling process, from start to finish, and answer all your questions.
