The Value of a Kitchen Remodel
The kitchen remodel is without a doubt the most popular remodel in homes today, followed by bathroom remodels. When you look around your own home, you might just see why. The kitchen is the place where you spend most of your time, but the odds are good that you aren’t too happy with that space. You probably have some ideas that you want to try in that area right now.
Kitchen remodels are also popular because there are a lot of smaller improvements that homeowners can do on their own, without the help of a professional. These smaller jobs range from changing the cabinets to laying down new flooring. Many people find that they can do a few jobs over one long weekend.
Advantages
The number one advantage to remodeling your kitchen is that it adds value to your home. Generally speaking, you’ll get back every penny you put into the kitchen and oftentimes two or three times as much money. The kitchen is where most people spend a good portion of their day, and they want it to look as good as possible and be highly efficient.
When a potential buyer looks at a house, the kitchen is one of the first things they look at. A home with a nice, updated kitchen will sell for more than a similar house with an outdated kitchen. Even if the rest of your house doesn’t quite make the grade, a buyer might overlook that if you have an excellent kitchen.
Options
When it comes to remodeling your kitchen, the only limits are the limits of your imagination! If you have $100,000, you can completely transform your kitchen, but you can also change the space, if you only have a few hundred dollars. The most important thing to remember is to set your budget for the remodel and stay within that budget throughout the work.
The best thing to do is to visit a home improvement store in your area like Home Depot or Lowe’s. Even Wal-Mart and Target have some great accessories that you can use in your kitchen like new hardware and storage options. You should also be on the lookout for any trade shows or home improvement shows in your area.
These shows and stores allow you to see different options for the kitchen up close. While you may get some ideas online, you’ll never know exactly how those things look until you see them for yourself. That great looking marble might actually be a little too blue when you see it with your own eyes. You can also use these shows and stores to find new ideas and products that work well in your home.
Costs
Kitchen remodeling costs vary greatly depending on what type of remodel you do and the amount of work involved. Home shows are full of stories about homeowners who spent tens of thousands of dollars on a kitchen remodel. The price also depends on who does the work and if you design it yourself or hire a designer to complete the work.
Experts estimate that the average kitchen remodeling cost comes in at just under $20,000. This price rises if you install an island and can easily double or triple if you plan to install new appliances or upgrade the cabinets. A basic remodel of the cabinets and flooring usually costs less than $15,000 and if you do most of the work yourself, you can cut that price in half.
As you can see, kitchen remodeling costs are dependent on the type of work done and the amount of work that needs to be done. A kitchen that is in relatively good shape to begin with will generally cost less to remodel than one that needs all new appliances, cabinets, and flooring.
Types Of Remodels
There are literally dozens of different types of kitchen remodels and the Cost Helper website is a great resource to find information (http://www.costhelper.com/cost/home-garden/remodel-kitchen.html). They have included links to a variety of other websites where you can learn what should be included in a remodel and the prices associated with such plans.
The National Association of the Remodeling Industry (http://www.nari.org/homeowners/tips/) also has some great ideas on remodeling your kitchen and ways you can save money and cut your costs. Some of their tips include choosing neutral colored appliances and using existing electric and water lines.
You can pick a basic remodeling plan where you only need to change the cabinets and flooring or go for something more elaborate. The backsplash, appliances, and walls can also be changed. Another option is to pick more expensive or distinguished accessories such as stainless steel appliances, poured concrete counters, or marble.
Many people who decide to remodel their kitchen start with the cabinets because cabinets tend to look dated after a few years. You can completely tear out the cabinets and replace them with new ones, or change out your existing cabinets. Refinishing the faces, painting the cabinets, adding shelf paper, and changing the hardware are all less expensive options.
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