According to recent survey findings, nearly two-thirds of homeowners plan on taking on a renovation. Undoubtedly, one of the most popular remodeling jobs happens in the kitchen. It's the heart of the home, after all, and a non-functional kitchen can quickly cause you to fall out of love with your house.That said, a kitchen remodel doesn't come cheap. While even a minor kitchen renovation offers an average ROI of 82.7%, HomeAdvisor estimates that the average cost of kitchen remodeling comes in at around $21,751. But if you don't have an extra 20 grand lying around for this purpose, don't fret. There are actually a number of ways you can cut costs on your upcoming kitchen reno.
Don't DIY a Gut Job
DIYing a home improvement project may sound like a good idea at first. Since the construction industry eliminated more than 40% of its workforce between 2006 and 2011, a lot of homeowners became accustomed to taking on bigger jobs by themselves. But that doesn't mean you should automatically reject professional help with your renovation. For something as complex and substantial as a kitchen remodel, you probably won't want to do much more than painting or swapping out hardware. Not only will it be a lot tougher than you thought (requiring a larger time investment), but you'll probably end up over-spending. You may not get a fair price on materials and could end up making mistakes that are quite costly to fix. If your aim is to stick to a strict budget, you can't afford to bite off more than you can chew.
Focus on Small But Effective Upgrades
Around 76% of homeowners change the style of their kitchen during a renovation -- but you don't have to replace the appliances, countertops, or floors to switch up the aesthetic. Smaller, more affordable upgrades can be just as impactful. Painting the walls, installing a new backsplash, switching out cabinet hardware, adding new window features, or choosing new lighting won't cost you more than $1,000 or more than a weekend to do. But they can make the space take on a whole new feel. It just goes to show that you don't have to spend a fortune to breathe new life into your home.
Don't Splurge on Cabinets
Cabinets can take up around 75% of your kitchen space, but that doesn't mean you have to blow your budget on them. If your current cabinets are in good condition but look a little outdated, resist the urge to replace them completely. New cabinets will typically represent one of the largest expenses in a kitchen remodel. According to the National Kitchen and Bath Association, cabinetry expenses represent 29% of the entire remodeling cost. When you need to save money, you'll need to assess whether your existing cabinets can simply be repainted, refinished, or refaced. If there's no way for your cabinets to be salvaged, ready-to-assemble cabinets will cost you much less than custom ones.
Keep Existing Plumbing and Appliances
During a kitchen renovation, you might be tempted to move around the entire floor plan. Unfortunately, this can end up costing you a lot. Having to reroute pipes will be a huge expense and changing the location of your dishwasher, sink, or gas stove won't do your budget any favors. It can cost you up to $5,000 each time you decide to do this. If you're dealing with an outdated appliance that's outlived its use, you can make plans to replace it -- but you'll probably want to keep its location the same if possible. And if you can live with your existing appliances, make an effort to keep those during your renovation, too. Otherwise, you may have to sacrifice your spending in other areas to stay on track.
Don't Fall For Expensive Materials
Every time you turn on an HGTV renovation show, you're bound to see couples who have their hearts set on granite countertops and stainless steel appliances. These materials are certainly desirable, but they're also very expensive. Insisting on using these materials will definitely derail your efforts to keep your renovation on the affordable side. Fortunately, there are a lot of substitutes that provide a similar look and feel without being so unattainable. Laminates have come a long way in recent years (to the point where you might even mistake it for real stone!), for example. Explore all your options and don't dismiss any right away. You might end up liking a more affordable finish way better -- and not just because it's less expensive.With any type of renovation, sticking to a budget can be difficult. But if you're already aware of some key ways to save before you even devise a remodeling plan, you'll be able to keep costs low and create a result that you'll absolutely love.