Creating Your Kitchen Remodeling Budget

Remodeling your kitchen can be a very costly undertaking. To ensure that everything goes smoothly, it’s always best to plan ahead, and plan carefully. Creating a proper budget for your kitchen remodel project will help you figure out what you can and can’t afford, while helping to ease some of your stress. Here are some questions to ask yourself when creating your budget:

• What are my reasons for remodeling?
  • Do you plan on selling your property after the kitchen remodel? Or are you looking to simply upgrade your cooking space? Whether or not you’ll be using the kitchen yourself is a contributing factor to exactly how you should design your kitchen, and how much you should spend on it. If the goal is to sell, anticipate spending around 10%-20% of your home’s selling price on remodeling the kitchen.
• Who will I be working with?
  • If you’re planning on using a professional designer or hiring a contractor, be sure to shop around. Utilizing outside help can take up quite a bit of your budget, so it’s best to figure out as early as possible exactly who you’ll be working with and how much they will charge you. Some online sellers offer free designs upon the purchase of your kitchen cabinets, which can save you tons of money.
• What kind of cabinetry do I want?
  • Custom cabinetry may be very appealing, but it is also very costly. Typically, custom kitchen cabinets can comprise about 50% of your kitchen remodeling budget. Luckily, you can achieve an expensive look using affordable stock cabinets. Many years ago, stock cabinet styles were limited and quite boring. However, stock cabinets are now available in a wide variety of styles and colors. If you’re on a tight budget, stock cabinets will give you bang for your buck.
• How will I be purchasing my cabinets?
  • While it may seem like a complicated process, more and more people are choosing to buy their cabinetry online. You can search the web for discount kitchen cabinets that can save you money while still providing you with a quality product.  If you’re worried that the cabinet you fell in love with online will look different in person, some sources allow you to purchase a sample door. The cost of the sample door is then deducted from your order once you decide to purchase your cabinets. The lead time for receiving your cabinets is usually 5-7 business days.
• Will I be assembling my cabinets on my own?
  • If you do decide to purchase your cabinets online, you’ll be offered the choice of buying RTA (ready to assemble) cabinets, or cabinets that are already assembled. However, there is usually a 15% assembly charge for assembled cabinets. If you’re the DIY type, or if you have a trusty contractor, buying RTA cabinets might be your best bet.
• What are my wants and what are my needs?
  • You may have your sights set on an elaborate crown molding or luxurious hardware, but fancy accessories can be quite costly. Distinguish between what you really need in your kitchen, such as extra storage space, and what you can do without. The good thing about most kitchen accessories is that you can always add them later on when you’re able to afford it.
• What if something goes wrong?
  • Unexpected issues are common when dealing with construction projects, especially on older homes. Be sure to set aside at least 10% of your budget for surprises such as termites, mold, or asbestos removal

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