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The kitchen is the heart of a family’s home, capable of wearing many hats, often moonlighting as a dining room, home office, homework station, and party gathering space.
Because of its mass function, a kitchen renovation is often considered one of the “big three” rooms in a home, alongside the living room and main bedroom. These three rooms are often the ones potential homebuyers put the most weight on while considering a purchase. Due to this, having a recently renovated kitchen can greatly help drive up the interest and value of your home, especially when working with the best real estate agents in Toronto when it comes time to sell.
But if you’re not careful, kitchen renovations can quickly become costly for homeowners. Here are some tips for saving money on your next kitchen renovation.
Hire a Contractor
The many house-flipping and renovation shows may make it tempting to complete your kitchen renovation in a DIY fashion. However, doing things yourself, especially without experience, can lead to plumbing, electrical, or insulation issues, going over budget, and other costly and potentially dangerous mistakes.
A contractor can help keep your kitchen renovation within your budget and use their network of professional subtractors to do all the finer details to ensure their optimal installation.
Most professional contractors will be happy to discuss your budget, as well as desires for tile work, décor, layout and more, before giving you an estimate on how much your plans will cost.
Upcycle and Refine
A great way to save money on a kitchen renovation is to upcycle what you already have. Instead of running out to buy all new sets of kitchen cabinets, consider refurbishing them instead. Do a quick search online, and you will be amazed at what a coat of paint and new hardware can do to make cabinets appear brand new and modernized.
If you already have hardwood flooring in decent shape, consider refinishing and staining them a new colour to bring new life into them.
Retain Your Current Layout
Changing the layout of your kitchen can be one of the costliest components of a kitchen renovation. It’s easy to visualize moving your kitchen sink or stove to the opposite side of the room until you consider the costs and construction of reworking plumbing, electrical, and associated drywall to achieve these visions.
In order to have a fresh look and feel of the kitchen you do not have to conduct major changes. For instance, you can refresh the backsplash with thin brick veneers, providing a trendy and timeless update to your space without the need for extensive construction. Thin brick veneer in Canada will add both durability and a touch of classic elegance to your backsplash and kitchen by maintaining your existing kitchen setup.
If open-concept space is your issue, try to work around load-bearing walls, as these can be costly to remove. Work instead to replace non-loadbearing walls, as these can usually be changed at a low cost.
Budget for the Unexpected
A good way to ensure your renovation doesn’t suddenly blow over budget is to have the foresight to account for unexpected issues. Potential mould removal, corroded pipes, or outdated electrical wiring are all common elements that can unexpectedly pop up during the renovation.
This is especially true if you are remodelling an older home, as even “perfectly functional” aspects like electrical may not be anywhere near up to modern code and may be required to be replaced by permit offices.
Experts recommend accounting 20-25% of your budget for the unexpected. On the bright side, if these funds are not required in the end, you can use this towards nicer appliances and décor, or save it for your next big expense!
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