All buyers and real estate agents will tell you kitchens and bathrooms make the home. This is especially true for updated kitchens, which add significant resale value to a home and can often be the deciding factor on home choice. Outdated kitchens can be the cause of a home sitting on the market for a long time because people are afraid to tackle the needed renovation.
What do I do?
While homeowners dream about what the remodelled kitchen will look like, they are intimidated by knowing where to begin. Where should they start? First there’s the budget. Before you list your home, sit down with your real estate agent and discuss the changes that are most impactful to the bottom line. If your cabinets are in good shape and the flow of your kitchen works, maybe you only need to change out the hardware and countertops. Or maybe your kitchen has okay cabinets and countertops, but the kitchen is closed off from the rest of the house.
Rather than demolishing and replacing everything from the studs in, you can discuss with the agent removing part of one wall, relocating the removed cabinets to the basement or garage for organized storage, and can choose a painted cabinet for the island you’re going to put in the wall’s place. Or if you have a bathroom with shorter vanities and you want a kitchen-height vanity in there, you can relocate the removed kitchen cabinets to the bathroom, painting them if you don’t want it to seem like you moved the cabinets. Whatever the scope of the changes you agree upon, a kitchen renovation is a big investment. However, when you sell your home, you can expect a big return.
Do I demo now?
There are some practical considerations to consider before you demo your kitchen: where is your family going to prepare meals? Will you still live in the house during the renovation? Are you able to do all the work yourself?
If you will need some subcontractors, you should reach out to them before you reach for the sledgehammer. How do you find the right professionals? Many home improvement stores can provide you with lists of professionals. Look for someone who is licensed and insured. If you prefer not to go that route, check with your real estate agent and/or if you know someone in your neighbourhood or a family member who has had a renovation done, ask them for recommendations – unless they weren’t happy with the work!
Your best option is to contact two or three subcontractors and have them come in and provide an on-site estimate. That way there won’t be any surprises when they get into the job.
How about now…demo yet?
Almost. You will need to select your finishes and confirm they are all in stock. Should there be a delay – ordering a solid surface counter, or kitchen cabinets that are backordered – you don’t want to have your subcontractor show up and not have product for them to install.
Are we ready yet?
Once you have your plans set, changes to be made identified, replacement finishes on-hand or with arrival dates, and subcontractors lined up, demo away!