How to Remodel a Kitchen Affordably

You can remodel your kitchen inexpensively.

Kitchen and bathroom remodels will bring you the largest return on investment upon home resale. The return on investment (ROI) of a remodeled kitchen can reach 100 percent when you sell your home. The downside is that kitchen remodels can cost more than $50,000. However, depending on some key factors and how much elbow grease you are willing or able to expend, you can remodel your kitchen on a budget.

Things You'll Need

• Pictures of kitchens
• Contractor

Instructions

1. Plan your kitchen. Cut pictures from home-decorating magazines of the things you would like in your perfect kitchen and keep them in plastic sleeves in a three-ring notebook for easy reference. Watch television shows like those on HGTV that focus on remodeling and home sales. Visit store showrooms to get an idea of kitchen styles and pricing.

2. Set a budget. Be realistic about what you can afford to spend. Consult a real estate agent to see what houses in your neighborhood are selling for. Try not to put so much into your remodel that you raise the value of your home too much by comparison. If the remodel will price your home outside the local market, your investment will not return as much as you would like.

3. Hire a contractor. Interview more than one contractor to determine who is attuned to your needs and desires and who can make the improvements within your budget. Ask for the contractor's references and to be sure he is licensed by going to the Contractors License Reference Site. Use your contractor as a source of information about the best products available within your budget.

4. Save on labor. Do some of the work yourself like removing old cupboards and counters, installing new flooring, painting the room and putting new hardware on the cupboards. The work you can do yourself will depend on your knowledge of construction as well as your physical ability.

5. Make less expensive choices. Choose appliances that fall within your budget rather than high-end models. Substitute granite tile, slate or laminate for expensive solid granite countertops. Avoid designer brands when buying sinks and faucets and consider plastic laminate floor rather than hardwood.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep the cupboard boxes and replace only the doors and drawers.

• Have cupboard doors refinished rather than replaced.

• You can update a dishwasher by replacing the front panel.

References

• National Association of Realtors: An Affordable Kitchen Remodel
• Affordable Kitchen Remodeling: Remodeling on a Budget
• Rafter Tales: Kitchen Remodeling on a Budget
• Kitchen Remodeling ROI: About Your Kitchen Remodeling Project Return on Investment

Resources

• Contractor's License Reference Site