Gaffney Group Wildwood, NJ Real Estate

  • Home
  • Search for Homes
    • Featured Listings
  • Island Homes
    • Search All Cape May County Homes
    • Avalon Homes
    • Brigantine Homes
    • Cape May Homes
    • Diamond Beach Homes
    • Longport Homes
    • Margate Homes
    • North Wildwood Homes
    • Sea Isle City Homes
    • Seaville Homes
    • Stone Harbor Homes
    • Ventnor Homes
    • Wildwood Homes
    • Wildwood Crest Homes
    • West Wildwood Homes
  • Rental Search
  • Market Watch
    • Avalon Closed Home Sales
    • Brigantine Closed Home Sales
    • Cape May Closed Home Sales
    • North Cape May Sold Homes
    • West Cape May Closed Home Sales
    • Diamond Beach Closed Home Sales
    • Longport Closed Home Sales
    • Margate Closed Home Sales
    • Ocean City Closed Home Sales
    • Seaville Closed Home Sales
    • Sea Isle City Closed Home Sales
    • Stone Harbor Closed Home Sales
    • Ventnor Closed Home Sales
    • Wildwood Closed Homes Sales
    • Wildwood Crest Closed Home Sales
    • North Wildwood Closed Home Sales
    • West Wildwood Closed Home Sales
  • Resources
    • Biweekly Email
    • Wildwood Market Summary
    • Cape May Market Summary
    • South Jersey Shore Market Summary
    • What is My Home Worth?
    • Financing
    • Homebuyers Guide
      • Planning
      • Shopping
      • Offer to Buy
      • Money
      • Protection
      • Closing
    • Sellers Guide
      • Getting Ready
      • For Sale
      • Paperwork
      • Offers and Contracts
      • Showings
      • Walk-Throughs
  • The Gaffney Group
    • Testimonials
  • Contact

7 Smart Strategies for Kitchen Remodeling

kitchen

By: John Riha
Published: May 30, 2013

Follow these seven strategies to get the most financial gain on your kitchen remodel.

A significant portion of kitchen remodeling costs may be recovered by the value the project brings to your home. Kitchen remodels in the $50,000 to $60,000 range recoup about 74% of the initial project cost at the home’s resale, according to recent data from Remodeling Magazine’s Cost vs. Value Report.

A minor kitchen remodel of about $19,000 does even better, returning more than 82% of your investment.

To maximize your return on investment, follow these seven strategies to keep you on budget and help you make smart choices.

1. Plan, Plan, Plan

Planning your kitchen remodel should take more time than the actual construction. If you plan well, the amount of time you’re inconvenienced by construction mayhem will be minimized. Plus, you’re more likely to stay on budget.

How much time should you spend planning? The National Kitchen and Bath Association recommends at least six months. That way, you won’t be tempted to change your mind during construction and create change orders, which will inflate construction costs and hurt your return on investment.

Some tips on planning:

Study your existing kitchen: How wide is the doorway into your kitchen? It’s a common mistake many homeowners make: Buying the extra-large fridge only to find they can’t get it in the doorway. To avoid mistakes like this, create a drawing of your kitchen with measurements for doorways, walkways, counters, etc. And don’t forget height, too.

Think about traffic patterns: Work aisles should be a minimum of 42 inches wide and at least 48 inches wide for households with multiple cooks.

Design with ergonomics in mind: Drawers or pull-out shelves in base cabinets; counter heights that can adjust up or down; a wall oven instead of a range: These are all features that make a kitchen accessible to everyone — and a pleasure to work in.

Plan for the unforeseeable: Even if you’ve planned down to the number of nails you’ll need in your remodel, expect the unexpected. Build in a little leeway for completing the remodel. Want it done by Thanksgiving? Then plan to be done before Halloween.

Choose all your fixtures and materials before starting: Contractors will be able to make more accurate bids, and you’ll lessen the risk of delays because of back orders.

Don’t be afraid to seek help: A professional designer can simplify your kitchen remodel. Pros help make style decisions, foresee potential problems, and schedule contractors. Expect fees around $50 to $150 per hour, or 5% to 15% of the total cost of the project.

2. Keep the Same Footprint

Nothing will drive up the cost of a remodel faster than changing the location of plumbing pipes and electrical outlets, and knocking down walls. This is usually where unforeseen problems occur.

So if possible, keep appliances, water fixtures, and walls in the same location. 

Not only will you save on demolition and reconstruction costs, you’ll cut the amount of dust and debris your project generates.

3. Get Real About Appliances

It’s easy to get carried away when planning your new kitchen. A six-burner commercial-grade range and luxury-brand refrigerator may make eye-catching centerpieces, but they may not fit your cooking needs or lifestyle.

Appliances are essentially tools used to cook and store food. Your kitchen remodel shouldn’t be about the tools, but the design and functionality of the entire kitchen.

So unless you’re an exceptional cook who cooks a lot, concentrate your dollars on long-term features that add value, such as cabinets and flooring.

Then choose appliances made by trusted brands that have high marks in online reviews and Consumer Reports.

4. Don’t Underestimate the Power of Lighting

Lighting can make a world of difference in a kitchen. It can make it look larger and brighter. And it will help you work safely and efficiently. You should have two different types of lighting in your kitchen:

Task Lighting: Under-cabinet lighting should be on your must-do list, since cabinets create such dark work areas. And since you’re remodeling, there won’t be a better time to hard-wire your lights. (Here’s more about under-cabinet lights.) Plan for at least two fixtures per task area to eliminate shadows. Pendant lights are good for islands and other counters without low cabinets. Recessed lights and track lights work well over sinks and general prep areas with no cabinets overhead.

Ambient lighting: Flush-mounted ceiling fixtures, wall sconces, and track lights create overall lighting in your kitchen. Include dimmer switches to control intensity and mood.

5. Be Quality-Conscious

Functionality and durability should be top priorities during kitchen remodeling. Resist low-quality bargains, and choose products that combine low maintenance with long warranty periods. Solid-surface countertops, for instance, may cost a little more, but with the proper care, they’ll look great for a long time.

And if you’re planning on moving soon, products with substantial warranties are a selling advantage.

6. Add Storage, Not Space

Storage will never go out of style, but if you’re sticking with the same footprint, here are a couple of ideas to add more:

Install cabinets that reach the ceiling: They may cost more — and you might need a stepladder — but you’ll gain valuable storage space for Christmas platters and other once-a-year items. In addition, you won’t have to dust cabinet tops.

Hang it up: Mount small shelving units on unused wall areas and inside cabinet doors; hang stock pots and large skillets on a ceiling-mounted rack; and add hooks to the backs of closet doors for aprons, brooms, and mops.

7. Communicate Clearly With Your Remodelers

Establishing a good rapport with your project manager or construction team is essential for staying on budget. To keep the sweetness in your project:

Drop by the project during work hours: Your presence broadcasts your commitment to quality.

Establish a communication routine: Hang a message board on site where you and the project manager can leave daily communiqués. Give your email address and cell phone number to subs and team leaders.

Set house rules: Be clear about smoking, boom box noise levels, available bathrooms, and appropriate parking.

Be kind: Offer refreshments (a little hospitality can go a long way), give praise when warranted, and resist pestering them with conversation, jokes, and questions when they are working. They’ll work better when refreshed and allowed to concentrate on work.

“Visit HouseLogic.com for more articles like this. Reprinted from HouseLogic.com with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®.”

Quick Search

$
$

We Are Short Sale Specialists!

Looking to purchase a Short Sale or sell a home as a Short Sale? Contact us now! We are Atlantic County and Cape May County Short Sale Experts.
Jackie Bada-Gaffney SFR
Powered by NJ Interest Rates
Wondering What Your Home is Worth? Click to Request a FREE No Obligation Market Analysis!
Request a Free Market Analysis on Your Home's Value

Access All MLS Listings, Search for Your Dream Home and Save Your Results!

Property Search

Email Alerts

Login to Your Account

Sign-up For Our Shore Newsletter!

Connect with us!



Gaffney Group Wildwood NJ Real Estate Agents

Long & Foster Real Estate Wildwood NJ

The Gaffney Group

We began with a mission: to define the real estate business for what it is…the art of matching people and places. Everyone wants a real estate agent who will get the job done with as little hassle as possible, but most want something more, and that’s what we’re good at. Read more...

Jackie Bada-Gaffney Wildwood Realtor
Jacqueline Bada-Gaffney
O: (609) 729-8840
C: (609) 408-1627
Contact Jackie
Mike Gaffney Wildwood Realtor
Mike Gaffney
O: (609) 729-8840
C: (609) 408-1354
Contact Mike
Aaron Bada Wildwood Realtor
Aaron Bada
O: (609) 729-8840
C: (609) 338-7599
Contact Aaron

Copyright © 2023 Jackie Bada-Gaffney · Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc · Wildwood, NJ Real Estate

Jacqueline Bada-Gaffney | Licensed NJ Realtor® | jackiegaffney55@aol.com | Cell: 609-408-1627
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc | 100 W. 1st Avenue - North Wildwood, NJ 08260 | Office: 609-729-8840
All information provided is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed and should be independently verified.
Equal Housing Opportunity

website by marketme