4 Signs You Need to Remodel Your Kitchen

Home is where the heart is! For most people this saying conjures up images of family and friends gathering for a nice meal. Think of the last time you entertained guests, or even just prepared a nice dinner for your immediate family. Did you find yourself with limited space to do all the prep work? Did you have to look thoroughly to find additional space for your dishes? Or did you simply notice the worn down look our your kitchen? These are signs that your kitchen may be in need of a makeover!

Here’s a list of the top 5 signs you need to remodel your kitchen:

1) Cabinetry is Looking Rough: If your home was built in the 1970s or earlier, and you have the original cabinets, I’m probably preaching to the choir. Wooden cabinets should reflect the overall look and feel of the kitchen. Sometimes you can get away with simply painting or staining your kitchen cabinets, but if you’re even considering replacing them then you need to think about overhauling the rest of your kitchen.

2) No Counter Top Space: No space to do your prep work? Have your counter-top appliances taken up all the working space? Has junk mail and other miscellaneous items cluttered the center island? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions you’ll want to consider remodeling your kitchen. According to the National Kitchen &  Bath Association (NKBA), a Kitchen should have a minimum of 158″ (13 ft) of linear counter top space. BUT that’s just a minimum! You can try to move appliances around, and that might free up some space. Also, if you have a smaller-sized kitchen, but a breakfast nook and/or dining room, you might consider knocking down a wall or two to open it up. You’ll want to talk to a full service remodeling contractor who can review your design options.

3) Lighting & Flooring: Look up and then look down. Are you happy with what you see? Is your lighting and flooring showing its age? Old lighting can not only look bad, but it can cost you money! Newer, “greener” light bulbs can last up to 30,000 hours, whereas typical light bulbs only last about 900 hours. Furthermore, you can power 6 LED lights with the same amount of energy it takes to power one incandescent light bulb!

Check out your flooring. Are there any gouges in it? Are the edges, where the floor hits the base boards, showing age? Or is it simply old or unsightly, like linoleum? Sure you can simply replace the existing flooring, but if there are other areas of your kitchen in need of upkeep then consider a full kitchen remodel.

4) Outdated Appliances: Just like light bulbs have advanced to become “greener,” so have appliances. If you’ve owned your home for more than 10-15 years or more and you have the original appliances chances are they are, or are starting to become, an eyesore. Consider an energy efficient refrigerator, dishwasher, stove and oven.

Your kitchen is where your family and friends come together, so make your kitchen look its best, and save yourself some energy costs in the long run. Make sure you speak with a trusted home remodeling contractor that can help you with the design phase, as well as the remodeling phase. If you’re looking for a San Diego kitchen remodeling contractor then leave Greyhound General a message, or call us directly at 800-568-7108.

San Diego kitchen remodeling tips

Here are a few tips to keep in mind if you’re considering remodeling your kitchen:
1) Get multiple bids: Investigate more than 1 contractor (unless of course you had a excellent experience with one in the past). Make sure they show proof of their contractors license, workman’s compensation and business insurance. Compare each quote apples-to-apples, and compare the detail each contractor went into, not only in the quote, but also during the estimate.
2) Investigate each contractor who gives you a bid: God bless the internet. It really helps weed out the “haves” from the “have nots” in any business. If a customer had a bad experience they can vent online. Use the internet to do research on your contractors. Check out their history with the Better Business Bureau. Take a look at the portfolios and testimonials on their website as well. I would encourage you to go even deeper than just the website. Utilize social media to your find more information about each contractor. Look them up on Yelp and check out their Facebook Fan page. The point is to find as much information out as possible before you invest your hard earned money.
3) Use the right materials: This tip is very much intertwined with tip #1. Often times a contractor with factor in the cost of supplies in the bid. If this is the case then make sure to thoroughly investigate all of the materials being used. Make sure you’re clear with the contractor what your budget is and they should be able to give you several options, including which materials to splurge on where you could possible save some money. For countertops, check out our previous post about the best kitchen countertop solutions .
4) Set up a payment plan: Make sure you are very clear with the contractor what your budget is, and then work out an appropriate down payment. You should never pay in full before the work has begun. Any reputable contractor will work with you to come up with a fair payment plan.

Remodeling your kitchen should be a fun experience. If you’re working with a tight budget consider simply upgrading appliances or decor before splurging on new countertops, flooring, cabinets or a completely new floor plan. If you’re in the San Diego area contact today for a free estimte. Or call 800-568-7108.