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“A cabinet company makes a plan for cabinets, but they don’t make a plan for your project,” he says. “Designers create
that blueprint and use software that visually takes you right to the end of the project. They have experience on job
sites, so they’ll help guide you to make the correct decisions.”

Consult a REALTOR®
You may not be selling the house right away, but consulting with a local REALTOR® is a good idea before starting
any home renovation project. REALTORS® know what buyers are looking for in your neighbourhood, whether it’s the
style of cabinets or the quality of the countertop. Knowing these things in advance can help you make decisions for
a potentially better resale value in the future.
Settle on the scope of your project

Even if you aren’t knocking down walls or changing the footprint of your kitchen, check with your municipality to see
whether you need permits and what the building code requires, says Fuchs.
“For example, where we are, as soon as you touch a kitchen, you have to upgrade the electrical,” he explains. “So if
an inspector gets wind that you’re doing your kitchen and you haven’t hired an electrician to follow those new code
restrictions, you could get into trouble.”
Consider how much time your kitchen remodel requires

Binge-watching home improvement shows
makes us believe that renovation projects can be
accomplished in a few spare hours. The reality is
just the opposite, says Fuchs.
“Some people think it’s more cost-effective to
do things on their own, but I have a different
perspective: What’s your time worth? If you’re
employed and you work eight hours a day, you
might work for another eight hours after that,
because you’re not as efficient as a pro,” he says.

Smaller projects such as putting up backsplash
tiles or swapping cabinet hardware don’t require
a huge time investment. But hanging cabinets,
changing a sink and faucet, or installing a new
countertop could take a lot longer than anticipated.
The work will also probably disrupt your daily routine, plus you need to be ready to live with the mess until the
kitchen is complete.

You may pay less (or more) for materials
If you’re good at researching materials and products online to find the best deals, your DIY kitchen could end up
costing you less in the long run.
Fuchs notes contractors usually get special ‘for the trade’ pricing from suppliers. But if you don’t mind spending
time buying and transporting supplies, some big-box stores will allow you to open an account if you’re planning to
purchase lots of items, so you can negotiate a small discount.

“Because of the relationships we’ve built over the years, we get more than just a discount on material,” he explains.
“We also have more control on availability.”

Fuchs also said contractors often have access to higher quality materials than what’s available to consumers.

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