The Most Costly Kitchen Remodel Mistakes – Part One

Posted on July 19, 2019 – April 22, 2021 by The Priebe’s Creative Woodworking Team

As one of the longest standing woodworking firm in Southwest Michigan, Priebe’s Creative Woodworking has built a reputation for crafting the most beautiful custom and semi-custom kitchens in the area for over two decades. With our in-house team of esteemed kitchen craftsmen having designed, built, and installed well over a thousand kitchens and baths, our collective experience has allowed us to prevent our clients from making costly mistakes with their projects. Unfortunately, too often, potential clients come to us for the first time after already having made these mistakes, not only setting them back on their timeline for completion but also causing them to go significantly over their initial budget.

For this reason, we’re doing a blog series about the Most Costly Kitchen Re-model Mistakes we’ve seen over the years, with hope that it helps you make decisions that result in the kitchen of your dreams being completed on time and on budget. We’ll be covering different kitchen re-model mistakes every week for the next few weeks, so stay on the lookout for tips on avoiding expensive pitfalls with your upcoming project.

Not Choosing a Reputable Designer/Contractor

When it comes to re-modeling your kitchen, we know you have a lot of options besides Priebe’s Creative Woodworking. There’s small home improvement stores, big box stores, design firms that order cabinets and sub-contract the installation, and the list goes on. But when the time comes to re-model your kitchen, whether you choose to come see us or someone else, we can’t stress enough how important it is to do your research. With such a big investment, you have to be responsible and make your decision based on the reputation and experience of the company handling your project. In addition, it’s always a safer choice to hire a company that is vertically integrated, handling every step of your project entirely in-house without having to sub-contract any work out to someone who doesn’t have a vested interest in your project. Thankfully, these days you have the internet at your disposal to seek out reviews on Google, Yelp, Facebook, or even websites geared towards interior design and home improvement, like Houzz.

Along with consistently great reviews, make sure the company has full support and service warranties to provide service after the installation in case anything in your kitchen needs service later on. For instance, at Priebe’s, we take great pride in our work and want our customers to enjoy their kitchen for generations to come. So whether it’s weeks or years after we’ve installed it, if a customer tells us that a door is out of adjustment or a drawer has fallen off a track, we will always repair it at no cost.

Last but not least, when doing your research, look into how many years the company has been in business. A company with decades of experience most likely has been in business that long due to high customer satisfaction. Having been in business for over two decades, at Priebe’s Creative Woodworking, we know that no project ever goes 100% according to plan. It’s advantageous to have a company that has plenty of experience in problem solving in order to make sure your project stays on budget and on time.

Unrealistic Budget

Re-modeling your kitchen is the most expensive investment you can make in your home and one of the biggest purchases you’ll make in your lifetime. With that said, it’s incredibly important for any homeowner to be smart and responsible with their hard-earned money, and that begins with setting a realistic budget for your project. When determining your budget, there are several factors to consider, but generally you should plan to spend at least 12-15% of the total value of your home. By Southwest Michigan realty standards, if you invest properly in the right design, cabinetry quality, and installation, you should be able to get close to a 1:1 return on investment on your kitchen re-model investment when reselling your home.

Additionally, instead of setting an unwavering budget that’s set in stone, it’s actually better to give yourself a window, allowing yourself approximately a 10% margin. Moreover, when setting your budget for your kitchen re-model, you should never just consider the costs of the cabinetry and countertops. Make sure you think of every aspect you need to budget for, including electrical, plumbing, flooring, appliances, and hardware – all of which are big investments that can increase the overall cost of your project substantially.

Last of all and most importantly, if you’re making any investment in your home, invest wisely, considering quality and longevity. If you don’t feel confident that you have the budget necessary to complete your re-modeling project to your expectations, it’s always smarter to wait until you can invest the proper funds, rather than cutting corners and sacrificing overall quality and sustainability just to have a quick completion. Why buy discounted, low quality particle board cabinetry from a box store when the cost variance is only slightly higher to have solid wood cabinetry built to last? You’re living and working in your kitchen every single day, and your kitchen cabinetry is a permanent purchase that should last decades. At Priebe’s, we feel it’s incredibly important to protect your hard earned money and make an investment in quality cabinetry that will truly last for generations. If you don’t have the appropriate budget right now, it’s always better to wait and save than risk buyer’s remorse.

Contact Information:

If you’re thinking about re-modeling your kitchen in the near future and have any questions for us that we didn’t cover in this article, please feel free to send your inquiry into our kitchen design specialists by e-mailing Lillianp@priebeswoodworking.com or calling 269-926-2469. We’d love to have the opportunity to help you with your project any way we can!

Priebe’s Creative Woodworking
2113 Plaza Dr.
Benton Harbor, MI 49022
Phone: 269-926-2469 www.priebeswoodworking.com

What To Consider Before Choosing Cabinetry for Your Kitchen

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The Most Costly Kitchen Remodel Mistakes – Part One

Not Choosing a Reputable Designer/Contractor

Unrealistic Budget

Contact Information:

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