Should you cut corners when remodeling your kitchen?
Resale is all about great kitchens so more often than not, it’s worth your time to remodel this family-centric room. But when you’re allocating resources, there are certain areas within the kitchen where you can save a few dollars, and few areas where you should splurge. Keep the cost of your kitchen renovation on par with the value of your Cochrane home. You should spend somewhere between 6 and 10% of the value of your home on your kitchen and see a return of around 70%, ballpark.
Also, consider this spending advice:
Kitchen Appliances
You might want the very best in your kitchen with a European hood fan, six-burner gas cooktop and a fridge that dispenses everything. Unless you’re a professional chef, you can certainly save a few dollars on your appliances. Check consumer reviews online and invest in appliances that you will use and use well. Commercial appliances will take up a lot of space so better to use your resources for cabinets. You may be limiting the appeal of your kitchen for future buyers by putting in appliances that are too large.
Cabinets
This is generally the biggest expense and the most visual element of your kitchen. This is where you should splurge. You’ll get more mileage out of beautiful yet sturdy cabinets with quality hinges that will stand up to wear and tear. They should be well designed to maximize the space for optimal storage. Today’s buyers are looking for soft-close doors and drawers with extra cupboards for recycling and household garbage.
Countertops
This is another huge visual element of your kitchen. The quality of your countertops should equal the quality of your cabinets since the two go hand in hand. Go with inexpensive countertops if the rest of the home goes with the tone of the counter tops or if the home value and location supports a lower grade of kitchen finishings. But certainly go with the best you can afford.
Don’t save on installation either. You might be tempted, thinking that you’re just hanging a bunch of boxes. Let the professionals handle that.
Floor
Can’t be linoleum for ease of care but if it doesn’t go with your granite you might be tasting your money. Porcelain tiles are durable and not expensive. Go with larger format tiles to reduce the amount of grout you’ll need. If you’re putting in new flooring through the level where the kitchen is located, keep it consistent and put it in the kitchen as well to give the main floor a cohesive flow.
Where to cut corners in the kitchen:
Hardware and backsplash tile. Keep it simple to help offset some of your other costs. Cabinet knobs or pulls, ceiling fixtures – these items can take up a smaller pie of the pie when it comes to your budget. Designers say that you don’t have to match your metals if you have brass pulls on top cupboards and something else on the bottom. White or grey, which is the new beige, are simple and classic.
Remember, people get an idea about what the inside if your home might look like from looking at the outside. Plan your kitchen remodel to meet or exceed buyer expectations.