Budgeting Kitchen Remodel
Have you been putting off your kitchen remodel for years because it seems too overwhelming just to get started? Many of the homeowners we speak to in the Los Angeles area have that concern.
Here is a step-by-step guide to getting you started on planning and budgeting for your kitchen remodel. These simple steps will give you the confidence to move forward and take that kitchen you and your family have been dreaming about and make it a reality.
Guide to Budgeting Kitchen Remodel
STEP 1 – ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTION- HOW LONG DO YOU PLAN TO LIVE IN YOUR HOME?
Suppose your answer is ten years or more, then design your kitchen with you and your family in mind. Choose what makes you most happy, even if that includes quirky colors and customized options for your needs. After ten years or more, the kitchen will feel outdated, and the new buyer will probably want to remodel it. Therefore, your choices today will probably not affect the selling price of your home in the future,
If your answer is five years or less, you need to consider how your design choices will affect your home’s selling price. Check with a local realtor. Attend a few open houses in your neighborhood. See what is popular in your town. What are people looking for in kitchens? What features are adding value to area homes. What are good neutral choices that can appeal to a broader selection of homebuyers? These are the questions you will need to ask so that your kitchen remodel adds value to your home when it is time to sell. Don’t make your kitchen fancier than the selling prices in your neighborhood will bear.
STEP 2 – WHERE IS THE MONEY COMING FROM?
It is common for clients to finance a kitchen remodel by either refinancing their home or using a home equity line of credit. If you consider using your cash savings or an inheritance windfall, check if you would do better investing that money. These days mortgage interest rates are quite favorable. It may be a better deal, in the long run, to invest your cash and finance your kitchen remodel. At Structura, we offer “0” interest and “0” down financing for our projects. Once you know the amount you are investing in your renovation, it is time to see what that budget will purchase.
STEP 3 – WHAT ARE THE ASSOCIATED COSTS FOR A KITCHEN RENOVATION? HOW DO YOU CREATE A BUDGET?
The largest expense of your project will be the cabinetry and appliances. That can add up to about 55% of the total budget. The good news, you can control the costs by choosing cabinetry and appliances that fit your budget. Prefabricated cabinetry is half the cost of custom cabinets. Do you really need the high-end cookstove your saw on HGTV or a custom pizza oven?
High-end laminates are a great flooring solution. These days the selection is endless. They make laminates that mimic wood flooring, tile, and marble. They wear well and look great.
Labor usually runs around twenty to twenty-five percent. The cost of windows, doors, fittings, and fixtures is design-dependent.
Here are the categories that you need to consider for your kitchen remodel budget in Los Angeles:
- Cabinetry
- Appliances
- Windows, Doors, Support Structures if you are taking down walls.
- Fixtures and fittings
- Additional new plumbing and electric
- Labor Costs
STEP 4 – MAKE A LIST OF YOUR PRIORITIES FOR YOUR KITCHEN RENOVATION.
When you start shopping, it is impossible to avoid getting bitten by the “project scope creep bug” There are so many amazing options. If you have a plan and stick to your guns, it will make it easier to stick to your budget when shopping and planning!!!
Enjoy some time at the library perusing the kitchen design magazines for ideas. Visit local supplier’s showrooms to view the many design options. Pay attention to the details. Sometimes it is the finishing’s that make the entire design pop.
STEP 5 – SET ASIDE TWENTY PERCENT FOR UNEXPECTED EXPENSES.
Unfortunately, there may be unavoidable expenses that cannot be predicted until your old kitchen is removed. There may be water damage to be repaired. Electrical and plumbing that has to be brought up to code. Mold or termite damage to be remediated. That’s why you need a twenty percent cushion. This way, you don’t have to sacrifice something on your priority list to fix an old problem. The 20% cushion will save your budget and your sanity.
STEP 6 – WHERE WILL YOU STAY, AND HOW WILL YOU FEED YOUR FAMILY WHILE YOUR KITCHEN IS UNDERGOING RENOVATION?
Fortunately for those living in sunny Los Angeles, the weather mostly cooperates with us when it comes to living through renovations. Set up an outdoor kitchen. Move your refrigerator to the back yard along with a microwave, your grill, maybe an instant-pot, and don’t forget the coffee maker. Stock on paper plates, turn on the fire pit, and enjoy backyard camping.
Your contractor should be able to seal the construction site off from the rest of the house. If not, consider a road trip or visiting friends or family. If staying is not an option, don’t forget to add a hotel or Airbnb to your budget.
STEP 7 – WHEN BUDGETING A KITCHEN REMODEL, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS YOU CAN DO ON YOUR OWN TO LOWER COSTS?
Some people take on the demolition of their kitchen to save money. I don’t recommend this unless you are handy and know what you are doing. Let’s put it this way. It looks simpler than it is. You could end up creating additional problems and costs. But if you are up to it …go for it!
The best way to lower your costs is to be a savvy and informed shopper. Don’t get carried away with making changes in the middle of the project. Stick to your budget.
STEP 8 – DON’T FORGET TO BUDGET FOR DECORATING YOUR NEW KITCHEN.
Now comes the fun part. You did a great job budgeting for the kitchen remodel. The work is complete. You love everything about the design…one last thing you forgot to budget for the new window treatments, bar stools, dining table, and chairs. Nothing would be complete without a trip to HomeGoods for all the perfect design accents for your new space. Include your decorating items as part of your overall budget, and you will be set for success.
Structura Remodeling Company helps clients save money bypassing their vendor discounts directly to their customers. Savings on cabinetry, appliances, flooring, windows, doors, flooring, fixtures, and findings can be significant to the overall budget.
They are the top kitchen contractors in Los Angles with over sixteen years of experience and vendor relationships. The Structura Design Team can also save you money by suggesting ways to achieve your design objectives while reducing costs. Since they have all the design and construction services under one roof, it reduces the overall cost of services. Structura’s clients rave about the quality of their artistry and the affordability of their Kitchen Remodeling.
They are easy to work with. Everything is delivered on time and budget.
Call Structura today for a free in-home design estimate or a virtual video design estimate.
Structura Remodeling and Design- tops in Los Angeles. No job too big or too small.
Call Today 1-800-922-4613 for a free in-home estimate.
