Kitchen Remodel Nightmares: Don’t Let This Happen to You!

Nearly everyone has heard of someone who has gone through a terrible experience with a Kitchen remodeling project, and perhaps you might think that it will never happen to you. But with so many decisions (What kind of cabinets, countertop, faucets, backsplash, appliances should you choose? What layout, flooring, lighting will you need? Who should you hire and for which parts of the project? ) and budgets that range between $20,000 and $200,000 plus, one of these nightmare scenarios might happen to you. With these tips, extra vigilance and the advice of a trusted professional, you can prepare for and deal with these kitchen monsters:

The Hulk Kitchen Project – When Your Project Gets Out of Control :-

Remodeling your kitchen is definitely not the sort of project you can make up as you go along. Most kitchen renovations are major construction projects that usually entail ripping out your existing cabinets and countertops, and sometimes replacing flooring and lighting or removing walls. You don’t want to be in a situation where you have made a major change, realize that it will not work the way you envisioned it and have to change it again.

Make sure you have a clear idea of what you want your kitchen layout to look like. A kitchen professional can help you with best practices including the work triangle, clearances and other layout issues.

It’s also a good idea to test design elements by looking at them in your kitchen before you commit. Take home samples of cabinet doors, pictures of different countertops, sample materials you are considering for your backsplash or floor and paint samples to see how they look together and in your space. Careful planning ahead of time, especially with a kitchen professional, will help eliminate buyer’s remorse and the resulting additional costs and delays.

The Blob Project – When Your Kitchen Remodel Eats Your Bank Account:

Let’s face it: designing your kitchen is exciting. There are so many new and wonderful design elements, tech gadgets, accessories and options in general that some homeowners feel like they are kids in a candy store. But every additional little item is an expense that, before you know it, can devour your budget.

That’s why it is important to come up with a budget ahead of time and plan how much you will spend on all of your elements like cabinets, countertops, appliances, backsplash, faucets, etc. Leave a little extra in your budget for the amazing glass tile or fabulous lighting fixture you absolutely must have.

You can use our Explore Right™ plan to get a general idea of your kitchen remodeling costs, and when you are ready to get serious about planning your kitchen, upgrade to the Plan Right™ plan for more customizable planning capability and access to our huge content library. Plan Right™ is free when you opt to be connected to up to three kitchen professionals in your area who have met our strict criteria.

The Invisible Man – When Your Kitchen Professional Disappears:

It’s an exciting day when work on your new kitchen Design begins. Yes, it’s disruptive, but you can picture the way it’s going to look, so you put up with the loss of your kitchen sink and dishwasher, the stuff from your old cabinets all over the place, and other inconveniences. But what happens when after a week or two of work on your kitchen, your kitchen Designer suddenly goes missing in action? Calls are not returned, or excuses are given as the days and even weeks go by with your kitchen in a state of chaos.

Some unscrupulous or unprofessional kitchen contractors may leave you in the lurch. Look out for kitchen professionals who ask for all of the money for your project up front; this usually means that they are using it for some other job and your project is likely to suffer or even be abandoned altogether.

Check references and make sure you are using a kitchen professional who is truly a professional. When you join Plan Right™, we can connect you with up to three kitchen professionals in your area who have state licenses and insurance, have been in business at least two years, have a physical business location and are members of at least one professional organization.

The Ghost –When aScary Problem is Hidden in Your Kitchen:

Sometimes, during their kitchen renovation, homeowners discover problems that must be addressed for legal, health or safety reasons. For example, a homeowner might uncover mold in their drywall behind the cabinets from an old leak. Or when working on electric for lighting and appliances, your contractor may find out that the electrical system in your house is not up to code. These unforeseen problems can significantly add to your expense.

Make sure you have a little extra budget set aside for unpleasant surprises like these. If you do have to deal with an issue like this, it helps to have a kitchen professional who is honest, knowledgeable and experienced so he or she can come up with the most cost-effective solution. Kitchen Right can connect you with kitchen professionals in your area who met or exceed our qualifications. If don’t have Plan Right™ access with professional referrals, click here to upgrade.