Is this going to cost me an arm and a leg?

Part 1: New Construction - how to determine your budget

If you are planning to build a new home, the first decision is whether to act as your own builder or using a licensed general contractor.

I personally recommend a licensed contractor just for the experience and expertise they offer. They will shoulder the responsibility of setting your budgets for every aspect of the construction and making sure you stick to them, or let you pay out of pocket for overages from the standard products they offer you. This can be the classic "robbing Peter to pay Paul" where you may not use the most expensive of one thing to be able to afford what you really want of another….like your kitchen cabinets!

If you are using a builder, he should give you a listing of items you must select and a budget of what each may cost. This gives you a running tally so you may spend more where you see fit.

As a norm, the cabinetry and counter package for most new homes as offered by a builder at 5-8% of the home's value. In reality I've found that most homeowners' selections will push them to 10+% of the home's value.

In working with your builder, he will have you come to us at the onset with your plans to work with you on the perfect kitchen and bath layouts for your home. At this stage, if (for instance) we need an extra foot of floor space to allow for an island that we can rob from a closet, THIS is the time to do it! We have no problem altering blueprints for your builder as necessary to allow for your dream kitchen. We will give you or the builder a preliminary figure to plug into your budget based on your decisions.

Thanks to the internet and other media like HGTV and magazines, our clients are much more educated about available products. It is important to have an idea of what you would like as you shop. I suggest magazines as Southern Living and the many kitchen guides that are out there. Start a divider notebook of pictures of cabinets, counters, appliances, flooring, paint schemes, ceramics, plumbing etc. that you would like incorporated into your kitchen and baths.

As you select each item, keep the product information, pictures and model numbers in the notebook and carry it with you everywhere! This is an invaluable tool to keep you organized and in control of your budgets.

This task may feel overwhelming at the onset, but if you follow these simple tips and patiently work your way through the lists of the selections, your project will progress smoothly and you shouldn't have any expensive surprises at the end!

Coming soon: Remodeling on a budget!

Our designers can work within a budget and make it look great.

Dorothy
Dorothy has been designing custom kitchens and bathrooms for 20 years. She is currently working out of the Roanoke, VA showroom.