Getting Started on Your Kitchen Remodeling Project:
A gust blog by my friend Jeffrey A. Kida

If you are a typical homeowner, you don’t know where to start. So, you call someone or stop in somewhere. Before you know it, you are in someone’s process hoping for the best. Here’s a better way.
For this article we will assume your project is a gut rehab staying within the existing structure.

It’s all about planning. The more you do the better off you will be. A successful kitchen remodel requires many things in the correct amounts. Most importantly it requires a goal and vision. Your goal and vision, not someone else’s. To be clear I am not talking about a pretty picture. This is best determined by you and your family in writing. The goal is what you and your family’s life, in this space, after the remodel, will be like. The kitchen must perform to those ends. The clearer you are before taking the next step the better your outcome.

Now you’re ready to start the process. First step in the process is planning and budgeting. For that you need a professional. Yes, this will cost money, but should save you money in the long run.

This is where you use your articulated goal to find and interview candidates. The successful person/firm should be able to tell you before starting what their fee will be and what the plan and budget will look like when done. Moreover, they should thoroughly understand the entire process, planning budgeting, permits, insurance requirements, progress payments, material purchasing, construction sequencing not just finished materials.

The person/firm should be able to take your goal and develop a plan or design for you to review. The design should include, at a minimum, specifications for cabinetry, countertops, plumbing fixtures, flooring, lighting (overhead and under cabinet), appliances, electrical fixtures, and back splash materials. These things will be needed to develop the budget.

This person/firm should also be capable of managing or overseeing your project from start to finish. They may or may not supply some of the materials. They should also be capable of finding a balance between materials and trades, as well as budget oversight. Some firms keep everything under one roof. If you are comfortable with that, then proceed in that direction. However, you may find your options for materials and competitive quotes limited or vanished.
Finally, they should have references. You must call those references and ask probing questions before making your decision. After asking these questions drill down for specifics.

Sample questions:
Did the person/firm perform as expected?
Did the person/firm keep the project on plan and budget?
Did the person/firm explain to your satisfaction where your project stood at any given time?
Did they meet your expectations?
What was your life like in the home during construction?

Where to look for this person/firm. My philosophy is simple. The person/firm you are looking for is committed to their profession. Accordingly, they will most likely be a member and active contributor to a professional trade organization. I would also look for this type of affiliation from references you get through your personal network. Here are a few places to start your search:

➢ NARI – National Association for the Remodeling Industry
www.NARI.org or www.NARICHICAGO.org

➢ NKBA – National Kitchen and Bath Association
www.nkba.org

➢ AIA – American Institute of Architects
www.AIA.org

➢ NAHB National Association of Home Builders
www.nahb.org

Once the plan is established and finished materials specified, you are ready to seek quotes. Hard numbers. Not allowances or wide ranges. The person/firm you hire, should be able to keep the firms quoting this work on plan. When all the numbers are entered on a spread sheet your budget will start to take shape.

Remember, knowing how much you want to spend is not a budget it is a Spending Wish. Knowing how you are going to spend that amount on a per item basis is a budget! A detailed budget requires a detailed plan.
Assuming the first draft of your budget was perfect, (it never happens by the way) then it is time, after checking references, to select contractors, pull permits, schedule a start date, and order materials.