How much will this cost?
Buying a new kitchen is like buying a new car. There is a big difference in price and quality. Do you want a Toyota or a Lexus? All the bells and whistles or a compromise or two? You can keep the cost down by making affordable product choices – thermafoil doors instead of all wood, laminate countertops instead of granite, etc.
A rule of thumb says your kitchen should represent 10-20% of the fair market value of your home. So if your home is worth $300,000 then spend between 30-60K on your kitchen improvements. If you spend less than 10% then the kitchen won’t meet the expectations of potential buyers. If you spend more than 20% you are less likely to make that back in a re-sale.
What affects the cost?
Room size, floor plan, product choices and labor affect the cost. Do you want to remove walls? Take the popcorn off the ceiling? Can you re-use your existing appliances? Do you want to add lighting? Move plumbing? Try to establish wants vs. needs.
Keep in mind there may be unforeseen costs:
- Electrical upgrades
- Termite, water, mold damage
- Leaks, plumbing issues
- Structural problems that need to be repaired
How long will this take?
This depends on how big your project is. If you are making structural changes, moving plumbing or electrical, it may take a little longer. Typically allow 3-6 weeks from the time you place the order until the material arrives and anywhere from one day to 6 weeks for construction depending on the size and scope of your project. We will be able to give you a realistic time frame in your initial consultation.
What are the payment terms?
- 50% deposit at time of order
- 25% when material is delivered
- 25% at completion
How do I compare contractor bids?
This is a tricky one! Think about cars. If you asked the Toyota dealer and the Lexus dealer to give you a price for a car the numbers will be dramatically different even though they both fill the requirements of a car. When comparing costs, be sure you are comparing the exact same quality of products and workmanship.
- Is the product quality the same?
- Does the price include removal of old cabinets?
- Does the price include plumbing, electrical, drywall repair, etc?
Be sure you are making a proper comparison. Sometimes the cheapest estimate isn’t the best or even the least expensive in the long run. Remember the adage, “You get what you pay for”.
What are good questions to ask a contractor?
- Are you licensed and insured? Ask for proof or call and verify that it is current and valid
- May I have 3 current references?
- What are your strengths?
- What is your time frame to start?
What are questions to ask a customer/reference?
- Were there any surprise costs?
- Was the contractor and staff pleasant, polite and neat?
- Did you have any problems after the remodel was complete, if so, was it resolved quickly and to your satisfaction?
- What would you do differently next time?
How can I get rid of that dated popcorn ceiling?
We don’t like those either! Popcorn ceilings were popular in the 70’s and 80’s for the purpose of hiding imperfections in the ceiling. The ceiling must first be scraped, any damage repaired, and a new knock down texture applied. This takes about 2 days. Replacing the popcorn ceiling is a popular trend and makes your space look cleaner, larger and less dated.
I bought a kitchen from IKEA and thought I could install it myself?!? It came
in boxes with a gajillion pieces and some are missing. Can you help me?
You are not alone. Installing cabinetry is not as easy as it looks. Some of the complications you may run into are uneven walls, missing parts or mis-measurements. Our team can assemble and/or modify and install while you would still be reading the directions!
My brother in law is an electrician and says he
will do it for free. Can I have him do the work?
Absolutely! However, it will be up to you to schedule his work time. If he does not complete his work on schedule, it may cause delays.
