A new kitchen is a fantastic way to increase the value of your home while also boosting your overall enjoyment of the house. A full kitchen remodel takes work and, chances are, you'll need to bring in a contractor to complete the job. Before you do so, there are a number of things you need to consider before remodeling your kitchen. Additionally, in order to cut down on the stress levels you experience during the job, there are several tips you need to follow to keep the kitchen remodel stress-free. By following these tips and suggestions you'll cut down on the headache you experience with the work while you look forward to having a completed, brand new kitchen to enjoy.
Things to Consider Before Remodeling Your Kitchen
There are several specifics you need to consider before remodeling your kitchen. These points to consider will help make the kitchen remodel easier while improving your enjoyment of the entire process. Any kind of remodel can prove difficult if not stressful. Before you plunge headfirst into a complete kitchen remodel, here are several specifics you need to keep in mind prior to the start of the job.
Cost
The most important thing to consider before remodeling your kitchen is the amount of money you have to spend on the remodel. A full kitchen remodel is potentially expensive. The cost can range from a few hundred dollars to tens of thousands of dollars. It really comes down to what you're able to spend. So before you move forward with any kind of material or contractor hire, know what your budget is. Everything else will be dictated by the budget.
Contractor
Hiring the right contractor is critical to the success of your kitchen and knowing if you're able to remain under budget or not. So before you pick up the phone and call the first contractor that appears on an internet search, go through the different contractors in your area, look up the reviews, and ask for client recommendations from those companies that make the cut. You'll spend a good amount of money with the contractor so you need to know if what you're paying for is worth the money, or if previous clients would recommend going with someone else.
Timeline
When are you considering the kitchen remodel? It can take time to complete the renovation. Some kitchen remodels may only take a few days, but others may take several weeks. Can the contractors come in and work on the job straight through, or can they only show up on the weekends? These are all questions you need to consider. If you have a big event coming up or the holidays are right around the corner, it's stressful to deal with a renovation project right in the middle of everything. So before you move forward with the renovation, make sure to keep the project timeline in mind. It may dictate whether you go through with the renovation now or if you wait to complete the project later.
The Benefits of a Remodeled Kitchen
There are two major benefits to a kitchen remodel and both make it worth carrying out the renovation project. The first is the increase in property value. The exact return on investment will depend on where you live, the neighborhood your home is a part of and the materials you use, but any kitchen renovation will boost property value. You can talk with your contractor to learn current trends and what home buyers are looking for, which may help increase your return on investment. Whatever you do, just know you'll reap the rewards later on, should you decide to sell.
The second major benefit of a remodeled kitchen is your enjoyment level. After a kitchen remodel, you'll increase how much you enjoy spending time in the kitchen. Whether it's just fixing a pot of coffee or prepping for a big Thanksgiving dinner, you'll be able to take your current level of enjoyment and maximize it. So if you love spending time in the kitchen, or you're just looking to make it that much more enjoyable, a remodeled kitchen will take it to a brand new level.
Tips to Keep Your Kitchen Remodel Stress-free
Any kind of kitchen remodel can prove stressful. After all, your entire kitchen is likely being gutted and you'll be left with a room that looks like a bomb went off at the beginning of the project. To reduce your level of stress you must follow these different tips and suggestions. As long as you do, you'll avoid many of the more critical issues as well as much of the stress that comes along with the project.
Use a Contractor
The first tip is to use a contractor. Unless your kitchen remodel only consists of updated fixtures and newly painted cabinets, performing a full kitchen update on your own is stressful and takes a considerable amount of time. There's also a major learning curve if you've never done any of it before. Some of the work is self-explanatory and shouldn't take long to perfect, but other jobs require that of a professional. You'll reduce your level of stress by going with a professional. So avoid trying to do the entire job on your own and look to a pro for help.
Know the Plan Inside and Out
When you go with a contractor, don't just hand the job off and be done with it. You need to know the plans for the project inside and out. So when you hire a contractor, sit down with them and go over the materials you want to use. Know what material will be used for the cabinet, what the floor will look like, what kind of backsplash will be used and so on. You can also go over alternatives for material that will work the same but cost less. Your contractor can help you cut costs. There are several materials similar to higher-end products that are less expensive.
On top of this, you'll want to know the schedule for the project—when they expect to start and how long they expect it to last. This way, you'll know what to look for and whether or not the project is currently on schedule.
Written Budget Confirmation
Money is a major stressor for just about any project. You don't know what is going on with the renovation, so you may believe the budget is ballooning out of control. That's why you need to have a ballpark budget before the renovation is started. You also need this in writing.
By having all of this ironed out ahead of time you will know what you'll likely end up paying and the contractor will need to talk with you if, for whatever reason, something comes up and they need more money. A professional contractor should know what kind of parts are required for the space and how much each part costs for the job. With this in mind, they should be able to give you an accurate assessment of what the job might cost.
Schedule When It's Best for You
Don't fit yourself into the contractor's schedule—fit your contractor into your schedule. You don't want to have kitchen work going on when you have an open house for your child's graduation. You also don't want to have projects happening when you have guests over to the house.
So instead of forcing everything else to bend to the will of the project and your contractor, fit the contractor and the project to your own timetable. If one contractor cannot fit your schedule (some leeway may help, but you are the recipient of a service, so have it done when you are available), there will be other contractors who provide similar services at similar price points who can work with you. By avoiding overlaps with important events and activities you'll reduce the level of stress you'll run into.
Stay Up to Date
If you have a larger kitchen remodel going on you'll want to stay up to date on the project. So if it is supposed to take a week to finish the project, talk this over with your contractor and ask for daily updates. This way, you can find out if the project is on schedule or falling behind. By having daily reports, you'll avoid surprises at the end of the project when a contractor may say they need an extra day to complete the job.
Conclusion
A new kitchen helps bring an increase in property value while improving your overall enjoyment of the house. However, if you're not careful, a full kitchen remodel can prove especially difficult and stressful. While you may never completely remove stress from the project, there are several specifics you can follow in order to keep the renovation as stress-free as possible. By taking into consideration these different tips and suggestions, you'll instantly reduce your overall level of stress while you sit back and wait for your beautiful new kitchen to be finished. It'll all be worth it in the end.