You’ve decided to take the plunge and invest in a kitchen remodel. Whether you’ve been dreaming about a beautiful new kitchen for years or you’ve recently decided to overhaul the room, you’re starting down the path of a major renovation.
If you want the job done right, there’s no way around it—you’ll have to set a budget capable of balancing your desires and your financial circumstances.
Unfortunately, many homeowners get halfway through the project only to discover that their actual costs are starting to push past the initial budget they set. If you want to stick to your budget, you have to fully understand the costs for every part of the remodel.
It may not seem easy but keeping kitchen remodel costs in check is possible with careful planning and vigilance along the way.
Before going any further, there’s one rule that must be stated. Your kitchen remodel costs and budget will depend on your unique scope and material selections. That’s why it’s tough to look at “average cost of kitchen remodel” type articles and get any definitive insights.
However, it’s still valuable to dig into average costs and get a rough idea of how your budget will break down according to components of the project.
These guidelines are subject to change depending on your needs, but they can still help. On average, kitchen remodel costs can generally be broken down into the following percentages:
If you’re planning out the budget and you’ve chosen a countertop option that eats up 35% of the budget, you know something has to change. You can have flexibility, but at a certain point it’s time to step back and reevaluate some of your selections.
It’s not just going outside of the scope that impacts kitchen remodel budgets. Even if you have a perfect handle on these percentages, you can still end up overspending without even realizing it.
Budgets are often blown due to unexpected costs that come up during a kitchen remodel. If you’re remodeling an older home, there may be structural damage or outdated electrical work concealed behind your walls. If you watch home remodeling shows, you know that there’s always at least one budget-busting surprise that causes monetary concern. You can make sure you’re covered for this by building a contingency into your initial budget.
Once you start digging into the project, your contractor might let you know that additional work is required. Without unexpected costs built into the budget, you can be in for a major surprise when the bill comes.
Popular advice is to set 20% of your budget aside for unexpected costs. That way, you have a pool of resources to draw from without impacting the design plans for the kitchen remodel.
Expecting the unexpected is never a bad idea. But another key step for controlling kitchen remodel costs is working with a contractor you trust. At Brothers, our experts have industry-specific experience and a large pool of internal resources to assist them in anticipating the unexpected in your kitchen remodel. On your first consultation, we will thoroughly listen to your needs and inspect the area you would like to change, as well as, the connecting pieces of your home. We understand that each project in your home is part of the greater whole and to ignore the rest of your space may add to unexpected costs.
This is a big project you’re committing to. Do you want to spend weeks constantly looking over the contractor’s shoulder trying to spot anything that could blow the budget?
Your kitchen remodel shouldn’t be a stressful process. That’s why it’s so important to work with the right contractor—one who will take the necessary steps to create an in-depth proposal that covers all aspects of your project from budget to timeline. When you trust the plan set with the contractor and designer, you won’t have to worry about surprises along the way.
Awareness is great, but it takes a trustworthy contractor to ensure you stay in control of your costs.