Planning a Kitchen Renovation

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Planning a Kitchen Renovation

he concept of renovating kitchens is in the mind of just about every homeowner, but how many actually ever embark upon the renovation of their kitchen? It costs a lot, it’s an inconvenience and the process of kitchen renovation actually leaves you WITHOUT one for the duration of the project. But you will enjoy the benefits for decades to come.

So if you’ve decided to take a deep breath and begin a kitchen renovation, congratulations! As you no doubt know, it’s a challenging and sometimes frustrating process, so the more information you have at your disposal before you begin, the better off you will be. Here are some tips homeowners should keep in mind as they begin renovating kitchens:

that’s BEFORE appliances. So this is not something that can be entered into lightly.

Make sure you have the money for not only the renovation but also the appliances. In addition, map out your finances over the next year or so to make sure the project can survive should someone in the house lose his or her job.

—Plan the color of your new kitchen on where it is located. If the kitchen is facing the east, west or south, make it a darker color. If it is located facing north, it’s recommended you make it a lighter color so that the kitchen will look larger.

—Wherever your sink, dishwasher and stove are—keep them there if at all possible. It is quite costly to move the drain, gas and plumbing lines. For example, moving a sink can cost you $2,000. Renovating kitchens is expensive enough without adding to the final bill.

—Do all the lighting and electrical work at the same time. A common mistake is to wire the kitchen with all the electronic necessities and then call the electrician to return a second time to install the lighting. Don’t do this—this will REALLY make your final —Budget accordingly. This can’t be stressed kitchen renovation bill needlessly expenenough. The average kitchen renovation will sive. Electrician visits cost a lot, so have him cost you between $18,000 and $23,000. And take care of everything the first time.

—Along those lines, be very careful with the electrical work and make sure each appliance has its own circuit. Otherwise, you run the risk of blowing out Appliance B every time you turn on Appliance A. —You shouldn’t scrimp on the supplies for your kitchen renovation, but you can save money on the back end by bargain shopping for the appliances. Most appliance stores—from a Mom and Pop operation to the biggest of the big box stores—will sell less-than-perfect appliances that are out of the box (i.e. the display appliances) at up to 60 percent off the list price. Many of these appliances have nicks and scratches that are barely visible to the naked eye and certainly worth taking home at the price the stores are requesting. Before buying the most expensive stove or refrigerator in the store, make sure to hunt for a bargain already on display.

As with any kitchen renovation or home remodeling project, consult your qualified local design/build contractor before you begin planning the renovation. Kitchens are often the focal point and mainstay of households, so you can avoid any unnecessary inconvenience or expense by having a design/build professional oversee your project from the planning and design phase right down to the interior design and choice of energy efficient appliances.