Things You Need To Know When Looking To Remodel Your Kitchen

Remodeling a kitchen can be a very intimidating task. Homeowners can stumble during the process and get trapped in a house with a half-finished kitchen or an increasingly ballooning budget that threatens to bankrupt the family. DIY homeowners can end up with designer’s regret and find that their initial dreams for their kitchen have become a nightmare, necessitating even more work or the begrudging acceptance of a deeply flawed kitchen. Everything from the color scheme to the cabinet panels to the height of shelves are potential areas of error, so it’s important to be prepared with knowledge and understand common mistakes that homeowners make during kitchen remodeling.

How Much Does It Cost To Remodel A Kitchen?

To remodel or not to remodel? That is the question; and it is an especially important one too. The cost of kitchen remodeling is a massive factor in most people’s decision-making process. Understanding the price tag on that new kitchen is vital, that’s how homeowners decide if it’s worth it.

Assuming that a homeowner chooses a “standard” remodel with the externals of the kitchen (appliances, counters, hardware, fixtures, cabinetry, flooring, etc.) but not gutting the kitchen, the costs might look something like the list below. Keep in mind that the numbers will obviously vary based on details like location or specifications, and the ones below are a very rough estimate:

• Smaller Kitchen

  • High quality materials: $25,000 to $32,000
  • Medium quality materials: $18,000 to $25,000
  • Cheap materials: $12,000 or less to $18,000

 

• Medium Size Kitchen

  • High quality materials: $35,000 to $45,000 or more
  • Medium quality materials: $28,000 to $35,000
  • Cheap materials: $22,000 or less to $28,000

 

• Larger Kitchen

  • High quality materials: $50,000 to $65,000 or more
  • Medium quality materials: $48,000 to $55,000
  • Cheap materials: $42,000 or less to $48,000

Be Flexible With Budgeting

It’s extremely common for kitchen remodels to go over budget. Some experts recommend adding 20 percent or more to the budget for any unexpected costs that arise. For instance, there are sometimes framing issues or plumbing complications that can’t be foreseen but end up racking up costs. Some common things that cause projects to go over budget are:

• Changes to the fundamental layout of the kitchen
• Using high-end materials
• Custom craftsmanship
• Unnecessary tech additions

When making a budget, it’s common for homeowners to begin by making a list of everything that they want in the new kitchen. However, that’s a grave mistake. That ramps up the pressure to make everything on the list “fit” within the budget, even when it realistically can’t. A better way to start is by deciding how much is reasonable to spend and making a list of the most essential changes. Think of what is genuinely necessary for the new kitchen – no more than four or five changes. After handling the “needs,” start ranking the “wants” from most to least wanted. Keep going until the list eats up 90% of the budget. Then go over the list and see where costs can be lowered, if there’s anything else to add. It might be wise to contact a kitchen remodeling expert at this point and see if the budget is realistic. Many kitchen remodeling contractors will offer to meet before any construction begins to discuss budgeting and help work out a reasonable budget.

How Long Does Kitchen Remodeling Take?

Unfortunately, this question is as difficult to answer as how much it costs. A huge variety of different factors go into this, such as the location and the local demand for construction work and contractors. Shopping around for a good contractor is a must.

Regarding the time frame, it depends on availability of the desired materials, the accessibility workers have to the kitchen (can they work when nobody is home?), the extent of the remodel project, the reliability of the team (will they show up to do the work on time?), and the size of the kitchen. Projects can take anywhere from six to twelve weeks, but are sometimes faster or slower. Make sure that any contractors hired can give an accurate and specific deadline. If workers have to be paid, the longer a project takes, the more it can cost – so make sure to get an end date locked down.

How Can Homeowners Save Money With Remodeling?

With the price of kitchen remodeling being as flexible as it is, many homeowners wonder how they can make their project fit in the lower end of the price range. Sometimes this simply is not possible. However, usually there are a few things that homeowners can do to save money along the way.

First of all, it’s important to avoid “designer’s regret.” Designer’s regret is what happens when homeowners design their new kitchen, have everything remodeled, and then look at the finished product and think to themselves “oh no, this is wrong!” The best case scenario is that they live forever regretting something small, like the cabinet fixtures, and the worst case scenario is that they have to spend much more time, money and energy fixing serious problems that they didn’t even foresee as problems. There a number of causes of designer’s regret, one of which is not doing enough research. Never agree to add any appliance, fixture, or other component of the kitchen unless it’s absolutely clear that it’s the best option for the project. Another cause of designer’s regret is on the contractor’s end. Homeowners and designers will pay a contractor for some specific material or design element, but not get what they paid for. Instead, they get something cheaper but generally similar. If this happens, let the contractor know and insist on getting the right item. It may seem small in the moment, but it’s important to make sure that the final product fits the vision that was planned. One or two small differences might not be an issue, but they can add up quickly and rapidly change the look, feel and function of the kitchen.

Another good way to save money is to minimize changes to the kitchen. Obviously, the fewer changes there are, the less work needs to be done, the fewer materials need to be purchased, the lower the cost of the product. For example, changing layout can get expensive very fast. If things have to be moved, move them with as little layout modification as possible. Even layout changes that seem small to homeowners often actually require electricians, municipal permits, plumbing work, licensed gas technicians, and so on. It’s better to avoid these costs in the first place if at all possible.

Finally, the biggest and most unnecessary cost in modern kitchen remodeling is the technology. “Smart” kitchens are very trendy at the moment. While it can be tempting to keep up with the neighbors and get a microwave that talks to the refrigerator or a blender that connects to Amazon Prime, the vast majority of people have absolutely no need for these things. Most of the digital “improvements” in kitchen appliances and other components add little to no value and serve a minimal functional role. Of course, all of that wouldn’t be that much of a problem if it weren’t for the massive cost. Looking at the average “smart refrigerator,” the cost tends to range from around $2000 to $4000 dollars. However, normal refrigerators – the kind most people use with no problem for their entire lives – typically cost less than $1,200. It is important to ask whether having a fridge that hooks up to a smart phone app is really worth more than $1,200. For most folks, the answer is a resounding no.

Can DIY Kitchen Remodeling Really Work?

A do-it-yourself strategy for home improvement can be a great idea in many situations. Nowadays, the internet makes learning how to complete projects much easier, and new building materials can be delivered straight to a homeowner’s door in a matter of days. Homeowners can now take on many difficult and complicated jobs that were once reserved only for experienced contractors and specialists. DIY work can be extremely rewarding as homeowners enjoy the fruits of their own labor, giving an unparalleled sense of satisfaction and achievement. It can also save a lot of money if done correctly.

However, the DIY approach doesn’t always extend to all home improvement work. Home improvement forums and other DIY spaces are full of stories of dramatic failures that make the prospect of DIY remodeling a little less appealing. Managing a large remodeling project, if not done by a general contractor, can be an extremely time consuming activity for homeowners. It can involve interviewing workers, negotiating contracts, supervising the work of subcontractors, doing hours of in-depth research on the skills necessary for the job, and more.

To apply the potential of the DIY approach to kitchen remodeling, let’s look at some of the advantages and disadvantages DIY work can bring to the table.

Advantages of Kitchen Remodeling

One of the biggest motivations for a DIY approach to kitchen remodeling is the potential to save money. And cutting out the middle man (the general contractor) and managing a project alone can indeed save thousands of dollars. Depending on the part of the job, homeowners can DIY their way out of a few hundred dollars (e.g. sanding the floors) or a couple thousand (e.g. installing the floors).

DIY kitchen remodelers also get more control over the final job. Sometimes general contractors truly intend and promise to execute the homeowner’s wishes, but things still turn out a little differently than the homeowner had hoped. This can partially be avoided with good communication with the contractor, but it can be totally avoided with a DIY approach.

The final and one of the most long-lasting benefits of DIY kitchen remodeling is building experience, knowledge and contacts for future projects. Having a solid base of knowledge and contacts with reliable people who can help makes any later work much easier. And building a network of subcontractors has many advantages in its own right.

Disadvantages of Kitchen Remodeling

For all the advantages that DIY work can have, when it comes to kitchen remodeling there can be some very serious reasons to pause. Many homeowners find themselves in such stressful situations after an attempted DIY remodeling project that they swear to never try to handle the work themselves again without an experienced contractor.

For instance, it may seem like all general contractors do is find and schedule workers to complete projects together. However, even if that were the case, general contractors have a level of experience and knowledge that takes years to build up. They know how to coordinate different workers to work as quickly and efficiently as possible. The advantage of hiring a general contractor is that they bring that experience and skillset, which can take decades to acquire.

Part of that experience is their network of contacts. They know the best of the best in every field, from housepainters, HVAC experts, landscapers, masonry professionals, electricians, plumbers, carpenters and more. General contractors also often have deals with these specialist subcontractors, saving money on the subcontractor’s fee by agreeing to bring them in whenever the general contractor has a job. And subcontractors tend to give preferential treatment to reliable general contractors that they’ve worked with before when deciding what jobs to accept and what to charge. These professional connections can be quite difficult for an ordinary DIY homeowner to build.

But it’s not just relationships that saves general contractors money. They often also have access to certain economical building materials that aren’t available to DIY homeowners. Since their business is home renovation or remodeling, they can buy building materials, appliances and equipment in bulk at a fraction of the price that a DIY homeowner would pay per unit. General contractors also deal with proper disposal of demolition materials, which is difficult for DIY remodelers to handle alone.

As a result of their network of connections and experience, professional general contractors command a certain level of respect that helps their jobs go more smoothly. For instance, if a DIY homeowner wants to go to the local permit office to get their plans approved, they can find that no one at the office is in much of a hurry to help them. They can find that their plans are put under a greater level of scrutiny than general contractors with more experience. The fact is, permitting and building officials are bureaucrats that who speak a certain language. Contractors are fluent in that language. Officials and contractors may see each other nearly every day and have an established friendly relationship. That history of goodwill can open certain doors and allow the contractor to enjoy perks and concessions that DIY homeowners just won’t get. In sum, general contractors can navigate the entire process of permitting a lot more smoothly than the average homeowner can.

Another major disadvantage of DIY homeowners taking on the role of a general contractor is time management. The remodeling of a second kitchen in a basement or guest house doesn’t need to get done right away. Homeowners can slowly chip away at the job until it’s done. But if they are remodeling their only kitchen, the deadline becomes a lot more important. Life on takeout and microwaved frozen meals gets very dull very quickly. A really good general contractor can perform a total remodel in as little as 3 to 4 weeks, depending on the size of the job. But homeowners, especially those inexperienced in hiring subcontractors and coordinating different specialist tradespeople, can find themselves mired in projects that disable their kitchen for months. General contractors have a special motivation to get the job done quickly: the more time they spend on one project, the less time they can spend on other profitable endeavors. Contractors have to keep moving through a lineup of jobs to pay their subcontractors and turn a profit for themselves.

Of course, the biggest disadvantage of DIY kitchen remodeling is the stress it brings. Large home improvement jobs can put massive stress on family cohesion and relationships. Paying a general contractor means that homeowners and their families are separated from some of the more unpleasant aspects of home remodeling. For instance, a couple won’t be arguing about why the sink isn’t working yet when it’s a contractor’s job to make it work. The other big source of stress is the massive workload that comes with managing a multitude of subcontractors. It is extremely hard to, for example, confront a subcontractor about quality issues or scheduling disagreements. One advantage of hiring a general contractor is that they will deal with all the stress of managing the crew working on the job.

Is DIY Kitchen Remodeling Better Than A General Contractor?

The short answer to this question is that it depends. If a homeowner has a lot of experience with home improvement projects, a network of reliable trade specialists, hiring and managing subcontractors, permitting, and all the other complexities of the job, then they might be smart to handle contracting themselves. Otherwise, it’s probably better to invest in a general contractor and let them do the work.

However, it doesn’t have to be one or the other. If a homeowner is confident in one part of the general contractor’s job, or in the skillset the general contractor would hire a subcontractor for, they can negotiate to save money and do some of the work themselves. For example, if a homeowner is confident they can do the painting of the kitchen themselves, they can tell the general contractor to skip the painting. Little things like that can save a lot of money without the homeowner having to take on the entire remodeling job themselves.

Many experts do recommend that homeowners avoid being their own general contractors on larger projects. Things like kitchen additions are usually almost as complex as building an entire house, requiring finish carpentry, excavation, foundation work, roofing and siding, wiring, plumbing, HVAC work, framing, and more. Very few homeowners are truly skilled enough to manage such a difficult task.

Are Contractors Or Re-Fitters Better For Your Remodeling Project?

One of the biggest choices to make when hiring someone to remodel a kitchen is the choice between a re-fitter and a contractor. A re-fitter (or fitter) is someone who simply installs new components into a kitchen, such as a new dishwasher or cabinets. They may or may not offer the service of removing the original components, and they may or may not work as part of a larger team. A contractor, on the other hand, is hired to complete a larger and more comprehensive job. Contractors often work in teams and can be hired to do a complex project like fully remodeling a kitchen. For homeowners who want to do a total remodel of their kitchen, traditional contractors hold many benefits over fitters.

First of all, full contractor teams tend to be comprised of a variety of specialists who can make sure all parts of the kitchen remodeling process go smoothly. For instance, plumbers are handling the plumbing, electricians are handling the electricity and wiring, painters are handling the painting, and so on. Even better, all these specialists are communicating with each other as part of one team with a clear job and a centralized, organized plan designed by professionals. Fitters work independently of one another, and therefore cannot coordinate in the same way traditional full contractors do. In fact, one of the most common causes of “designer’s regret” is the failure of a coordinated plan for a kitchen, leaving elements or components that clash aesthetically. Even worse, components can clash functionally, making the kitchen dysfunctional or even dangerous (it’s really crucial for plumbers and electricians to be communicating).

Another benefit of full contractor teams is that they can handle the job as one unit. That doesn’t just mean that, as mentioned earlier, the job gets done better. It also means less stress for the homeowner. If a homeowner hires a series of fitters to do a kitchen remodel, the burden of organizing them and coordinating them is on the homeowner. If that same homeowner hires a traditional full contractor team, they have the advantage of professional management of the project. Many DIY homeowners think they can save money by doing the job themselves with a little help from a couple fitters, but that attitude often ends up costing a lot more in the long run. Homeowners can find themselves out of money with a half-finished kitchen and a lot more work to do than they thought. At that point, they often need to hire a full contractor anyway to complete the job, meaning they have wasted money that could have just gone to the contractor in the first place.

Traditional full contractor teams are also usually more experienced than fitters. Many contractors began as fitters and then started working as full contractors as they gained more experience. Fitters can be experienced, but they are often new to renovation-style work, and that lack of experience is reflected in the quality of the work they do.

Another great advantage that full contractors have is that they are generally more specialized to different types of work. For instance, a smaller contracting company will focus exclusively on kitchen or bathroom remodeling and renovation, or a larger company will have different teams specialized in those fields. The more specialized and experienced teams are, the more knowledgeable they are. The more knowledgeable those teams are, the better they can do the job.

Finally, traditional full contractors are usually much more beholden to regulation and licensing than partial fitters. Many states have strong regulations on who can legally do contract work, since the industry is a high cost one, rife with scammers and con artists. Contractors in these states have to go through vigorous approval processes, demonstrate their competence, and prove that they are reliable and trustworthy enough to do their job. Fitters, on the other hand, do not traditionally fall under the purview of contractor regulation laws. As a result, fitters are far more likely to be bad faith actors, do shoddy work, or even be unapologetic con artists.

Of course, not all fitters are bad, and many do good work, but in general full contractors are a better choice for homeowners who wish to remodel. Contractors can take on the whole project, organize it as efficiently as possible, coordinate the many moving parts of the job, and finish it all as one team. When homeowners hire professional and vetted contractors, the job tends to get done a lot faster (and a lot cheaper) than if they try to do it themselves or hire a series of fitters to do it.

What Should Homeowners Look For In Contractors?

It can be difficult to select a good contractor for kitchen remodeling projects. Since contracting is an industry that is infamous for scammers, con artists, and unprofessional behavior resulting in shoddy work, homeowners can often end up hiring a contractor that they later regret working with. However, there are a few things that homeowners can do to avoid landing themselves in that position.

Interview At Least Three Contractors

Speaking to one or two contractors gives a very limited set of perspectives. The contractors might give bids that are pricier than expected, but without a reference point, homeowners have no way to know exactly how unfair that price might be. The more contractors a homeowner interviews, the easier it becomes to find a contractor who fits the job perfectly and charges a fair price. Having a wide range of bids to select from makes the decision-making process a lot easier.

Get Estimates In Writing

It may be tempting to trust a charismatic contractor when they give a verbal estimate of the cost of a project, but numbers aren’t as solid as many people think. Like any information, they can be forgotten, misheard, misinterpreted, or otherwise misconstrued. Clear and properly written estimates are objective and unforgettable. There’s nothing wrong with asking for a verbal ballpark figure, but it’s important to understand that it isn’t binding.

Verify Credentials, Registration And Licensing

In most jurisdictions, contractors are required to be licensed or registered in some way. Those licensing processes require a number of safeguards to ensure reliability, such as bonding, criminal record checks, testing, earning continued education credits, insurance proof, and more. Verifying these credentials is essential to making sure that a contractor is reliable and above-board. Contractors should be able to produce a physical copy of any credentials or licenses, even if they don’t have it on them immediately. The inability to do so is a huge red flag.

Review Previous Work

Most contractors show up to their interview with a gallery of pictures for previous remodeling projects. Check out their website too and look at the pictures of their work. One great way to confirm the legitimacy of a contractor is to perform a reverse image search on the photos on their website. Many unscrupulous sham contractors will steal pictures from other websites and claim it as their own work to create a false sense of reliability and experience. If the pictures are stolen, run the other way as fast as possible. But even if they’re real, try to look past the nice pictures and decide if the contractor’s style of work is right for the job.

Nail Down The Schedule – Exactly!

Before signing any contract, make absolutely clear what date the remodel will begin and how long it should take. Scheduling matters immensely to both the homeowner and the contractor, so it’s important to make sure everyone is in agreement. The common contract clause “time is of the essence” that defines the time a contractor has to finish the project, and when payment is scheduled from the homeowner.

Clarify Precisely What The Contractor Will Do

Before a contract is even written down, speak with the contractor about the specifics of what the project entails. Make any desires and specifications totally clear. Kitchen remodeling contractors perform specific activities and use specific materials. No trustworthy contractor will merely say the kitchen is to be remodeled. Reliable contractors will be able to break the project down into defined, smaller sub-projects and explain what comprises each of them.

Choose A Reliable Full Remodeling Contractor

For southwest Florida homeowners, one of the best options in kitchen remodeling and other contractor jobs is Beattie Development Custom Home Remodeling Services. Besides being a custom homebuilder, Beattie Development also specializes in home remodeling. Offering a complete range of remodeling services, the Beattie team is committed to providing homeowners with a dependable service that truly makes their house a home. Beattie specializes in custom work that isn’t finished until the homeowner is completely satisfied.

If it’s time to remodel, it’s time to contact Beattie Development.