Does your kitchen look like it came straight from the set of The Brady Bunch? Maybe you’re always doing a dance when you have more than one person in the kitchen. It may be time for a remodel project.
Even though a kitchen remodel can bring a return of investment of about 69%, it’s still a big undertaking and investment. A kitchen remodel is costly and can test your patience, unless you do a kitchen remodel on a budget.
Is it possible to save money on a remodel and keep your sanity at the same time?
Keep reading to find out how to remodel your kitchen on a budget and stay sane.
Table of Contents
1. Plan Ahead
The best way to save money on a remodel is to do it right the first time. It also takes meticulous planning to pull off.
First, understand why you need to do the remodel. Is it because you want to update the look of the kitchen? Do you find that you want to expand the design and the space so more people can enjoy it?
It could be a little bit of both. When you understand why you’re taking on this project you’ll be able to plan accordingly. Draw up a plan as to what you want your kitchen to look like.
From a functional perspective, measure things out and make sure that you have enough space for two or more people in the kitchen to cook at the same time.
2. Stay Within Budget
The key to saving money on a kitchen remodel is to create a budget and stick with it. You’ll want to get estimates from contractors and price out materials to come up with a preliminary budget.
You’ll be able to look at each line item objectively and see where you can cut costs a little bit. You also want to add about 10% to your budget as a contingency budget. This is in case something goes wrong or you discover issues like improper wiring in the middle of the project.
3. Save on Cabinets
Cabinets can easily be the most expensive part of a kitchen remodel. You can save money in this area by buying ready to assemble cabinets. These are modular cabinets that you put together yourself.
When you measure your cabinets, you need to make sure the are exact. You can’t afford to make any mistakes on this. Just a slight error in your measurement can cause the cabinets to not fit properly. If it’s your error, you’re not going to be able to return them.
4. Break Your Project Into Parts
One way to tackle a complex project like a kitchen remodel is to break it up into stages. It can help you save money, too.
By doing the project in stages, you can do the project at your pace. You can also save up money for each phase. That will save you from financing the entire project and then paying interest on the loan.
5. Shop for Materials
You want to make sure that you’re getting the best deal on materials. That start by shopping around and getting quotes from various vendors.
When you’re shopping for materials, be sure to maintain the quality of the product while cutting back on the costs.
With certain construction materials, you will get what you pay for. By shopping around, you know that you’re getting the best price without sacrificing quality.
6. Don’t Forget About Lighting
Lighting is often an overlooked part of a kitchen remodel. It can become an afterthought and leave you cutting vegetables in bad lighting.
Factor in lighting early on in the planning process. You can save money on lighting by getting lights under the cabinets and by using track lighting. You can also utilize natural light in the kitchen, too.
7. Work with a Top Contractor
While there will be things that you can DIY, there are things you cannot. You will need a contractor for electrical work, assist with getting permits, and oversee the project.
Your project should be reasonably priced and have experience in kitchen remodels. Again, this is the type of thing that you get what you pay for. Cutting back too much in this area could cost you more money in the long run because you have to redo shoddy work.
Make sure you get estimates and interview several contractors. Check to make sure they are licensed and insured, too.
8. DIY Demolition
One way you can do a kitchen remodel on a budget is to take a sledgehammer and do the demolition yourself. That will save money because you’re not paying for someone else to do it for you.
It can be a fun way to take out your frustrations and destroy everything you dislike about your kitchen.
9. Keep the Remodel Simple
Take a look at your budget and see what the most expensive items are. There’s a good chance you’re spending a small fortune rewiring light switches and gas lines because you want to move the stove and lights.
By keeping your appliances where they are, you can dramatically reduce the costs of the kitchen remodel. This is only a good idea if you’re remodeling for aesthetic reasons.
If you’re remodeling to improve the functionality of the kitchen, you may have no choice but to move the appliances.
10. Do the Floors Yourself
Flooring can save you quite a bit of money. Not only the materials you use, but you can install the flooring yourself.
There are a number of factors you want to take into consideration before you take this on. The subfloor and the types of flooring materials could add to or reduce the costs of flooring.
Do a Kitchen Remodel on a Budget
Remodeling a kitchen is one of the most challenging home projects you can take on. It’s costly unless you are smart about how you go about the project.
You can do a kitchen remodel on a budget by planning ahead. It’s a crucial step in the process that allows you to be aware of any potential pitfalls. You can save money on materials and DIY what you can.
In the end, you have a kitchen that’s more functional and looks amazing. When you do it right, you’ll have a higher home value, too.
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