Why You Should Let Professionals Handle Your Kitchen Remodel

Your kitchen is one of the most versatile and popular areas of your home. From providing a place to prepare food and snacks, to serving as a meeting spot for your family and guests, the kitchen probably sees more use throughout the year than any other room.

Due to the popularity of the kitchen, you are right to assume it can be a house’s most assessed area for value in the real estate market, and one of the defining factors in whether someone will purchase a home. If your trusty kitchen has seen better years, you can raise the value of your home by remodeling it. Kitchen remodeling can bring many different benefits to your house beyond resale value as well, such as for personal reasons or aesthetic appeal.

Before you consider remodeling your kitchen, learn more about the financial and personal benefits of remodeling it. Once you have decided you want to go through with it, you will have to decide on whether you want to handle the project yourself or work together with professional kitchen remodelers to bring new life to your space. Keep in mind that if you decide to handle the remodeling process yourself, you will face a size-able number of challenges compared to any setbacks you’d face when working alongside a professional remodeling service.

Financial Values

A major motivation for homeowners everywhere in remodeling their kitchens is the financial benefits they can gain from this investment. The kitchen has the reputation of being a house’s central focus areas, as well as providing multiple functions; it will grab the attention of potential buyers if you ever decide to sell your home.

The kitchen is a very valuable part of a household, and the housing market sees it that way as well. In fact, the kitchen is one of the areas that most homebuyers place as one of their top three priorities when it comes to looking for a new home. Kitchen remodeling projects, as well as bathroom remodels, are among the most expensive home renovation projects you can take on. However, the return on your investment for a kitchen remodel is almost guaranteed.

When you decide to remodel, pay attention to the specific modifications you want to make to your home, as well as the size and scope of the remodel. Your return on investment (ROI) can vary greatly depending on these construction factors. A larger, upscale remodel will net you an average national ROI of at least 54%. Meanwhile, a remodeling project on a smaller scale can get you around 81% ROI, which makes it easier to recoup the money you have spent. This also changes depending on where you live, with the pacific area of the country reaching up to 93% in ROI. Before you pursue a home remodel, consult with your real estate agent to determine how much value it can bring to your home.

In addition to the home’s overall market value, there are a few other financial benefits you can obtain if you choose to remodel your home.

• Minor incentives. Some homeowners choose to remodel their home, particularly in minor-scale remodels, if there are smaller incentives that they can take advantage of. Certain government organizations offer rebates if you take energy-saving measures or add and/or replace any appliance with one that is more environmentally friendly. There are also other, smaller incentives, such as special offers and sales at home improvement stores, trading in outdated or malfunctioning appliances for cash rebates, low or no-interest loans, and certain remodeling grants.

• Energy efficiency. Another reliable advantage of not just kitchen remodeling, but any remodeling or home improvement project in general, is energy efficiency. Newer advancements in construction guarantee more efficient materials and tools. Certain additions and modifications to your regular kitchen set-up allow you to spend less in energy and significantly reduce your bills. The installation of a skylightDefinition: A window installed in the ceiling to bring natural light into the bathroom. Why You Need... can reduce your dependence on artificial light, while energy-efficient kitchen tools and appliances can reduce your energy consumption. Combine those savings with the rebates and incentives you can receive from organizations, and kitchen remodeling brings some extra value to your household.

• Improved maintenance. As time goes forward, an outdated kitchen will become increasingly difficult to take care of and keep in working shape. From mopping after leaky appliances, to constantly repairing other appliances and parts of the kitchen, the maintenance of the kitchen will consume too much time and money. An upgraded kitchen will bring higher-quality materials and less need for constant maintenance.

• Lifestyle changes. Life never stays the same and change is inevitable, especially if you have a family. Your kitchen will probably need to adapt to any future changes in your lifestyle. Perhaps you end up with more children or a pet, which will require additional space or certain add-ons. If you have someone in the household who is disabled, you might need to remodel your kitchen to accommodate their special needs.

Personal Value

Remodeling the kitchen is not just going to help you out with financial benefits. A renovated kitchen will also provide you with some emotional or personal satisfaction. After all, no one enjoys using a kitchen that has a major need for upgrades and fixes. While an improved home value and other economic incentives and savings are an important factor when making a decision such as this, you should also consider how you will feel having a new kitchen.

• Need for change. Perhaps you are just bored spending time in the same kitchen set-up every single day. Maybe you are tired of seeing the same colors, opening and closing the same cabinets, or even using the same appliances. The kitchen may function properly, but there is also nothing wrong with a small remodel that can break up the monotony of the day.

• Need for modernity. A problem most common in older houses, the kitchen is likely too old-fashioned or antiquated for the tastes of you or your family. You might yearn for more modern kitchen experiences and functions that your current kitchen does not provide. Usually, outdated kitchens accompany other issues like malfunctioning appliances or furniture, but even if they work fine, you might need to move into the 21^st century.

• Deteriorating conditions. This issue also seen with older houses. Certain parts of your kitchen are simply deteriorating too fast, whether it means cracked tiles, missing cabinet doors, damaged countertopsDefinition: Horizontal surfaces in kitchens used for food preparation, commonly made of granite, qua..., or old appliances. Save yourself maintenance costs and headaches and opt for a remodel to bring new life to your kitchen.

• Layout comfort. One more aspect that might factor into the decision of remodeling is the layout and storage situation of your kitchen. Maybe you’re not comfortable where certain appliances are, such as dishwasher being too close to the fridge, or the cabinets above the stove are too low, causing you to hit your head often. Changing the layout of the kitchen is a prime opportunity for a remodel. Just keep in mind that moving major systems like heating, plumbing, and gas may warrant major expenses.

The Challenges of DIY Kitchen Remodeling

Now that you have learned about all the value that a kitchen remodel will bring to your household, you are ready for the next step of the process. You will likely spend days or even weeks figuring out several factors, such as costs, layout, construction, home value, etc. Soon, you will know the exact changes you want to make and the materials you want to use. When you’ve finished all the homework that goes into preparing for home remodeling, what’s next?

There’s a chance you have the temptation to handle all the remodeling tasks yourself. After all, you already made the plans and have a strong idea of where you want to go with the kitchen. Executing the kitchen remodeling yourself may save you the money you would spend on professional help. You will probably want greater control of the project as well, and no one to disagree with you as you complete the project.

If you choose to take on this venture without professional assistance, just remember that there are certain challenges and unexpected difficulties you can face as you go through the project. Look out for some of the potential issues you might run into.

• No expertise or efficiency. Even if you have experience with some level of construction or architecture, you are not exactly a professional either. There are installations, such as a kitchen sink, a dishwasher, or a whole new cabinet, that can become increasingly complex, especially as you continue through the process and unforeseen challenges arise. In addition, you can also miss certain efficient tips and tricks that only veteran designers and remodelers know about. Your lack of knowledge of these techniques can needlessly increase the difficulty and length of the project.

• Safety risks. Because you don’t have the exact level of knowledge that professional home remodelers have, you can end up placing yourself in danger. Your lack of certain safety measures and practices can result in damage to your home or even injury to yourself or a family member. In addition, contractors and other professionals have access to certain safety equipment and tools you probably don’t access to. If you intend to take on the responsibility yourself, be extra careful.

• Cutting costs. If you decided to remodel your kitchen because you wanted to save some money instead of paying a professional, you will probably try to cut more expenses as well. Handling the project by yourself will tempt you to use cheaper materials and tools in order to save more. This can jeopardize numerous aspects of the project, from using low-quality wood that results in cabinets that will fall apart a few weeks after installation, to appliances that break down almost immediately. Trying to save money can also place you or anyone in your home in danger.

• Spending more money anyway. Using cheaper materials and tools will likely set back any schedule you were hoping to reach. Low-quality materials will probably break in the middle of construction and create a snowball effect of construction issues. By the time you actually obtain the right materials or resolve the problem, you will likely spend more money than you expected in the first place.

• Wrong tools. Another side effect of a lack of professional insight and wisdom is using the wrong tools for the job. Replacing appliances like your sink, fridge, or oven will require different, specific tools, each with a complicated process behind its use. As a novice, you might mistake one tool for another, or attempt to substitute one tool for another. Either way, you will likely damage whatever you were trying to fix, spending even more time and money than you hoped to save.

• Rushing the job. If you haven’t performed enough home remodel jobs, you might not have the patience or foresight when it comes to handling certain procedures. Home remodeling, like all construction jobs, can take days or even weeks to accomplish. You might fall into the temptation to try to rush a process or a fix. This can result in damage to your tools, your materials, your home, or yourself. Learn patience and pace yourself.

• Wearing yourself out. Kitchen remodeling is an exhausting activity that involves plenty of standing, heavy lifting, tearing, ripping, pulling, and other draining tasks that will leave you exhausted by the end of the day. If you want to continue through the project by yourself, mitigate the damage and perform some proper warm-up exercises and stretches before starting any heavy activity.

• Time consumption. Because kitchen remodeling will take a long time to accomplish, particularly if you’re working without professional guidance and a crew, you will have to sacrifice much of your spare time. Remodeling jobs take time to completely plan out, assemble, and perform. If you are a novice at this job, you will have to spend extra time learning the basics of demolition and construction. You will lack time to spend on your own hobbies or relationships, particularly if you have a self-imposed deadline to meet.

• Lesser-quality work. Even if you try as hard as you can to handle every aspect of the job correctly and avoid taking shortcuts, there will always be a chance that you will miss an important detail or simply not come up with a result as refined as a professional contractor would. Errors in your work may range from small, barely noticeable imperfections to large errors that can misshape your kitchen, such as a crooked cabinet installation or the oven being too close or too far to something else. Some of these errors are also potentially permanent, making the endeavor more frustrating.

The Benefits of Professional Remodeling

Taking on a challenging project such as remodeling your kitchen, no matter how large or small the scope of the work is, will bring plenty of difficulties that can pile up and ultimately cost more than you would have saved by handling it yourself. A professional crew of designers, demolition, and construction specialists can handle several tasks that are probably too complex and dangerous for you to handle. Even though hiring other people for the job might initially appear expensive and unnecessary, a professional kitchen remodeling job provides numerous advantages that make every cent spent on them worth it.

• Best materials and tools. Professional kitchen remodeling companies and contractors will have access to the best materials and tools for the project. They have long, established relationships with manufacturers and suppliers that get them materials that are durable, recent, resilient, and sometimes even energy efficient. They will also have access to special equipment and tools that you or a lesser-quality contract would not have, increasing the efficiency and quality of the kitchen remodeling project.

• Increased safety. Letting professional workers handle some of the most dangerous tasks in remodeling will keep you safe and in a healthy condition. You will not need to place yourself in danger when completing a task, and due to the professional nature of the workers, they will likely stay safe as well. They will also practice the appropriate safety measures around your home that will keep you and your family safe, in case you are staying at home during the process.

• Interior design. One of the numerous advantages of a kitchen remodel is the new aesthetic direction you can take the kitchen to. However, looks are not always everything. You also need to consider the functionality and efficiency of every element in the kitchen. A professional remodeling company has the wisdom to indicate what options work best for the kitchen and what options do not. Also, many companies have designers at work that will focus on both the efficiency and the beauty of your kitchen.

• Convenience. Another major advantage of letting professionals handle your kitchen remodeling work is simply the privilege of avoiding it. Beyond the initial planning stages and any questions or concerns the workers have, you can easily stay away from performing labor. You can prioritize your time by being in the company of loved ones or engaging in your favorite hobbies or activities. Simply watch the professionals materialize your dream kitchen into reality.

• Saving time. A crew of remodeling experts will always handle tasks such as these in a more time-efficient manner than you would be able to by yourself. They already have experience with design, demolition, and construction jobs, so they can skip the learning part and get straight into the action. Also, since there are several workers in the crew, multiple tasks can reach completion at once. You can set up a schedule and a deadline with the crew at the early stages of the process and stay confident that they will meet that goal in a timely manner. Plus, you ultimately won’t feel the pressure of keeping up with that timeline yourself.

• Lack of legal issues. If you handle the job yourself, or if you work with a relative or a low-cost contractor, you might lack the legal coverage needed in case something goes wrong. What happens if someone becomes injured? Do you have any warranty or guarantee in any of your kitchen appliances or elements? Are the people you are working with licensed? Can you take any legal action for a botched job? Licensed contractors working for a company will avoid any of these legal complications due to their professional status. Besides guaranteed expertise and professionalism, they will also work out details such as insurance, warranty, and liabilities before any project starts.

• Paperwork efficiency. Any remodeling project inside or outside your home will require permits, approvals, and other paperwork to process before it starts. Professional contractors are well acquainted with the process, so they can make it easier for you than if you handled it alone. The workers know who to talk to, what papers to file, and how to make the process go faster than before.

• Collaboration. Your kitchen remodeling crew has your best interest in mind and will work with you through any decision or problem that surfaces. They will consider your decisions and desires with their knowledge and expertise to get the best result possible for your kitchen. The crew will help you choose the best materials for your cabinets and countertops, decide on a specific budget and a realistic timeline, and find the appropriate solutions to any problems that might occur during the remodeling process.

Finding a reliable professional service for your kitchen remodeling needs is important. An inexperienced crew, or any error or mishandling can take away the value you are supposed to gain from a kitchen remodel. You will need experts who will listen to your ideas and combine your vision with their experience to create the perfect remodel for your kitchen that will also enhance the rest of your home.

At Bradco Kitchens & Bath, our group of designers and construction workers are eager to transform your kitchen into something closer to your ideals. Contact us at your convenience to arrange an appointment or answer any of your questions.