5 Smart Steps to Kitchen Renovation

Renovating your kitchen improves your quality of your experience at home and can be one of the top ways to increase property value as you’re preparing to sell. Whether your cook a lot or a little, you will find that when you have to do without it, your kitchen is at the center of your household activities. It becomes increasingly stressful to live with a kitchen that is out of functionality. That’s why every successful kitchen renovation is best remembered as being quick and efficient, accomplished with a lot of pre-planning.

Thinking Ahead: Try These Steps to Save Money and Headaches.

1) Create a Rendering of Your Renovated Kitchen – Use clippings from design magazines or professional advice from skilled tradespersons to put together a physical representation of what your kitchen will look like once it’s finished. Write down specific measurements of cabinets, appliances, floors and furniture to have a workable map of what you need to order by spec. Cut out photos of fixtures and lighting that you like and add it to your rendering. Or, as you find your perfect pieces, scribble down brand names and store locations on the physical picture or blueprint of your final product.

2) Develop a Budget – Designate an amount for the project and determine how much you are able to go over that budget if surprises come up. Give yourself a bit of a window between your set budget and overflow costs so that you don’t have to leave work unfinished if things go longer than expected. Be very clear to your contractors what your budget is and that you are not prepared to go over it.

3) Creatively but Intelligently Cut Costs - Decide what parts of the renovation you can do on your own and what parts you might not want to take a risk on if you have little experience. It helps to collect free renovation tips and advice from licensed dealers, independent and custom shops, and big box home stores like Lowes or Home Depot. Each type of service provider can share unique advice and warn you of mistakes homeowners have made that you should avoid. If you decide to hire a contractor to do some of the work, ask for recommendations and pictures of work they have done in other local homes. Asking for proof of a business license and insurance certificate are things that can protect you from potential losses.

4) Check for Problems Before Renovations Begin – Get a pro to check on how your ventilation, heating, electrics, gas and plumbing are working before you get started. Kitchen renovation ideas that include wood-burning fireplaces, classic architecture or historical items you’d like to preserve require more planning, retrofitting, time and work. They can mean major remodeling which may be best left in the hands of a skilled craftsman. Be sure you’ve done your homework before you allow your kitchen to be out of commission.

5) Get Professional Opinions from Realtors if You Plan on Selling Your Home – If you are renovating your kitchen to add value to your house, be sure it is actually adding value. Picking the wrong appliances, cabinets, flooring or paint colors can send buyers looking elsewhere. Always choose products that are of the best quality if you plan to sell your house even a few years post-renovation. It is your house, so you must do what you love, but find the things you love that buyers would like, too.

With these tips in mind, your kitchen renovations will prevent unnecessary hassle and save you money and time.