A kitchen renovation can help bring life back to the most important room in your home.
Was your kitchen one of the main reasons you bought your house and now you feel it’s in desperate need of a makeover?
The kitchen is one of the most popular (and most used) rooms in the home. It’s where you cook, eat, entertain guests, and even do homework or help the kids with their school projects. The wear and tear that many kitchens experience (especially with kids and teenagers in the house) is tremendous.
Considering all this, it’s no surprise that kitchens are the most often remodeled room in the home. And if you ever plan to put your home on the market, it’s important to remember that kitchens are one of the top renovations for ROI, recouping up to 80% of their costs in resale. Are you itching to update your kitchen but don’t know where to start? Here’s a few key things to know:
1. Be Choosy When It Comes to Kitchen Contractors
A kitchen renovation is one of the most expensive and complex renovations you can choose for you home. The contractor you choose will impact every stage of your remodel–and will likely determine whether you love your new kitchen or not.
Before getting estimates from choice renovation companies, consider conducting phone interviews with each one. Get some basic information on the company’s history and projects. Find out if they specialize in kitchen renovations. Pay attention to the overall experience you have when speaking with them.
Ask yourself the following questions about each company:
- How easy is it to get in contact with someone?
- Do they return your calls promptly?
- Are they personable, friendly and helpful?
In addition to your own research, get recommendations from friends and family. First-hand accounts of the company’s work and business practices provide higher-quality insight than online reviews–though online reviews are also important sources of information regarding a company’s reputation and past projects.
2. Money Shouldn’t Be the Deciding Factor
For many homeowners, budget is the biggest concern when pursuing a kitchen renovation. However, if your budget demands that you cut corners on every aspect of your kitchen makeover, you could end up with a kitchen you don’t like. Or worse–a kitchen that has design flaws and structural issues.
One area that many homeowners skimp on when trying to compress costs for a kitchen remodel is cabinetry. It’s easy to see kitchen cabinets as simple storage that can be done cheaply, for little difference in performance. In truth, your cabinets are one of the most important parts of your kitchen.
Consider how often your kitchen cabinets will be used. Are you storing heavy china and cookware? Do loud cabinet doors annoy you? How will the lower-tier cabinets you have your eye on impact the overall look of your kitchen? These are things to consider before settling on the cheapest option simply because it’s cheap.
The same goes for your kitchen hardware. It can be tempting to buy cheap hardware that looks similar to the good stuff–but it won’t perform the same or last as long.
If you don’t have the budget to invest in quality materials and hardware, you might want to continue saving for a couple more months. With a better budget to work with, you won’t have to cut corners when it comes to quality. You’ll also save yourself the headaches and disappointments of a kitchen that doesn’t live up to your dreams.
3. Don’t Discount the Importance of Craftsmanship and Design
Too many homeowners let the specifics of a kitchen renovation overwhelm them. They get bogged down with budget constraints, time constraints and scheduling–and they forget the importance of envisioning a space they will love.
If you’ve carefully chosen a contractor you can trust, the design aspect of your kitchen renovation should be a natural next step. A high-quality renovation company will help you map out the kitchen design elements that are most important to you. They will also communicate with you through each phase of the renovation to ensure that your expectations are being met.
When it comes to kitchen renovations, craftsmanship is one of Stratton Exteriors’ top priorities. We strive to offer kitchen design-forward advice and ideas and the very best hardware and materials. Once your new kitchen is constructed, we can help you pick out the appliances that will suit the space and offer the performance you deserve.
Are you ready to explore options for a kitchen renovation? Then, contact Stratton Exteriors today!
