As you were well aware when you bought your current home, the kitchen is one room that can make or break a sale. It is the soul of your home. No matter how nice the rest of the home is, if the kitchen has a poor layout or does not look appealing, you will either lose the sale or, at the very least, not get the price that you are asking for. Even if you are not interested in selling your home, a kitchen that works for you can go a long way toward your own satisfaction in your home.
Remodeling your kitchen is one of the best types of remodeling projects to tackle in your home. It will pay almost instant dividends in home value. You will almost always increase your home’s value by more than the cost of the remodel.
Preparation
The first step is to decide on the goal of your kitchen. How do you plan to use it, or what are you looking for? Are you looking for a homey, comfortable feeling, or is something more sophisticated more in line with your personality? Before you decide, I strongly recommend that you visit several home improvement stores with a digital camera, and take some pictures of floor models that interest you. Pick up some home design magazines and tear out any kitchen layouts that interest you. Now, take your pictures into the kitchen and look at how they would work with your current layout.
DIY or Professional?
While many projects can be tackled by the do-it-yourselfer, think long and hard before you attempt a kitchen remodel on your own. This is one of the few areas of remodeling where I cannot emphasize the importance of a professional. We are not talking a less than professional paint job or wallpaper. Problems with a kitchen remodel can have a big impact on your home’s value. With a kitchen remodel, you will run into things that you did not anticipate, especially if your home is older. And trying to do it yourself in order to save a few bucks can cost you big when you are forced to bring in professional help and they have to redo what you have already done in order to “save” the kitchen. Unless you are very handy, have all the right tools, and have worked on a project like this before, I would not attempt this job on your own. Kitchen remodeling is not for the faint of heart.
That being said, not all professionals are created alike. Make sure your professional is licensed (if that is a requirement in your area) and that they carry liability insurance. And always ask for references and a chance to see samples of their work. The last thing you want is to hire a professional only to find out later that this is their first kitchen remodeling job or that they are not licensed or insured. It just isn’t worth the risk. The last thing you want is to hire a professional only to find out later that this is their first kitchen remodeling job.
A.C. T. Services would be honored to have the opportunity to show you the best choices for your kitchen remodel. We can put our 31 years of experience to work in making your new kitchen beautify your home and turning your home into the showplace that you desire. We will make the kitchen match your personality, as well as your personal tastes, as most of all, you are the most important member of our remodeling team.
