A good kitchen remodel instantly raises the value of your home, provides you with a more effective cooking space, and makes you the envy of all your friends.
I emphasized “good” because a poorly done remodel won’t increase the value of your home and may even decrease it, depending on how poorly it’s been done.
Renovating your home is one of those times where it really doesn’t pay to go “cheap”… As Leon M Cautillo said,
“The bitterness of poor quality is remembered long after the sweetness of low price has faded from memory.”
A poorly executed kitchen renovation is something you’ll see day in and day out every day you’re living in your present home. You can save yourself a lot of unnecessary agony and grief by simply choosing quality workmanship over price.
A good contractor can always find a way to break a job up into budget-able pieces if you can’t afford the price all in one shot.
Your return on investment
Even though remodeling your kitchen is one of the more expensive projects it’s also one that will retain its value if and when you decide to sell your home.
Along with bathroom renos remodeling your kitchen will provide you with the best and biggest bang for your renovation dollar.
Consider the length of time you expect to stay in your house
The Appraisal Institute of Canada says:
- If you’re remodeling your kitchen as part of a pre-sale face lift it’s recommended to spend no more than 10-15% of the value of your home
- If you plan to stay in your home for more than 5 years you can spend 25% or more and still, in most cases, recoup the money you spent on the project
How much will it cost?
Kitchen renovations can cost you anywhere from:
- $2 – 3,000 for a cosmetic facelift – no new cabinets, plumbing or electrical changes
- At least $15-20,000 if you choose low-end cabinetry, counters, appliances, flooring, paint and some minor structural changes
- At least $20-50,000 and up if you’re looking to have high quality cabinets, custom work, and size and/or layout changes
Cutting costs…
There are ways to cut down on costs when upgrading your kitchen without sacrificing the quality of the overall project. But regardless of your budget size… you have to be sure NOT to skimp on design, appliances, or labor. Get the best you can afford.
Here are some budget friendly ideas and tips for a low cost small kitchen makeover (thanks to the Ontario Real Estate Association for these):
Resurface or repaint old cupboards
Paint can provide a relatively inexpensive transformation for your wooden cupboards. Why not try out a new painting technique, or a textured look, or a tasteful combination of colors.
Try resurfacing old cupboards with wood laminate, or one of the new, plastic-based materials that resist chipping, denting and staining.
Use more glass
Try replacing a few cabinets with glass ones. Glass and mirrors give the illusion of more space, not to mention glamor — especially if you add interior lights.
Change your hardware
Adding new cabinet and drawer handles can upgrade the look of your kitchen. There are so many choices in color, size, and style of drawer knobs and handles that there’s no limit to the change you can achieve.
Floor and wall facelifts
Spice up a bland kitchen with new paint, wallpaper and/or flooring, choose from a variety of textures, styles, colors, and patterns. Consider stenciling a border around a window, below a ceiling, or between the cupboards and the counter tops to give your kitchen a new flair.
Be innovative
A good kitchen should not only look great, but stand up to your daily wear and tear. Be sure to design one that will suit all your needs while still allowing people to move freely between it and the other areas of your home.
If you plan to completely remodel the kitchen, be honest about your ability. You may want to leave this important job in the hands of an remodeling expert who can do the work quickly and professionally, and even offer you some unique ideas and creative solutions to your specific issues, desires, and problems.