It’s no secret the kitchen is notoriously expensive to update as homeowners navigate gas lines, appliances, and cabinetry. All told, the average remodel runs about $25,000, or $150 per square foot.
With a price tag like that, it’s natural to feel apprehensive about taking a sledgehammer to your counters. But don’t let the sticker shock scare you off of a much-needed upgrade. You can control how much you spend with proper planning. Check out these tips to get started.
Set a Hard Limit
A renovation can get away from you if you don’t impose harsh spending limits. That’s why setting a budget is the crucial first step to any reno. It helps you identify what you can afford before you get too invested.
You’ll need to take a look at your finances to understand your current financial reach. If you had to start your reno tomorrow, this is how much money you have on hand to use.
Naturally, this may be less than what you need, but you should still compare this cash to what similar projects cost other people. This will give you an idea of how much work your dollar accomplishes.
It also shows you how much further you have to go. You may have to put off work until you gather the funds you need.
Expect the Unexpected
The accuracy of the costs you figured from the step above is only accurate if all things go according to plan. But no matter how hard you plan, some things are up to fate. In all likelihood, something will go wrong with your reno.
Unexpected emergencies are such a normal part of construction that reno experts recommend inflating your budget by an extra 25 percent.
This means if you expect to spend $10,000 on your reno, you should actually budget for $12,500. This gives you some breathing space should your work reveal minor issues you didn’t account for in your budget.
If unexpected emergencies deflate your cushion, an installment loan may pick up the slack. Installment loans from lenders like MoneyKey are designed to help you with urgent work you can’t ignore, like rehabbing out-dated electrical code or removing pests from your home.
They aren’t designed to help boost your budget to help with cosmetic upgrades.
Cut Corners, Safely
Individual jobs may end up costing more or less depending on the unique features of your home. You’ll have to invest some time researching the cost of materials and labor to understand your true costs.
This step highlights the most expensive parts of your reno. Focus on them to see if you can find cheaper building methods or less costly materials. With a bit of research, you may realize you can safely do a job on your own without paying a contractor, or you might find a deal on a backsplash that looks identical to the more expensive one you originally planned.
At the start, the sticker shock of your kitchen reno may scare you away from making any change. But a high cost isn’t always a deal-breaker, nor is it an eventuality of every remodel. Research cost-saving alternatives and build out your budget. These tips may help you control how much you end up spending on your new kitchen.
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