The kitchen is the heart of your home. It’s where you prepare your meals and it’s where all of your family gather to discuss their day. Kitchen renovations are so popular and have the largest payoff in terms of boosting a home’s resale value. Of course, kitchen renovations can also be the most complicated and the most expensive.
The first step in determining kitchen renovation estimates is considering your kitchen as a whole. Before you get to the smaller questions, such as whether to reface your cabinets or replace them, ask yourself the big questions. What do you want from your kitchen? How do you want it to look and function? Is the size and configuration right?
A kitchen renovation cost approximately breaks down as follows:
- Design fees: 4%
- Installation: 17%
- Appliances and ventilation: 14%
- Cabinetry and hardware: 29%
- Countertops: 10%
- Lighting: 5%
- Flooring: 7%
- Doors and windows: 4%
- Walls and ceilings: 5%
- Faucets and plumbing: 4%
- Other: 1%
You can save on your kitchen renovation costs by making cuts in certain places. For example, cabinets take up almost 30 percent of the kitchen renovation budget, but you can save by investing in stock kitchen cabinets rather than custom cabinets.
The next question you should ask when planning for a kitchen renovation is how long do you plan to live in your home. If you plan to sell your home shortly after the renovation, you shouldn’t spend too much money on it. The rule of thumb is that you should spend between 5 and 15 percent of the home’s total value on your kitchen renovation. This is the optimum range for homeowners to spend and expect to recoup during a home’s resale. If you plan to remain in your home for years after the renovation, then you should consider splurging on items like new countertops, appliances, cabinets and flooring. The fact you’ll be living in the house for years to come means that you’ll continue to find value in their repeated use.
5 things to consider when renovating your kitchen
- Cabinets often make a room’s first impression. If your cabinets are dated or damaged it gives the entire kitchen a run down old appearance.
- Investing in a quality appliances (stove, oven and dishwasher) can certainly drive up your costs. If your objectives are to improve your home’s value, though, skimping here can prove self-defeating.
- The largest factors in the cost of new flooring include the area and material you choose. Vinyl and linoleum flooring tend to be the most affordable options while tile, granite and wood are more expensive options.
- When renovating your kitchen, it’s important to try not to move the plumbing or gas elements if possible. You will pay more to move pipes around the room and unless this improves your kitchen functionality it is an expensive exercise.
- The best time to do electrical work is when your room is torn up for a renovation. Determine whether you need to upgrade your electrical wiring etc to accommodate that new refrigerator or oven.
Before you start a kitchen renovation have a clear idea of what to expect:
- Find a professional. You’re going to need a contractor to help you through this process, especially if there are electrical or plumbing changes involved. Spinryde have been renovating kitchens for over 20 years.
- Set some money aside for any surprises. You never know when a pipe could break, a contractor could discover mold or other problems could arise. Set aside a good chunk of money to cover any of those unexpected expenses. About 20 percent of your estimated project cost is recommended.
- Discuss the floor plan and timeline. Before the contractor gets started, you will need to know the schedule and exactly what the finished product will look like.
- Sign a contract. This step is imperative. If you don’t sign a contract with your contractor, he or she might not be held liable for any mistakes or misunderstandings. You do not want to be saddled with additional repairs after the fact, so make sure you get in writing the scope of the project and his or her responsibilities. In addition to a full project description, the contract should also include the cost estimate and timeline.
Get in touch with Spinryde Home Renovations to discuss your kitchen renovation project
If you would like to discuss kitchen ideas and options for your home renovation project, please use the enquiry form to provide us with your contact details. We will get in touch with you at a time that suits you to discuss your project.