An unfortunate part of life is that most home remodels go over budget. With kitchens being the most expensive place to remodel in a home, that ‘over budget’ can be a lot more than bargained for.
Before you start your remodel, here are the main reasons most kitchen renovations go over budget.
An unfortunate part of life is that most home remodels go over budget. With kitchens being the most expensive place to remodel in a home, that ‘over budget’ can be a lot of money.
Before you start your remodel, here are the main reasons most kitchen renovations go over budget.
Custom Cabinetry
Cabinetry has a very wide range of prices. Stock cabinets start at around $50 per foot while custom can go upwards of about $2000 per foot. If you are able to re-purpose your current boxes, you can keep the custom cabinet look for a fraction of the price. Cabinet refacing is an amazing, cost effective alternative.
The real key, no matter what you decide to do, is to price everything out ahead of time, before even starting the renovation.
Appliances
Kitchen appliances also have a large range in terms of pricing. When choosing your appliances, take features into account. While you may want the “best of the best” if the appliance has a ton of features you don’t think you’ll ever use, don’t get it. The top of the line appliances are tens of thousands of dollars, and most of the features aren’t for the “every day” cook. Do research and find out what you get for a various cost ranges. That way you can determine if the price of the features are worth the expense for your lifestyle.
Surprise costs behind walls
The scary part about opening walls and pulling up flooring, is that you never know what you’re going to find behind them. Sneaky water leaks, termite damage, and other accidents that are out of anyone’s control are all things to consider, The best way to combat this, is to add an extra contingency in your budget, We recommend about a 20% contingency set aside for unforeseen issues. If everything goes smoothly, that money can either go back into your pocket, or go into upgrades for your kitchen!
Special features
Extra ‘add-ons’ can make a good kitchen into a great kitchen. Soft close cabinets and drawers, extra built-ins, wine racks etc. Depending on the scale of your imagination, these add-ons could reach $15,000+ in costs. If these features are in your price range, and are must-haves, then do it! But before getting your hopes set on the “best of the best”, price out which ones you would like, but don’t need, and see if they fit in your budget.
You change your mind
Half way though the remodel and it isn’t looking quite right. The biggest fear is having the reality of a remodel not live up to your expectations. Before starting your remodel, make sure to hone your design tastes down to one specific style. The worst thing thing to do is start looking at kitchens online after your have already set your renovation in motion. After a project has begun, don’t touch it. Making changes half way through, costs raise substantially.
