4 Tips to Begin Your Kitchen Remodel
So you’ve decided it’s time to remodel your kitchen. What now? Do you jump into picking out cabinets and fixtures? When does the flooring go in—before or after the cabinets? Do you have room for a big island?
There are so many questions! Keep calm and read on for tips on how to start planning your kitchen remodel.
1. Take inventory of your needs and wants.
Considering your needs and prioritizing your wants is a critical step in starting your remodel. Think about whom in the family usually cooks and how often to help determine things like the height of cabinets, the need for a double oven, or the decision to prioritize ample pantry space for baking supplies. This will also help you consider the scope of the project. If you need more space, you may consider an addition or wall removal, or you may want to keep the same footprint. This is also the time to start collecting all your ideas from magazines, online, friend’s homes, etc. Yes—starting pinning, my friends!
2. Discuss the budget.
Having a general idea of your budget range will help as you consider the scope of the project and type of materials. For example, using the same footprint will be considerably less than removing walls or an addition. It’s also important to consider how long you plan to stay in your home as well as the location and resale potential. Industry publication, Remodeling, offers a Cost vs. Value report that lists the average cost of minor to major kitchen remodels and the estimated resale value. In general, it’s estimated that you can expect to spend 35-45% of your budget on cabinets and 20% on labor. The rest of the budget will be in appliances, fixtures, fittings, and trim. If you are replacing windows, flooring, or majorly altering the floor plan, these estimates will vary.
3. Seek qualified contractors and vendors.
Whether you are contracting the entire project out, or doing some of it yourself, you will work with vendors to perform work or purchase materials. It’s important to work with reputable companies that are insured and experienced in remodels. Referrals from family and friends are always a helpful resource, as well as doing an online check for positive and negative reviews. When you do identify a contractor, a few good questions to ask include:
What is your experience with kitchen remodels?
It’s good to know how much experience the contractor has with both major and minor remodels. Viewing a gallery of their work will also help you get an idea of the extent of their experience.
What can we expect during construction phase?
Be sure to include questions about the timeline and what type of communication with the contractor to expect. For example, will you meet with the contractor once a week on site or touch base by phone?
Are you insured?
This is also a good time to learn if they use subcontractors and if the subs are also insured.
Will we need to be out of the house for any portion of the remodel?
By this point you should have a good idea of the scale of the project and if you plan to move out during the remodel or set up a makeshift kitchen. Either way, it’s a good idea to learn what the contractor’s expectations are so there are no surprises during construction.
4. Be prepared for a little chaos.
Even the most well planned kitchen remodels are known to cause a little chaos. You are reconstructing one of the most essential rooms in your house! To minimize the chaos, have a solid plan for where you will do meal prep and eat. Do you have a wet bar in the basement you can make into a temporary kitchen? Is there another space in the house to put your refrigerator and microwave?
Also, be prepared for construction workers to be at the house frequently. Your contractor should give you a general idea of when plumbers, electricians, trim carpenters, etc., will be performing work, but expect extra traffic. Dust, drilling, and other construction-related sites and sounds can also be expected, although a good contractor will keep disturbances to a minimum.
Keep these four tips in mind when you begin planning your kitchen remodel. Oh—and one more thing. Have fun! You’re creating a beautiful new space in your home for you and your family.
Need some ideas? Check out our online project gallery or call 515-314-5650 to schedule an appointment to visit RCI Builders Showroom at 23561 Nantucket Road in Adel, Iowa.