Let’s face it; kitchen remodeling is almost always done about 5 or 10 years after you wanted it done. In just about any remodel we’ve ever done, the client admitted that they wanted to start the project way back when, but kept putting it off because of some stressful situation or another.
Without doubt, a kitchen remodeling project can be a way to obtain stress. Before you even start you’re stressing about things such as the cost, agreeing on the best way to do the remodel, and the way the new kitchen should look. That’s a lot of stress!
An associate of mine once claimed that the only thing more stressful on a marriage than a kitchen remodeling project was a heart attack! While I can’t verify the accuracy or validity of this claim, I readily admit that kitchen remodeling is really a way to obtain stress-causing influences on family life.
I’m of a company belief that kitchen remodeling should be cause for excitement! Stress could be an unavoidable byproduct of a remodel, nevertheless, you need not lose your marriage over it!
That’s why I developed the “6 Vital Principles” for enjoying your kitchen remodeling project:
Principle #1: Start with the end in mind
Always have an excellent written design/plan. Whether or not your kitchen remodeling project is quite basic, or highly complex, good plans will make sure you get all the elements you want in assembling your project. Plans certainly are a valuable communication tool that always reduce mistakes through the project. Even if you have to pay just a little extra for the look, starting with a clear picture of the finished product will undoubtedly be well worth it.
Principle #2: Minimize your downtime
There’s no way around it. A significant kitchen remodeling project inherently implies downtime in your kitchen. Cabinets and countertops will be unable to use the kitchen as a location to gather, cook, eat, do homework, etc. for some time. Since there is no way to get rid of the downtime, you intend to reduce it as much as possible. Because cabinets require the most time to arrive after ordering, never start demolition until cabinets have been delivered to the warehouse. This should limit your downtime to only four weeks.
Principle #3: Get out of town for a couple days
The construction part of most kitchen remodeling projects will take about a month. That is clearly a long time to cope with dust, strange people at home, not having the use of your kitchen, etc. At some time through the project (after week several) get away for an extended weekend. Your project will survive without you, and you’ll come back with enough juice to see it through to the finish.
Principle #4: Don’t sweat the tiny stuff
To borrow area of the title from Richard Carlson’s book: Don’t Sweat the tiny Stuff! Mistakes will happen on your own kitchen remodeling project. Period. End of Statement. Recognize upfront that mistakes may happen and recognize that a skilled remodeling contractor knows how to minimize and correct mistakes.
Principle #5: Approach mistakes with the right attitude
Until the final sign-off, your remodeling project is a work in progress. Once you see a thing that was done incorrectly, or just missed, treat it with the following attitude: “I noticed X yesterday evening when I arrived home. You almost certainly saw it too, but for those who hadn’t seen it yet I needed to bring it up.” A kitchen remodeling professional will jump at the chance to correct whatever was done incorrectly and can respond to your good attitude with a need to make your day (and project) better still.
Principle #6: Hire a specialist
Maybe you have tackled a house improvement project (like replacing a toilet) and about a third of just how in to the project wish you had paid someone else to accomplish it? Now multiply that feeling by in regards to a billion and you’ll know what it’s prefer to tackle your personal kitchen remodeling project. Although you may hire tradesmen and manage their work, you’re upping your stress-load to catastrophic levels! Hire a specialist you can trust to control the construction and present you a dynamite finished product!