Remodeling a kitchen

If you have ever had even one party you know: The kitchen is the most important room in your house. That is where all the guests congregate. The kitchen is also where the most homework is done, and where important family meetings are held. Also, as any Realtor will tell you, remodeling your kitchen is the quickest way to add value to your house. Remodeling your kitchen can be an extremely expensive and emotionally daunting task. But there are ways to make it easier.

Plan a budget

Remodeling an average 10-foot by 10-foot kitchen will cost anywhere from $6,000 to $10,000 or more. Cabinets will be the most expensive item, not including labor.

Check out the contractor

The most important thing in remodeling your kitchen is picking a reliable contractor. Everyone has heard horror stories about people who spent a fortune on a remodeling job and found the contractor fleeing to Aruba, usually after reducing a kitchen to rubble and swearing that hed be right back.

There are many ways to verify reliability. Call the Better Business Bureau or any of the local remodeling associations. The main thing is to check.

And even more importantly, demand references, especially recent ones, and call the numbers. Almost all contractors will send much of the work to subcontractors. There is nothing wrong with this, as long as the company you are hiring provides insurance and workmans comp for their subs. If they dont don't hire them.

Get three estimates

Some people want 10 or 12 estimates. But experts say they are wasting their time. Three is sufficient.

Design a friendly, functional kitchen

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Remodeling a kitchen