August 2007 eKBDC.com Newsletter

Getting Your Remodel Off to a Good Start

Are you itching to breathe new life into an outdated or poorly-functioning kitchen? Hold on. Put down the phone. Before contacting a remodeling professional, you'll need to do a little soul-searching and research first
"[Planning] is the first phase of any project, and sometimes it's the phase that's ignored," says Everett Collier, president of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI). "The more pre-planning that one can do, the better off they are."

Create a Stylebook

If you're even thinking about a kitchen remodel, odds are you have been leafing through design magazines and watching HGTV. Both are great ways to jumpstart the process, but to get the most out of this step, you'll need to do more than turn pages and program your TiVo
While looking through magazines, tear out photos of kitchens that appeal to you and write what you like about the room in the margin. Then slip the page into a clear sheet protector and insert that into a three-ring binder to create a stylebook

Define Your Goal

There's obviously a reason you want to remodel your kitchen. What is it? Perhaps you want a kitchen that will help with resale in a few years. Maybe you desire a kitchen built for entertaining or one that allows several people to cook at once. This is the time to assess your needs and wants. Make notes about how you plan to use the remodeled space, then try to distill all that information into a one- or two-sentence goal such as, "My casual and open kitchen will be a place for family and friends to relax and enjoy healthy meals."

Set A Time Budget

When most people hear the word budget, they automatically think of money. However, when remodeling, it's also important to budget time. Is there an event on the calendar that would be affected if your kitchen was under construction? Discuss your time budget when interviewing potential remodelers

Have Realistic Expectations

Above all else make sure you have reasonable expectations when it comes to your kitchen remodel. Talk to people who have been through the process before