Remodeling an out-of-date kitchen is one of the best investments homeowners can make. Here is a list of common kitchen remodeling issues, and ideas for avoiding unexpected pitfalls.
Understand your budget Separate the construction budget from the design and materials budget. Talk with your designer and contractor about exactly what you can expect to spend.
Avoid cutting corners You might have to live with this kitchen for the next 20 years. Spend the money to make it look and function as well as possible.
Let your budget breathe Once the new kitchen starts to take shape, you will find priorities shifting. Perhaps the importance of that granite countertop will give way to a crush on more cushy cabinetry.
The general rule is to add 10 percent to the original budget for unforeseen necessities.
Manage expectations In a kitchen remodel, make these your main considerations: quality, time and function. It can be hard to envision the remodeled room from early blueprints and sketches. If you can’t see the vision, speak up. Otherwise you risk being disappointed with the result.
Function trumps beauty At the end of the day, a gorgeous kitchen must fit your lifestyle.
Expect the inconvenience You will grow tired of this project, and last-minute decisions are often regretted later. Be honest with yourself about how long you are willing to order takeout and cook in a microwave. Kitchen remodels tend to take longer than planned, so add about three weeks to the expected
completion date. And don’t start
demolition until all of the products are in.
Go team Remodelers, designers and contractors must work closely with the remodeler. Consider assigning responsibilities to each beforehand, and making a “to do” timeline. Weekly check-up calls also foster ongoing communication.
Honor thy past Keep a scrapbook along the way to remind you where you started and why the inconvenience was so worth it in the end. |Barbara Barton, Roth Distributing. Reprinted courtesy of Renew magazine.
