It happens to all of us. You are planning your kitchen remodel. You are super excited, a little overwhelmed, and you’re trying the very best you can to stick your kitchen remodel budget. But that has been tough! When you started out, you did not know your dream kitchen countertop was going to be a little extra for the color you want. Plus, you did not consider that you would want to replace all your kitchen appliances, it was only going to be one or two. You did know though that your cramped double bowl sink was definitely out!
When you are preparing to do a kitchen remodel, it is important to have a budget and a plan for what you want to spend on your project. But there are certain things that can and usually will happen to everyone during the course of the design and/or product selection process that throw a wrench (or two) in your money spending plan. Save the wrench for the renovations, and consider avoiding these common reasons that can take you over your kitchen remodel budget.
Over Budget Alert: Upgrading Your Finish
According to a Houzz study, this is the number one reason that people go over their budgets. Upgrading your finish is not only true for kitchen renovations, it applies across the board to all home renovations. When you are planning for your kitchen, take time to seriously look at and compare the cost of finishes before you make a decision. If you decide after you are almost done with all your project solutions, you just might be looking at a surprise jump in your costs.
Over Budget Alert: Choosing Special Features
Upgrading your cabinets is a huge part of getting a fresh look in your kitchen. Custom-sized cabinets can make your kitchen more functional, but can also drive up the bill. In some cases, it can increase costs significantly based on the number of cabinets to be customized. Ask your designer where to simplify and where to splurge when it comes to the custom design of your cabinets and your kitchen design layout.
You might also realize you want your cabinets to come equipped with fully accessorized corner cabinets or pull out shelves. These are great design ideas to increase the ease of use in your kitchen, but can also quickly add up in cost. Consider how likely you are to use these types of features and if they will be worth the extra money in the end. It is a good idea to prioritize based on important they are to you and your kitchen, so you can be clear on the real must haves.
Over Budget Alert: Upgrading Appliances
If you’re looking at a standard set of appliances to replace your umm, standard set of appliances, odds are you can expect to stay reasonably within your budget. But what if you are looking for a little more performance? Or smart technology? If you are thinking about getting luxury appliances or just getting more features that what you have today, you will have to think about where you are fitting it into the rest of your budget and if you have to move some things around or changes other selections to balance the cost. Luxury appliances can easily add costs of $5,000 and upwards, versus a generic appliance that might run for $500-$800 depending on what appliance you are looking at. Consider the benefits of getting a luxury appliance versus what you will save if you choose a standard or lesser version. Are you a gourmet chef? Well, you may have already answered your own question! By researching the features of the appliances you are looking at, you can decide what you would and wouldn’t use.
Over Budget Alert: Countertop Materials
A regular plastic laminate countertop will be a cheap option for your kitchen, but it could be that you’ve decided you want a change. Quartz can double the price of your kitchen countertop but worth the upgrade, especially if it’s been a long time since you’ve gotten a new kitchen counter. Add decorative edges, a full height back splash or a second countertop material on the island and your countertop costs rise quickly. Look into the cost of different countertop materials by square foot, and see which upgrade will be the most friendly with your budget before you’re hit with surprise costs.
Over Budget Alert: What Lurks Behind your Walls and Cabinets
If you get unlucky in your remodel and are hit with unexpected structural issues you can’t see or find until after the project starts, you’ll be looking at higher costs for the remodel project that are beyond your control. You can’t help it if you find unexpected water damage, or perhaps termite damage. When your contractor is doing work, they could expose poor construction that might need to be worked on as well. But just because you’re unlucky doesn’t mean you won’t have to pay for it. It’s recommended that you add a little cushion to your entire kitchen renovation budget in case of an unexpected event. Consider from 10 percent to as much as 20 percent of your kitchen renovations budget for as a contingency plan.
Over Budget Alert: Expanding your Project Scope
Homeowners are often hit with mission creep, or the renovation bug. Once you think of one thing that needs to be done, you’ll think of another. Your backsplash looks great? Now you want to put in new trim on the walls to match it. It happens that fast. Plan ahead, know exactly what you want in your project scope, and resist the urge to go overboard. This is a way that many homeowners end up, blowing their kitchen budget on a bloated scope beyond your original plan.. That being said, if it is a few small fixes that are going to make you much happier with your kitchen renovation overall, then go for it! In the end, your kitchen renovation is all about what makes you happy.
You can also easily change your mind when you see the finished project and it’s not what you expected. That’s why it’s a great idea to have everything selected before your contractor even begins. Talk it over with a designer, and see what they think you’ll like best for the longest amount of time. If you need to keep redoing your kitchen renovation because you don’t like the end result, it’s undoubtedly going to cost you a lot of money in the end.
At Reico Kitchen & Bath, we’ve been recognized by Houzz seven years running as the Best of Houzz 2019 in Customer Service. Let us help you with the best service to plan your kitchen or bathroom remodel. We know exactly where we can save and help you stick to your budget, so save yourself the worry of going over budget on your remodel (for the wrong reasons at least!) and contact us today.
