Have you ever sat in your kitchen waiting for your toast to pop up and began to wonder, “How much would it cost to renovate this old kitchen of mine?”
You’re not alone. Many Baltimore homeowners are looking for a bit of a makeover in the heart of their home. With appliances, countertops, and cabinetry options a plenty, it’s no surprise that it can be an overwhelming task to take on. Especially when it comes to the price tag.
So before you get in too deep, let’s talk about what it really costs to renovate a kitchen in Baltimore.
First, it’s important to note that the time of year you choose to renovate your kitchen can be a major factor. The most popular time for home improvements is … you guessed it … the springtime! Avoid the home improvement rush and opt to renovate late winter, right after the holidays. This is when there are more contractors available and you can negotiate a better price.
Speaking of price, what does it cost? Well, according to homeadvisor.com, most homeowners spend between $12,594 and $33,065 with an average kitchen at around $21,000.
For us in Baltimore, the average kitchen remodeling cost ranged from $8,192 at a minimum, up to $40,960 at a maximum. The majority of homeowners, however, paid an average of $24,576. These prices include labor, materials, and project costs (including preparation and cleanup). Keep in mind you may have extra costs such as permits and inspections.
According to the National Kitchen & Bath Association, kitchen remodeling costs break down like this:
- Design fees: 4%
- Installation: 17%
- Appliances and ventilation: 14%
- Cabinetry and hardware: 29%
- Countertops: 10%
- Lighting: 5%
- Flooring: 7%
- Doors and windows: 4%
- Walls and ceilings: 5%
- Faucets and plumbing: 4%
- Other: 1%
While the size of your kitchen will obviously be important to determining your overall price, it is not the end all be all. Most of the time, the price tag will depend on your choice of appliances, cabinetry, and countertops – which as you can see take up about 45% percent of your total cost. You could easily wind up spending your entire kitchen budget on appliances alone if you wanted to.
The good news is – kitchen remodels have the highest return on interest out of any room in your house. So even if you do spend a pretty penny, you can look forward to a pretty penny back when you choose to sell. In fact, according to hgtv.com, kitchen remodels can often return more than 100 percent of their cost. While you want a kitchen that you and your family will enjoy, try to keep in mind that down the road, your buyers may not want blue cabinets or pink tile backsplash. So try and keep it somewhat neutral while you’re owning your style. A good idea is to do basic background colors and add your pops of personality and style with things like rugs, wall décor, or maybe a swanky kitchenette table.
Should I Just Do it Myself?
With all these dollar signs piling up in your head, you might be wondering if you should try to eliminate the cost of labor and just remodel the kitchen yourself. While it’s true that you can certainly do that (and many people do), keep in mind that this is a lot of work. Many people who take on this great task end up making enough mistakes to regret it and end up hiring help anyway.
It’s always a good idea to consult with remodeling professionals in Baltimore before you take on any handy work. This is especially true if you plan on doing any major structural changes like moving walls, reworking the plumbing, or rerouting electrical. Making moves like this will likely require you to bring in professional help to ensure your house is up to code.
