Home Advisor estimates the average cost of a basic kitchen remodel in 2020 is about $25,305, or $150 per square foot. While projects range in size and scope, Home Advisor states that a more kitchen renovation could cost between $13,276 and $37,550, or $75 to $250 per square foot. Before you shop around for a contractor to handle your kitchen remodeling project in Lancaster, CA, you need to set a budget.
Making a budget for your kitchen renovation project
As you meet with contractors that specialize in home remodels in Lancaster, CA, you want to have a budget and an idea of the work you want completed during the project. Having this information ready when you speak with contractors helps move things forward promptly, so they can get to work as soon as possible.
If you’ve never made a budget for this type of project, knowing where to start can be quite the challenge. Follow these steps to create a budget that you can share with your contractor:
- Research: We’ve already mentioned some of the figures published by Home Advisor, but dig deeper. Ask neighbors, friends and family members about their costs for remodeling their kitchens. Research online to ascertain if there’s estimates for these projects in your area. Use online tools such as calculators and budget breakdowns to determine the extent of the money you’ll need to spend to accomplish this project.
- Understand the costs: When you’re fully remodeling your kitchen, you should understand how the total cost breaks down. For instance, 20 to 35 percent of the cost goes to labor. Cabinets take up to 35 percent of the budget, appliances another 20 percent and the windows another 10 percent. The more familiar you are with these prices, the more easily you can budget for the work.
- List of tasks: Start a list that you and your partner add to over the course of a week or so that outlines what you want changed in your kitchen. Determine if you’re gutting the entire room or if you simply wish to updates certain parts of the kitchen. Knowing what your expectations are for the project helps guide your budget and the contractors.
- Your finances: Many homeowners save up to invest in remodeling projects. If that’s the case for you, come up with a figure you’re comfortable sharing with your contractor. If your situation has more flexibility, look at your current income and savings to determine what you have available to spend on the project.
- Consider the unexpected: Some experts recommend setting aside as much as 20 percent of your budget for unexpected expenses. This includes electrical wiring that requires updates, leaky pipes and rotted-out flooring. Anything could be lurking behind the walls or beneath the floor in your kitchen. Knowing ahead of time that unwanted surprises will happen—and having room to address them in your budget—makes those extra costs less frustrating.
For more than 35 years, JB Construction has provided homeowners with exceptional work and reasonable costs for projects such as kitchen remodeling in Lancaster, CA. Reach out to us now to discuss making a budget for renovating your kitchen.