The ‘dream’ kitchen – ask just about every homeowner and they will tell you all about their version for cooking in nirvana. But getting to heaven usually means that you need to walk through hell – in this case, the dreaded kitchen remodeling project. This can mean months of living with plastic sheeting covering the back of your home and more importantly, no kitchen.
While this can be enough to push even the toughest to seek professional help, you can keep your sanity during a kitchen remodel and this article will show you how.
Get Organized
Living without a kitchen for months on end can be near impossible. Not only are you spending thousands on eating out but you are also spending tens of thousands of contractors. But you can beat the heat by getting organized.
Before you start tearing down walls and ripping out cabinets, you want to start organizing your kitchen into three categories – what you’ll need to survive, what you want to keep for your new kitchen, and the clutter you don’t want in your life. Doing so will ensure that you will have everything that you will need to survive the build.
Importantly, getting organized will put you able to cobble together your ‘temporary kitchen’. In many ways, this will mark a return to your college days when all you had to cook with a hot pot and a microwave. However, you don’t want to count these appliances out as they can prove quite flexible when called on.
Get Your Finances in Order
While everyone knows that a kitchen remodel is expensive, what they tend to forget are the ancillary expenses such as spending more at restaurants and even the cost of buying pre-cooked foods at the local supermarket.
As such, you need to look at ways to get your finances in order before starting the project to build your dream kitchen. For example, understanding selling your Mortgage Note in order to reduce your monthly expenses.
Beyond this, you really need to set up a budget and stick to it during the renovation. The reason is that cash is going to be flying out that huge hole in your back wall and as such, you need to make sure you have some semblance of control on where it is going. If not, then you will end up with cost overruns, angry contractors, maxed out credit cards, and a negative balance in your checking account.
Sink In
Not only do you need to let the trauma of a major kitchen remodel sink in but you will also need to figure out a way to wash your dishes while your kitchen sink is out of commission. One option might be your bathroom, while another is the utility sink in your laundry room – assuming you still have access.
The next challenge is finding a spot where everything can dry as turning your showing into a drying rack is not the best option. In the end, the location for the washing up will depend on a couple of variables including the season and what alternatives you have in your home.
The War on Dust
Look, construction is a dirty job and can wreak havoc on your home. Not only will you be fighting what will seem like a losing battle to keep the dustout but you will continually be finding dirt in places you never thought was possible – not to mention what this can do for the heating and cooling system in your home.
While this might sound depressing, there are a few things you can do. First, you want to be proactive by taking anything in your home which is prone to dust and putting them in a place where they won’t be exposed. Second, you want to work with your contractor to seal your kitchen. In fact, the only entrance should be from the outside as this will make sure that dirt won’t be tracked through your home.
In addition, have a bathroom plan in place for the workers. This might mean renting a porta-potty or giving them access to a spare bathroom in your basement or in a utility room. Doing so will help to keep your home relatively clean and the contractor and his team happy.
Don’t Forget the Pets
For those of you who have pets, you know that they are members of the family. As such, you want to have a plan for them while your kitchen is out of action. This can start by setting up an alternative place for food and water and a comfortable place to sleep. Beyond this, you will want to work out how your dog or cat can get outside as their route through the kitchen is likely to be out of order during the remodel.
Article Submitted By Community Writer
