Tips for a Smooth Kitchen Renovation from PlumbTile #ad

DISCLAIMER: Thanks to PlumbTile for sponsoring today's post. All opinions and experiences are my own.

Part of my job, as a blogger, is to be a story-teller. I have a good one for you today... Once upon a time, there was a woman; she was a kind and gentle woman. Dare I say, a happy woman. She was known for her calm demeanor and ability to stay strong in the face of negativity. Then, one day, she decided to do a full kitchen renovation. After four days, she was never seen or heard from again. The End.

The story you just read is a true representation of my experience remodeling my kitchen. I eventually came home, but only after the whole thing was done. OK, I only left for an afternoon, but still, most of the story is true. Undergoing a remodel is almost as bad as having teeth pulled, but it really doesn't have to be. Today, I'm sharing a few tips that I wish I had known, before I remodeled my kitchen.

First things first. Decide exactly what you want your new kitchen to look like. Check out paint colors,  kitchen lighting choices, tile choices, flooring choices, etc. Take some time to look at some home improvement magazines or websites like PlumbTile to get a few ideas to show to your contractor.

Speaking of contractors. This is probably the most important part of your kitchen remodel. Finding a good contractor is key to getting a good final result. Ask around and see if your friends have a guy they use and recommend. Word of mouth is very important when looking for a contractor. Ask around on your local Facebook groups, or check on Craigslist. Also, you could check with your local home improvement stores, often they will have names and numbers of contractors. 

This is a good one. When planning a remodel, kitchen or otherwise, make sure you don't have anything to do for about three weeks. Seriously. Don't plan a huge remodel close to the holidays or a birthday or a major surgery or anytime you might have company coming in from out of town.

Also, make sure you write into your contract: final price is based on job completed, not on number of days worked. This will ensure your contractor gets the job done in a timely manner.

If you are doing a full remodel, remember: you will probably be without your fridge for at least a week, so plan to eat up all the food before the contractor shows up. Also, you should plan to be without a sink or place to wash dishes, so plan to use paper plates or you could always wash your dishes in the tub or eat out a whole lot. (both are horrible ideas, trust me)

Doing any kind of home improvement can be (read as "will be") hectic, unnerving and a downright pain in the ass. You must remember this going in to it. Make sure you have an "escape plan". Ask a friend or neighbor if you can come to their house for an afternoon if it all gets to be too much.

If you have no friends or neighbors, go to the park, walk around the mall, go do some shopping, go for a hike; whatever you need to do, do it. Don't let something that is supposed to be fun, turn into a headache. Keep your eye on the prize, it will all be worth it, in the end!