Short Story: The Truth About Kitchen Remodeling
Kitchen remodels are often underrated compared to other areas of the home that can be improved. Many homeowners feel their kitchen is already functioning – so why make any changes. But kitchen remodeling is not only affordable, but it can provide some unique benefits to the homeowner. Here is our guide to kitchen remodeling, which debunks some myths and gives you the truth about the process.
Kitchen Remodeling Myth: It is Too Expensive
Kitchen updates are not beyond your budget. The key is to identify the areas of the kitchen you want to change, decide on a budget that makes you comfortable, and then find solutions that will work within that framework.
Consulting with a designer who handles the remodeling process can help a lot. They will have the experience of working with different budgets, requirements and kitchen sizes. A designer can provide you with possible remodeling recommendations, which will fit within your limits.
Going Without A Kitchen For a Few Weeks
The most significant challenge of a kitchen remodel is going without the space in your home for a few weeks. You can always make adjustments, such as moving your fridge to a nearby space, and setting up a countertop with electric appliances.
But you will not have the full functionality of a stovetop, kitchen sink and other useful amenities. It is why you must pick the remodel for a time that will cause you the least disruption. If you have kids, the summer would be a better option than trying to navigate work and school schedules, while being unable to access your kitchen!
How to Spend Your Kitchen Remodeling Budget
A kitchen remodel can be a great investment, especially if you ever sell your home in the future. Experts believe that by setting your remodeling budget at five to fifteen percent of your home’s value, you can renovate your kitchen and make most of that money back through the increase in house value.
Your cabinets should get a big chunk of your budget, along with the countertops and floors. If one area does not need remodeling, its budget can go to the other two. The next in importance is appliances, followed by lighting and miscellaneous renovations.
Roughly 30 percent can go to cabinets, with another 15 percent for countertops, and 10 to 15 percent for flooring. A further 10 to 15 percent is spent on appliances, with the rest divided up among the remaining changes you want to make.
Take a Hands-on Approach
When it comes to kitchen remodeling, it is always best to have a hands-on approach. Why? Because there are so many moving parts to the remodel. Say the material you wanted for your cabinets is not available. It is not so simple to choose another material, as the closest in price may not give you the aesthetic that you want.
Choosing a new material could mean having to shift over your budget from other areas to compensate for added spending. Your remodeler will help with such decisions, but you should be hands on so that you are dividing up the budget in the way that best matches your needs and expectations.
Kitchen remodeling is a daunting but rewarding process. By reading through our guide to the process, we hope to have debunked some myths and explained the best way to approach the remodel.
