The average kitchen remodels can cost anywhere between $4,000 to $55,000. The national average hovers around $22,000 but varies by state.
With a price gap like that, having a kitchen remodel budget will save you time and money. But how do you stay on your budget?
It all begins by asking yourself some questions.
How Much Are You Willing to Spend?
Before creating a serious kitchen remodeling budget you need to ask yourself, how much am I willing to spend on this?
If you are remodeling as a way to increase the value of your home before selling it, don’t spend too much. You are not likely to get back as much as you put in.
If your plan is to live in your home for five or more years, putting a little extra money into your project will give you more satisfaction in the long run.
Once you know a ballpark range of what your price cap is you can start doing research on budgeting.
Creating a Kitchen Remodel Budget
The cost of your kitchen remodel depends on you and what your vision is.
When creating your budget you should keep in mind that there is a general percentage of each budget that will go into specific remodeling costs.
New cabinets range between 30-35 percent of any budget and it’s usual for labor to take up about 20 percent when hiring a contractor.
Factoring in those costs means doing your research for the exact style, color, size, and shape of the materials you want to use.
Being decisive on what you want before you start the project will keep you within your budget.
Keep in mind, part of your budget will also have to include eating out and lodging if you don’t want to stay in your home during the remodel.
Don’t forget the inevitable surprise. Leave a couple thousand dollars to spare in case your contractor runs into any surprise water damage or bad wiring.
Keeping Costs Down
If you start to notice yourself going over budget while planning, take a step back and prioritize what you need.
New light fixtures, crown molding, and other decorative pieces are a good place to start cutting costs.
If you wanted to rearrange the kitchen consider moving the fridge to a new spot but try to keep your plumbing and gas lines intact. The cost of rerouting them can skyrocket your budget.
If you feel comfortable doing some of the labor yourself, you can always rip up flooring or research cabinet removal, this will take some labor costs off your contractor’s bill.
Starting the Remodel
When your kitchen remodel budget is complete, you know what your cap is, and have a vision of what you want it’s time to bring in the professionals.
Contractors can design a kitchen within your budget when they know for sure what you want.
Every reputable contractor will give you a break down of the costs before starting, with the exception of finding water leaks, etc.
If you want to take a look at some kitchen layout ideas or have more questions on kitchen remodels visit our showroom!