Taking on a home remodeling project of any scale can be one
of the most challenging, yet rewarding, experiences a homeowner will undertake.
With countless design choices, layers of dust and a revolving door of workers,
just thinking about it can send even the most laid-back person to bed with a
mind-numbing headache. Whether it’s truly your blood, sweat and tears going
into the remodel or just in theory letting professionals take the lead, there’s
no doubt about it, remodeling is complicated. The silver lining, however, is
the sense of accomplishment and homeowner pride once the project is complete
and your design dreams are realized.
One of the best ways to keep stress at a manageable level is
by working with a professional. This especially holds true when planning for a
kitchen or bathroom remodel — two of the most trafficked areas of your home with the
highest potential for return on investment. Working with a professional can
make the remodel process much smoother by avoiding budget pitfalls, schedule
delays and a crushed design dream.
Here are just a few of the ways a professional kitchen and
bath dealer can help:
Visualizing the
possibilities
Most reputable kitchen and bath dealers have a showroom to
best showcase their work and the products they specify. As a customer, you
should expect a neat, organized showroom with friendly staff to listen to you,
help get some of your upfront questions answered and show you your options.
Kitchen and bath dealers specialize exclusively in these rooms and have
knowledge of the latest trends. They have the tools and experience to walk you
through the design process, set the budget and troubleshoot to meet your goals
for aesthetics and function. In fact, many kitchen and bath dealers and their
designers are certified by leading industry associations such as the National
Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) or the National Association of the
Remodeling Industry (NARI), among others.
Setting the budget
Nowhere will using a professional pay off more than in setting
the budget. If you’ve never done a major remodel, you probably don’t know how
much to budget for. Or, perhaps you have a budget in mind and need help knowing
where to save and when to splurge. Your dealer and design team will make this
process much easier for you. Throughout the design and installation, they can
work within your budget parameters, specify the best products and alert you of
potential overages before it’s too late.
Doing the legwork
We’ve all heard the old adage, “measure twice; cut once.”
Knowing how to take the right measurements is imperative in a successful
remodeling project. The wrong measurement can set off an unfortunate chain
reaction of very costly events. Professionals are skilled in this area and will
get the job done right the first time so there aren’t delays in the schedule.
Once the measurements are taken, a dealer will put the plans to paper and
manage the ordering and installation steps.
Realizing your dreams
Eventually your remodel will be complete and you’ll no longer
have to make do with your makeshift kitchen in the family room or fight with
family members for time in your only functioning bathroom. After the dust has
settled, the end result will be a beautiful space you and your family can
enjoy for years to come. And, if you worked with a knowledgeable professional,
you are left with both your dollars and your sense.
