Are you considering renovating your kitchen? Depending on what work you want done, you might need to hire professional help.
If your kitchen is old and out of style, you’ve probably thought about renovating it. Not only will it make your home look better and more modern, it’ll also be safer and more energy efficient.
It’s no secret renovation is expensive, and to keep costs down, many want to do as much of the work as possible. Here’s what you need to know about kitchen renovation.
1. Plan Carefully
Before starting the project, you need to have a solid plan of the work and costs ahead. Are you renovating the entire kitchen? What equipment do you need for the different steps? Can you do some of the work yourself? When do you need professional help?
2. Set Up a Realistic Budget
Budgeting is an important part of the planning process, and will be easier once you have a step-by-step overview of the work that’s going to be done.
Be realistic about your budget, and make sure you have a buffer. A renovation loan is common, from for example ICA Banken, Ocean Finance, Axo Finans or another financial agent. Others prefer to save up the money before starting the project.
3. Choose Design
For some this part is the most fun – for others, it’s a bore. Nevertheless, it needs to be done.
Design preferences are a matter of personal taste. Some like a minimalistic look, while others might prefer a romantic farm style. Our best advice is to think about how long you’ll be living in the apartment. If you’re moving within a few years, the smartest choice might be to go for a modern and timeless look. Are you planning to stay there for years, let your personal taste and style influence design choices.
4. Decide When You Need Professionals
Some tasks require professional help, like plumbing, piping, or electricity. Don’t attempt to do this yourself – done wrong, the consequences can be harmful to the furniture, building, people, or animals, and if you don’t have the proper documentation you might get in trouble with your home insurance should an accident happen.
Other things you can do yourself but might want to reconsider are:
- Tearing down the old kitchen
- Installing new floors
- Tile work
- Installing new kitchen cabinets
- Painting walls or ceiling
5. Reach Out to Friends and Family
You can save a lot of money by reaching out to friends and family for help. They can help you tear down the kitchen, install new floors, paint walls, transportation, or other things. This could save you thousands of bucks.
Reach out to your network before starting the project – maybe someone owes you a favor? Regardless, friends and family will probably gladly participate in your exciting project.
6. Buy Used Appliances
New appliances might be tempting, but are you sure you need them? These are a considerable cost, and your old devices might work just fine. They might be as good as new with a bit of clean-up and repair work.
If you’ve still decided to replace them, see if buying used appliances is possible. You can get almost all new appliances for half of the price or purchase cheap display models from specific retailers.
Good luck!
