Don’t Settle for Less When Planning Your Dream Kitchen Remodel

So you’ve brought in your salesman or contractor, gone over exactly what you’re looking for and you know your budget. You’re determined to stay inside what you can afford, but the salesman looks over your requirements and offers you a quote that is just off the rails. You mention that this is outside of your budget, and the salesman begins showing you ways that you can cut corners to stay within your budget and still look great.

Be careful of these offers. It’s rarely a good idea to cut corners like this. While you might get a good-looking kitchen remodel well within your budget at the outset, the service and quality of work and materials you get will rarely measure up and you could find yourself in a quagmire of constant updates and repairs as the years pass. In the long run, you’ll save money and be much happier by choosing quality materials.

There are, however, ways that you can cut costs without cutting corners.

Repurposing Existing Storage

Take a look at your kitchen remodel plan, and see what you can repurpose and upgrade instead of replacing. You may be able to come up with a better organizational scheme that will allow you to maximize storage space. This can save you money on additional cabinet installs. If your current cabinets are still in good shape, cabinet refacing can allow you to save money by purchasing new cabinets with a similar design to match what you’ve got.

Appliances: Bells and Whistles

Going with high quality appliances doesn’t necessarily mean you need all the bells and whistles. Does your dream kitchen really involve a robot that makes you tea every morning? Maybe so (whose doesn’t?) but you can save a lot of money by shopping around for the best price, and taking high-end basics over high-end special features. Look for the following:

• BTU: This is a measure of the range of heat put out by a burner. Make sure you’re at least in the 2,000 to 12,000 range.
• Energy Star: Try to get appliances that are Energy Star certified. This will save you money on utilities in the long run.
• User-Friendly: Make sure that your appliances are easy to use and intuitive, with accessible controls.
• Safety: Make sure that your controls are on the front of your stove rather than behind the burners. Click-and-turn knobs are more kid-safe, and be sure that you’re planning for GFCI outlets wherever you may need to plug in an appliance.

Artificial Lighting

You may find that it’s not in the budget or feasible to knock down walls for adding more lighting and space. Instead, think about targeted artificial lighting. Careful planning of the lighting scheme you want to use can both brighten your kitchen and give the illusion of more space. Using a lighter color scheme when repainting can complement the lighting scheme and improve the overall look of the kitchen.

If the initial quote for your kitchen remodel is too high, never cut corners on materials or service. Instead, take a look at how you can repurpose existing items, price shop for good appliances with key features, and examine options for lighting to give the illusion of a larger, brighter space. Knowing your options will allow you to stay in your budget without sacrificing quality.

If you would like more information about finding the right kitchen remodel contractor, see Kitchen Remodelers – Final Thoughts on Choosing the Right One and Six Questions to Ask Contractors For Your Kitchen or Bathroom Remodeling Project.

And be sure to research kitchen remodeling costs and their return on investment as you consider your dream kitchen remodel project.

 

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