Three Big Questions of Any Kitchen Remodel

For the third time this week, you’ve found yourself cursing the unusability of your kitchen. The drawers come out in all the wrong directions, the cabinets are so shallow that you can barely use them and the entire layout just puts you off. You’re ready to talk about a kitchen remodel.

Or maybe you just want a shiny new kitchen — there’s nothing wrong with that. Shiny new kitchens are amazing and give you the opportunity to create the space you need, rather than forcing your existing kitchen to kinda sorta work.

The Three Big Questions of Any Kitchen Remodel

You went to the home improvement store and found some samples of tile, backsplash and counter that you really love, but that’s about as far as your planning has gone so far. That’s ok, there’s a lot to think about when you’re considering ripping out one of the most important (and complicated) rooms in your home.

Now is a great time to stop where you are and ask yourself a few very important questions.

#1. What Will It Cost, Really?

Estimating the cost of a kitchen remodel is a bit like trying to nail a runny egg to a tree: messy and tragically frustrating. This is because there are lots of parts that have to be considered. Due to the various pieces involved and their corresponding quality levels, a custom quote from a contractor is the best way to know for sure how deep you’re getting into the savings account.

However, if you’re just starting to think about a kitchen remodel, it may help to know that the national average cost for your project is $22,768. The typical price range is $12,554 to $34,104. The low end is listed at $4,000. Please note that these numbers are based on user contributions, so your mileage may vary.

The largest cost by a bit is the cabinetry. Cabinets and hardware usually make up about 30 percent of the budget. This is a great place to save some cash, especially if your cabinets are in good shape and can simply be repurposed. Adding new hardware or doors often changes the whole equation. If those cabinets absolutely gotta go, then you can use this as a good starting point for estimating your dream kitchen cost.

#2. Will I Get My Money Back If I Sell?

The short answer is no. The rare few remodeling projects will return your entire investment. You should instead consider the value you’ll get from the use of that new kitchen along with any potential resell returns down the road.

That being said, Remodeling determined that among many common remodeling jobs, a midrange minor kitchen remodel was the fifth best returning update for 2018. The magazine estimates the cost of this type of remodel at about $22,000 and the associated increase in resale value of the home at $17,193. In this generic nationwide situation, the homeowner could expect to recoup 81.1 percent of their investment.

This same type of remodel was worth a little more in 2018 than the year prior. In 2017, an updated kitchen only recouped 80.2 percent of the money put into the effort.

#3. Can I Survive It?

This is perhaps the question you should ask yourself first, even though it’s the last one on the list. Any time you remodel a heavily used area of your home, it’s going to be a nightmare. Not only will there be lots of mess, dust and debris, you’re not going to be able to use the kitchen at all. All the stuff you have stored in there has to go somewhere else and you’ll have to figure out what you want to do about meals.

Hold on, I have a few tips that might help make this time lots more bearable:

Get it on paper. Make sure that you have a written agreement with your contractor and your spouse about what goes into the new kitchen. Spell it out in painful detail, both for clarity and so that when you or your spouse starts to think the cabinetry is the wrong color, you can refer back to the agreement. Adding photos will help ensure that your kitchen is exactly what you wanted and your lack of proper nutrition doesn’t trick you into thinking you ordered the stainless steel appliances when you actually got the black ones.

Move your kitchen into your garage or spare bedroom. Ahead of the project start date, box everything in the kitchen as if you were moving, making sure to label everything completely so you can get the most important things out as soon as the remodel is over. This way nothing gets damaged or lost in the confusion.

Set up a temporary kitchen elsewhere. It’s not going to be a five star restaurant, but a folding table with a coffee maker, microwave and a mini fridge can make things a lot easier while your kitchen is out of service. You can only stand (or afford!) so many restaurant meals.

Along with juggling all the stresses of having workers in your house making a ton of noise and mess (that you’re paying them for!), you may start to have real relationship problems. Living through a remodel is not for the faint of heart. If your spouse doesn’t really have a great picture of what this remodel will do to your home during the construction phase, now is the time to talk about it.

There are few things that will destroy a marriage like a remodel. The stress is high and there’s a lot of money on the line — not to mention the major disruption remodels can be to your routine and life in general. It’s really important that your spouse is all in on this project with every step, from looking at lighting to choosing the perfect counters, even if they’re not really a kitchen person.

Ready, Set, REMODEL!!

You’ve got the green light from your better half (or you don’t have one and instead gave a self high-five to show your approval of the project), so it’s time to find a general contractor or specialists like cabinet makers, electricians and plumbers.. Unfortunately, you don’t know any home pros and neither do your friends.

Don’t stress, your HomeKeepr community is ready to recommend the best of the best in your area. Other professionals are putting their own reputations on the line by endorsing these awesome members of the HomeKeepr family, so you know they’ll get the job done as quickly and cleanly as possible.

Home Inspections

A home inspection is basically considered a non-invasive visual inspection. Non-invasive means that no damage is done to the home, such as, tearing apart walls to view the insulation. The inspection is done to see if there are any major issues that need to be resolved and to coach the home buyer about necessary maintenance.

What is usually done first is to look at the outside of the house at all of the pieces . Flashing, doors, windows, siding, trim, the chimney and the roof are checked to see if anything is missing, out of order or in need of maintenance at the time. Then attention is paid to that area inside of the house to look for any evidence of failure. Evidence of failure is just a fancy way to say work.

Essentially, most of the issues that is seen with houses is related to water. The main purpose of the outside of the house is to shed water or to move it away from the home. If something is not right on the outside then how does that affect the inside. A moisture meter, thermometer, and just plain old digging with a screwdriver will tell us a lot about the condition of the home. About 80% of the issues that arise in a home inspection are due to water.



On the other hand, about 20% of the issues are due to guys who think they are handy and who take on a job a little outside of their skill set! The inspector will go through the house and look for evidence of amateur work. If it is OK then the inspector will let the home buyer know and if not OK then it will be in the report. If it something that may be unsafe it will also appear in the report.

As the inspection occurs it is not just a matter of finding things right or wrong with the home but it is also to make recommendations such as to paint something, raise a railing, or put a cover on a junction box. It will go into the report and the home buyer can prioritize what they want to do with the recommendations.

A lot of pictures and notes are taken during the inspection to be put into the report. The report is designed to be two things for the home buyer. First, it is designed to help on the negotiations before the closing. Anything that needs to be addressed or corrected that was not readily seen in the initial observations can be negotiated and taken care of before the closing.

Second, the report serves as a resource for as long as the home is owned. A lot of general information is contained in the report. The process requires the inspector to inform the home buyer of such things as to where to turn off the water and the electricity, what kind of fuel to use in the house and what kind of maintenance is required,

If any issues are discovered they are made to stand out from the general information. Minor maintenance issues, major repairs and safety issues are pointed out in the report. Maintenance issues are things that need to be done on an ongoing process. Major repairs or suggestions for replacement will be included. Depending on the age of the home certain aspects that were considered safe at the time it was built may need to be upgraded for safety reasons.

Electrical connections, appliances, water pressure, windows, doors, and fireplaces are all checked to be in working condition. The basement is checked for moisture, the attic and crawl spaces for insulation, All of the pieces requiring plumbing, i.e., sinks, toilets, showers and bath tubs are checked to make sure that they drain properly.

The heating system and all of the mechanicals are checked to make sure that they function properly. In Connecticut, inspectors are required to remove the cover on the electrical panel and explain any issues that may be found with the wiring.

Even brand new houses can have issues so it is important for a home buyer to find a reputable home inspector to do the job. Like so many other other aspects of purchasing a home a good realtor can make the right recommendation for you!

For more information on Home Inspections check out the following

Top Home Inspection Issues to Avoid by Bill Gassett

How to Negotiate Home Repairs After a Home Inspection by Anita Clark


Top Reasons To Have A Home Inspection When Buying A Home by Kyle Hiscock

What can I expect from a home inspection? by Lynn Pineda

17 Questions to ask your home inspector by Megan Wild

Home Inspection

A home inspection is basically considered a non-invasive visual inspection. Non-invasive means that no damage is done to the home, such as, tearing apart walls to view the insulation. The inspection is done to see if there are any major issues that need to be resolved and to coach the home buyer about necessary maintenance.

What is usually done first is to look at the outside of the house at all of the pieces . Flashing, doors, windows, siding, trim, the chimney and the roof are checked to see if anything is missing, out of order or in need of maintenance at the time. Then attention is paid to that area inside of the house to look for any evidence of failure. Evidence of failure is just a fancy way to say work.

Essentially, most of the issues that is seen with houses is related to water. The main purpose of the outside of the house is to shed water or to move it away from the home. If something is not right on the outside then how does that affect the inside. A moisture meter, thermometer, and just plain old digging with a screwdriver will tell us a lot about the condition of the home. About 80% of the issues that arise in a home inspection are due to water.



On the other hand, about 20% of the issues are due to guys who think they are handy and who take on a job a little outside of their skill set! The inspector will go through the house and look for evidence of amateur work. If it is OK then the inspector will let the home buyer know and if not OK then it will be in the report. If it something that may be unsafe it will also appear in the report.

As the inspection occurs it is not just a matter of finding things right or wrong with the home but it is also to make recommendations such as to paint something, raise a railing, or put a cover on a junction box. It will go into the report and the home buyer can prioritize what they want to do with the recommendations.

A lot of pictures and notes are taken during the inspection to be put into the report. The report is designed to be two things for the home buyer. First, it is designed to help on the negotiations before the closing. Anything that needs to be addressed or corrected that was not readily seen in the initial observations can be negotiated and taken care of before the closing.

Second, the report serves as a resource for as long as the home is owned. A lot of general information is contained in the report. The process requires the inspector to inform the home buyer of such things as to where to turn off the water and the electricity, what kind of fuel to use in the house and what kind of maintenance is required,

If any issues are discovered they are made to stand out from the general information. Minor maintenance issues, major repairs and safety issues are pointed out in the report. Maintenance issues are things that need to be done on an ongoing process. Major repairs or suggestions for replacement will be included. Depending on the age of the home certain aspects that were considered safe at the time it was built may need to be upgraded for safety reasons.

Electrical connections, appliances, water pressure, windows, doors, and fireplaces are all checked to be in working condition. The basement is checked for moisture, the attic and crawl spaces for insulation, All of the pieces requiring plumbing, i.e., sinks, toilets, showers and bath tubs are checked to make sure that they drain properly.

The heating system and all of the mechanicals are checked to make sure that they function properly. In Connecticut, inspectors are required to remove the cover on the electrical panel and explain any issues that may be found with the wiring.

Even brand new houses can have issues so it is important for a home buyer to find a reputable home inspector to do the job. Like so many other other aspects of purchasing a home a good realtor can make the right recommendation for you!

For more information on Home Inspections check out the following

Top Home Inspection Issues to Avoid by Bill Gassett

How to Negotiate Home Repairs After a Home Inspection by Anita Clark


Top Reasons To Have A Home Inspection When Buying A Home by Kyle Hiscock

What can I expect from a home inspection? by Lynn Pineda

17 Questions to ask your home inspector by Megan Wild

Home Inspections

A home inspection is basically considered a non-invasive visual inspection. Non-invasive means that no damage is done to the home, such as, tearing apart walls to view the insulation. The inspection is done to see if there are any major issues that need to be resolved and to coach the home buyer about necessary maintenance.

What is usually done first is to look at the outside of the house at all of the pieces . Flashing, doors, windows, siding, trim, the chimney and the roof are checked to see if anything is missing, out of order or in need of maintenance at the time. Then attention is paid to that area inside of the house to look for any evidence of failure. Evidence of failure is just a fancy way to say work.

Essentially, most of the issues that is seen with houses is related to water. The main purpose of the outside of the house is to shed water or to move it away from the home. If something is not right on the outside then how does that affect the inside. A moisture meter, thermometer, and just plain old digging with a screwdriver will tell us a lot about the condition of the home. About 80% of the issues that arise in a home inspection are due to water.



On the other hand, about 20% of the issues are due to guys who think they are handy and who take on a job a little outside of their skill set! The inspector will go through the house and look for evidence of amateur work. If it is OK then the inspector will let the home buyer know and if not OK then it will be in the report. If it something that may be unsafe it will also appear in the report.

As the inspection occurs it is not just a matter of finding things right or wrong with the home but it is also to make recommendations such as to paint something, raise a railing, or put a cover on a junction box. It will go into the report and the home buyer can prioritize what they want to do with the recommendations.

A lot of pictures and notes are taken during the inspection to be put into the report. The report is designed to be two things for the home buyer. First, it is designed to help on the negotiations before the closing. Anything that needs to be addressed or corrected that was not readily seen in the initial observations can be negotiated and taken care of before the closing.

Second, the report serves as a resource for as long as the home is owned. A lot of general information is contained in the report. The process requires the inspector to inform the home buyer of such things as to where to turn off the water and the electricity, what kind of fuel to use in the house and what kind of maintenance is required,

If any issues are discovered they are made to stand out from the general information. Minor maintenance issues, major repairs and safety issues are pointed out in the report. Maintenance issues are things that need to be done on an ongoing process. Major repairs or suggestions for replacement will be included. Depending on the age of the home certain aspects that were considered safe at the time it was built may need to be upgraded for safety reasons.

Electrical connections, appliances, water pressure, windows, doors, and fireplaces are all checked to be in working condition. The basement is checked for moisture, the attic and crawl spaces for insulation, All of the pieces requiring plumbing, i.e., sinks, toilets, showers and bath tubs are checked to make sure that they drain properly.

The heating system and all of the mechanicals are checked to make sure that they function properly. In Connecticut, inspectors are required to remove the cover on the electrical panel and explain any issues that may be found with the wiring.

Even brand new houses can have issues so it is important for a home buyer to find a reputable home inspector to do the job. Like so many other other aspects of purchasing a home a good realtor can make the right recommendation for you!

For more information on Home Inspections check out the following

Top Home Inspection Issues to Avoid by Bill Gassett

How to Negotiate Home Repairs After a Home Inspection by Anita Clark


Top Reasons To Have A Home Inspection When Buying A Home by Kyle Hiscock

What can I expect from a home inspection? by Lynn Pineda

17 Questions to ask your home inspector by Megan Wild