Starting a kitchen renovation is always an exciting prospect, but if you’ve never done one before, it can turn complicated very quickly. There are a wide variety of decisions you’ll need to make throughout the process to avoid any mishaps and ensure that your kitchen looks exactly how you envisioned it when the last nail is hammered into place.
DIY vs Professional
The first decision you’ll need to make is if you’re going to do the renovation yourself or if you’re going to hire a contractor to do it for you. There are pros and cons to each option. When it comes to doing it yourself, the biggest draw for most people is being able to save money on the project. You don’t have to pay for other people’s labor. You just have to pay with your own time. Doing the renovation yourself is an easy choice when the renovation is on a smaller scale. However, if you want to switch out all of your cabinets or install new countertops, hiring a professional might be the better option.
Hiring a professional contractor for your kitchen renovation comes with its own benefits and drawbacks. Professional renovations often take less time than doing it yourself, and there’s less likely to be a mishap during the process, since you’ve hired someone who does this often. They are also more expensive. If the renovation you have in mind requires expensive materials and a lot of knowledge to complete successfully, the price of a qualified contractor is often negligible when it comes to the total cost.
The Materials
Not all materials are created equal, and you’ll have to choose which materials you want to be used in your kitchen renovation. There are several factors to take into consideration when making your selection. The price of the materials tends to be a major one. Higher quality materials usually result in a higher price point. There’s also the matter of functionality. For example, if you’re switching out your kitchen countertops, certain countertops are more heat resistant than others (and often more expensive). And of course, you want to like how your kitchen looks after the renovation, so don’t forget to consider the aesthetics of your materials as well.
The Appliances
If you’re doing a large-scale kitchen renovation, you’re likely going to at least consider switching out the appliances in your kitchen. A twenty-year-old fridge might seem out of place if you’re redoing everything else around it. When looking at appliances, there is a wide range of options to choose from, each with its own pros and cons. Choose something that fits your lifestyle (and is in your budget). A major thing that people forget to consider is the effect your appliance will have on your electric bill. Most newer appliances are designed to be energy efficient (and therefore less of a strain on your home’s electricity). Look for the ENERGY STAR rating when you’re shopping for those appliances.
The Contractor
If you’ve decided to go with a contractor instead of doing the renovation yourself, you’ll want to make sure that you choose the right one for your project. Put feelers out with your friends and neighbors. If any of them had a great experience with a contractor recently, that’s a great place to start vetting people. If you don’t have anyone to ask, do a quick Google search for contractors in your area. Consult the reviews, and choose a couple that you think might be a good fit.
Once you’ve made your shortlist, have them come out and give you an estimate for the project. They’ll ask some questions about what you want and get an idea of the materials and time they’ll need. Once you get estimates from your chosen contractors, you’ll be able to make your choice about which one you want to work with. Be wary of contractors that give you an estimate significantly higher or lower than the rest. That often means they don’t know how to price their services and is a sign they may be inexperienced in other ways as well.
How You’ll Live During the Renovation
The last thing that many people forget to consider is how they’re going to function in their home while the kitchen renovation is going on. If your kitchen is going to be out of commission for two weeks while the contractor and their team are working, you need to have a plan for eating every day. A renovation is a disruption in your life that you need to plan for, but as long as you plan for it, you’ll be good to go with a brand new kitchen at the end of it.
