Homeowners want their homes to be perfect. But, no home is perfect without the perfect kitchen. Turning your dream kitchen into reality can be a bit more of a challenge than you might think: from choosing the right design to finding a reliable contractor and managing the cost of the project, your ideal kitchen may remain out of reach if you don’t know what to consider. In this post, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know to put together your ideal kitchen.
Make Remodeling for Value a Priority
You may already be itching to remodel your kitchen. But, have you got your priorities straight? Kitchen remodeling involves a significant investment. Not only will you want to make sure that you make the most of your investment, but you also want to make sure that you’re able to recover a greater portion of that investment over time.
For instance, an upscale kitchen remodel can cost upwards of $120,000. According to statistics, these kitchens have a resale value of just over $75,000, which would mean that you would be able to recoup around 61% of your investment.
Meanwhile, you can expect to recoup around 65% on a mid-range kitchen remodel with an investment of $62,000. And, for midrange kitchens with an investment of $20,000, you can expect to recoup around 80%. As you can see, spending more money on a kitchen remodel isn’t always the best idea, especially if you’re considering the resale value of the kitchen.
So, if you’re planning a kitchen remodel, make sure that you set your priorities straight. In every kitchen remodeling project, it’s easy for costs to spiral, leading you to spend more than you had initially wanted to. However, if you set your priorities, you’ll be able to keep your budget under control. 
Tips for a Good-Looking Kitchen
You may not realize it just yet, but choosing a kitchen design will be your most difficult task. Not only do you need to choose a design that will make your heart scream with joy each time you walk in your kitchen, but you also need to choose the right materials. This is the reason why many homeowners end up spending more than they initially intended.
High-end materials like solid wood cabinets, state-of-the-art appliances, stone countertops, and natural wood or stone flooring will require quite an investment. However, these materials will almost guarantee the beauty of your kitchen. All you’ll need is a highly reliable contractor to make sure that your investment doesn’t go to waste.
Now, do you want your kitchen to truly stand out? Then, make sure that you choose the best materials. However, if your budget is rather limited, know that there are cheaper options that look and feel like the real deal.
For instance, instead of choosing natural stone countertops, you can opt to have a synthetic stone countertop installed. Granite countertops can cost upwards of $200 per square foot, whereas a synthetic stone countertop with granite design costs only a fraction of that price. And let’s not forget cabinets. There are super affordable options that can even compete with higher-end custom cabinets, yet cost a fraction of the cost. Take a look at RTA cabinets. They come unassembled and have grown in popularity and options. With a little extra effort on your end, you can save thousands.
If you want a great looking kitchen, but would rather not invest a hefty amount in it, research all the available alternatives. You may not want to choose them all, but cutting costs on some items will definitely be a wise decision.
Ensuring Kitchen Remodeling Success
Once you’ve chosen the right design and materials, you need to find a reliable contractor and make sure that they do a good job. While you’ll have plenty of help in this area, because quality contractors will give you the right people for the job, you still need to perform a few crucial tasks.
When choosing a contractor, make sure that they are local and they have all the licenses, permits and insurance information. You’ll need a copy of those documents for your files and future reference.
Once you’ve settled with a contractor, they should begin by ensuring that all the paperwork for your project has been completed. Do you need any permits from your local government, subdivision administration or any other authority?
Also Read: Consider These Things when You Remodel your Kitchen
Then, they should hold a pre-construction meeting. Here’s where you can get all the information about the construction, including how they plan to proceed, what you can do to make the workflow easier and what you can expect in terms of scheduling and timeline. It’s important that they set your expectations so you’ll know how everything is proceeding and if there are any problems.
After the design has been finalized, materials have been ordered and purchased, and the schedule has been cleared, it’s time for the remodeling and construction to commence. This will involve everything from securing debris and waste removal services to the removal of existing fixtures and appliances that are set to be replaced. Installation of new insulation, cabinetry, flooring, and countertops, among other fixtures, appliances and accessories, will also happen in this phase. Plumbing and electrical work should also be installed at this time.
After construction and before accepting the completed project, the contractor should let you do a final inspection. If needed, you might want to bring along a third-party expert to make sure that your contractor did a good job.
Lastly, before the contractor leaves the premises, you’ll want to have them clean the areas thoroughly, remove any debris from your property and make sure that everything is in working order.
Getting your ideal kitchen is an exciting and fulfilling project, but you need to know what to expect from the process and your contractor.
Also Read: An Open Guide for Remodeling the Kitchen
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Author Bio:
Bob Carp is the owner of Nuss Construction, a remodeling company that has been serving Southern New Jersey homeowners for over 49 years. With decades of experience in the industry himself, Bob is passionate about helping homeowners find the best home improvement solutions for their needs. When not busy with work, Bob spends his time with his family, enjoying nature and doing volunteer work for various causes.
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