What to Know Before Starting a Kitchen Makeover Project

So you’ve been tossing around some kitchen remodeling ideas for a while now and you finally have a budget that enables you to start your makeover. Where do you go from here?

Here are some kitchen remodeling tips and other helpful facts you’ll want to know before you start your makeover project.

Planning Your New Kitchen Create a long list of your kitchen remodeling ideas, writing down everything that comes to mind, regardless of your budget. This is the time to really let the ideas flow. Later you can remove items that are out of your budget or that don’t fit in with the overall design concept and aren’t worth the splurge. For instance, do you want to be able to look out the window while standing at the sink or would you rather move the sink to an island at the center of the kitchen? Don’t be afraid to go bold when jotting down your kitchen remodeling ideas. Have fun with it.

DIY vs. Professional Installation DIY projects can be fun and rewarding if you have the experience required to complete the job. If you don’t, it can quickly turn into a time consuming, expensive disaster. On the other side, hiring a general contractor can be as nerve-wracking as trying to do it yourself if you don’t have a good working relationship or a licensed professional you can trust. The kitchen is the heart and soul of your home, and any kitchen remodeling project is a big deal. Sears Home Services has the home improvement service pros with the experience and products needed to help you realize your kitchen remodeling dream.

Out-Of-Commission Kitchen The typical kitchen remodeling project can take anywhere from one to three months to complete, depending on the size and scope of the job. That means you won’t be able to use your stove, oven or dishwasher for a while, and you might not be able to keep perishables from going bad. It’s not realistic to think you will dine out for every meal during that time either. With a little planning you can still prepare meals and buy groceries. For instance, use a cooler with ice to store perishables, a card table to act as a makeshift kitchen counter and a toaster oven in place of your regular oven. You might want to consider using disposable plates and silverware or a while, too. Nowadays, many brands have products that are easily recyclable.

Cost and Time Allocation It’s crucial to educate yourself about the materials you plan on using for your kitchen renovation. It may be tempting to go with less expensive options for items like tile or countertops to keep down costs and squeeze more into the final project, but that decision is likely to come back to haunt you if it turns out the product you selected has a shorter life expectancy. Don’t cost yourself more in the long run just to save a few bucks now.