A Successful Kitchen Renovation

Did you know that the kitchen is the only area in the home that you are almost always guaranteed a 100% plus return at resale? Or let’s say you are traditionalist and you don’t plan to ever move from your current home. If that is you, than you already know the value of a kitchen. There are so many different functions that a kitchen serves. Apart from the normal cooking and cleaning, it is a place where family meetings are held; a husband and wife can reconnect and share a glass of wine over a gourmet dinner. It is where kids do their homework and adults do their taxes. It is where priceless works of art that don’t mean anything to anybody but you are displayed on the refrigerator. The kitchen is where you share fond memories with your closest friends and celebrate milestones like birthdays and anniversaries.
For many of us, the thought of turning this nostalgic place into a construction site is not such an appealing notion. Dust, loud power tools and hygienically challenged “workers” invading our family dwelling does not get any of us “jazzed” up about remodeling any area of the house much less the most important room. However, this can be done successfully if you get started right. Here are the first two things that you need to know right now to achieve a successful kitchen renovation.

The time is now!

· There is no better time than right now to start preparing for your kitchen remodel. I do not mean to overstate this but it is really that good!

· Building materials are at “rock bottom” prices.

· Contractor availability is at an all-time high.

· The market in this industry is very competitive which is driving prices and fees lower and lower.

· Customer satisfaction is top priority right now; every contractor wants that coveted “good referral” because they all know it will lead to more business. So you should be getting “red carpet” treatment.

· Not to mention, the kids are in school so the house is relatively free for the majority of the day.

You must prepare!

· Begin to dialogue with your family and friends about your dream kitchen. Bouncing things off other people is always healthy because they may think of something that you haven’t and they can also affirm things that you desire.

· Start to clip out images that you would like to see come to fruition in your kitchen. There are countless sources for this, both on-line and in the marketplace. If you have it in the budget, you may want to consult an interior designer.

· Consult your friends and/or family to get referrals for reputable contractors. I always say, “You need at least four”. Do your research, call references, visit websites and give these guys the “third degree”. If they can’t handle it than you don’t want to give them your business.

If you are planning on acting as your own contractor, good for you! However, there will be so much more required of you. We will cover more about this in a later post.

Even if you are dreading the thought of tearing your kitchen apart, take a step back and realize that this could be the ultimate form of delayed gratification. However, it is vital that you get started off on the right foot so take your time but be intentional about your objective.
In the next article, we are going to discuss how to prepare a budget. This is crucial because you can’t afford to be shooting in the dark on this. Everybody that you deal with through this process will constantly try to “up sell” you so you need to know what your limitations are. A budget can be your best friend or your worst enemy depending on how it is structured, so please check back next week for the continuation.

By Brian Johnson
Brian is the Operations Manager at Johnson Custom Cabinetry, Inc. in Lancaster SC. Johnson Custom Cabinetry, Inc. has furnished some of the most significant residencies in the Carolinas with hand made custom cabinets. Check out their website at www.EJohnsonCustomHomes.com.

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Tags: cabinets, charlotte, custom, kitchen, renovation