Your Budget: Why It Matters More Than You Think (And How To Get It Right)

When it comes to buying a new kitchen, your budget is perhaps the biggest talking point. If it’s not, then I’m here to tell you that it should be.

I’ve talked to many customers about their projects and budgets over the years, and they usually fall into one of three categories:

Category 1: Those who are undertaking a substantial home extension

Category 2: Those ripping out their existing kitchen and replacing it with a new one

Category 3: Those who want to tackle the design, ordering and installation of their kitchen themselves, with minimal help from others

Category 1: Extension Projects

Whilst some are money-savvy planners, so meticulous that they set aside a specific amount for their kitchen at the end of the project, most people’s budget for their kitchen is simply whatever they have left after completing the extension work that comes before it. You know, the hundreds spent on the materials and labour you need in such a project.

You see, the kitchen is always the last thing to be built in any extension project, and this can cause problems when it comes to budget because, more often than not, the pot of money for your dream kitchen has severely dwindled by this stage due to the rest of the extension being more expensive than you first realised.

Category 2: Replacement Kitchens

If you’re having a ‘rip out and replacement’ (that’s what we call it in the trade – essentially you are replacing your current kitchen with the possible addition of taking a wall out to increase the space), then your budget may be more rigid as you haven’t got lots of simultaneous work going on. This gives you a little more time to focus on planning the kitchen.

Category 3: Doing It All Yourself

If you want the best kitchen possible and you’re thinking about doing everything yourself to save some money, my honest advice is to stop and rethink.

Sure, you can save a portion of money doing it this way, but this often comes at the cost of time, stress, mistakes, project ‘creep’ (when your project takes 5 times longer than you expected), and a mediocre result. Contact Ream to get started on your kitchen journey today.