The budget is always the most unpleasant part of the project.But it's a necessary place to start.Most people, either remodeling or building new, go over budget.Sometimes it's unavoidable, but usually it's from not planning the budget closely at the beginning.
Several customers have tried to save money be using their old appliances or flooring.I used the word "tried", because they usually end up buying new things to go in the new kitchen.They just can't put the same-old-stuff back in.
We see a lot of people over budget because they don't include all of the extras that they'll need to go with the new cabinets.They just don't seem to see the room as a whole.Some things you should consider are:
Plumbing work (ie. unhook old sink, hook up new sink, are you moving the sink or dishwasher)
Electrical work (ie. are you moving major appliances, do you need plugs moved around or added)
Tips for Finding Money in the Budget
Sometimes you can squeeze a little more money out of your budget for something that you really want.
Make a priority list.This helps you figure out what you really need right now.Some things can be put off for a couple of years.If you're dead-set on having a solid gold counter top (not recommended); you might be looking at stock cabinetry and economy appliances.When you're clear on what's most important to you, you can allocate money accordingly.
Counter tops are a great place to buy-cheap-for-now, because they are easy to upgrade later on.We offer some beautiful, high quality laminates.Several customers go with the laminates for now, with plans of upgrading to a quartz or granite in the future.
I love premium appliances, but I won't pay regular price for them.Scratch and dent items are greatly discounted.I look for items with the scratch or dent on the side, because custom cabinetry surrounds my appliances to make them look built-in.The end result is a great appliance with nothing 'noticeably' wrong at a great price.
You can also find fairly good deals on appliances by getting last year's model.Rarely will you find major difference from one year to another.
Overall, planning is the key to staying within budget.Don't go on a shopping spree until you've decided on all of the details.Think about what most important to you and your family and build your kitchen from there.
