The kitchen is often at the epicenter of the American home, and features highly in many remodelling projects. But while it’s a popular project, it’s one that all too often goes over budget, and ends up costing far more than was planned for.
If you’re planning to remodel your kitchen, here are 6 factors that could cause it to go over budget:
- Inefficient planning
The lack of a solid and detailed plan is one of the most common causes of an overbudget kitchen remodel. Failing to estimate the cost of materials and labor properly, and not considering all of the smaller details, is a big and often costly, mistake.
- Neglecting basic functions in favor of luxury
You might want all the features of a luxury kitchen, but if you can’t realistically afford them, it’s best to stick to what you’ve budgeted for so that your project can remain on track financially.
- Not hiring an experienced contractor
You really need to hire a general contractor with plenty of experience in remodeling kitchens, otherwise they may not be fully aware of all the potential costs associated with such a project, and guide you in completely the wrong direction when it comes to your budget. Always carry out detailed research on any contractor you’re considering working with, and try to go with the one who has the most experience.
- Changing your mind halfway through
While it’s not uncommon for homeowners to change their mind about some aspects of their kitchen remodel before it reaches completion, it’s important to be aware that this can (and often does) bump the price up significantly, especially if the contractor has to change his plans midway.
- Failing to plan for the unexpected
There may always be something that crops up during a kitchen remodel that the homeowner hasn’t accounted for or expected, and these hiccups or problems often come at a price. You can’t be expected to know exactly what will happen during a project, or go wrong, but you can set aside a contingency fund to help cover any such eventualities.
- Not getting multiple bids
You must always get multiple bids from a variety of general contractors when planning to remodel your kitchen, even if the first one you’re given seems to be fair and reasonable. How can you ever really know that it’s reasonable and fair if you’ve got nothing to compare it to?
Take the time to think your kitchen remodel through carefully, and hopefully you can keep it within budget, and finished on time. Working with a reputable contractor is one of the simplest ways to achieve this, but you’ll need to put a certain amount of effort in, too. However, for a wonderfully stylish and functional kitchen to be proud of, it’s almost certainly worth it.