You’ve just bought a new home, but the kitchen is less than stellar. Now, you need to make a decision. Do you move in and then tackle the kitchen? Or should you get all the work done before you move? We’d argue the latter. Here are six reasons to do the kitchen redesign before moving into a new home.

1. Convenience

Think about how often you use your kitchen. You need it to make meals, grab coffee before work or school, and even to store your groceries. Plus, there are all the trips to raid the fridge for a snack and all the times you want an ice-cold drink on a hot day.

When you redesign your kitchen, all those conveniences are gone for the duration of the project. So save yourself some trouble and do the kitchen redesign before moving into your new home. You’ll be glad you did.

2. Dust, Dust, and More Dust

Redesigning your kitchen makes a mess. There’s no way around it. Your contractor will do their best, of course, to minimize and contain the mess, but a mess, there will be. And that’s particularly true with dust.

The construction process generates a lot of dust, and some of it is bound to escape the barriers. So you may not want to live in the home during that process, especially if you have asthma. Instead, move in after the work is done and cleanup is complete.

3. Privacy

It’s said that your home is your sanctuary. But the kitchen redesign process can feel anything but serene. If you live at home during renovations, you also live with people coming in and out of your house all day long. As a result, privacy is in short supply.

On the other hand, if you do the kitchen redesign before moving in, you won’t experience any of that hassle. Instead, you’ll enjoy all the peace and tranquility you want in your newly redesigned kitchen.

4. Noise

Along with a lack of privacy, redesigning your kitchen adds noise to your home. Expect to hear saws, drills, and other tools all day long. Plus, there will be lots of hammering and talking, too.

All that noise often makes it difficult to work from home. And your children may have trouble concentrating on their homework. And it’s just not enjoyable to listen to banging and power tools all day long. Doing the kitchen redesign before moving in saves you from having to deal with all the noise that comes with construction.

5. Finances

Did you know that choosing to do your kitchen redesign before moving in could save you money? Every situation is different, so this one isn’t a hard-and-fast rule. But it’s possible that redesigning your kitchen before moving in could amount to a decent cost savings.

The reason for this is your contractors don’t need to work around your schedule. As a result, they may be able to finish the work more quickly. And they don’t need to spend quite as much time thoroughly cleaning every day if no one is living in the home. So in the end, it may be cheaper for you to do the kitchen redesign before moving in.

6. Safety

Obviously, when you choose a good kitchen cabinet contractor, they should take your safety seriously. And no doubt, every effort will be made to keep construction areas closed off and as safe as possible for your family. But redesigning your kitchen is not without hazards.

If you are at all concerned that your children or pets may sneak into your kitchen while it’s being redesigned, doing the work before moving in is best. That way, no one needs to worry that a young child or pet may slip past during a moment of distraction. Instead, the whole family can enjoy your newly finished kitchen on move-in day.

Would you like to do your kitchen redesign before moving into your new home? Edgewood Cabinetry is happy to help! Contact us today to discuss your ideas and begin the design process!

Purchasing new kitchen cabinets is a major investment. So you want to make sure the work is done right. But how can you be sure you’re hiring a good contractor to build and install your cabinets? By asking the right questions! Here are six questions to ask before choosing a kitchen cabinet contractor.

1. Can You Provide Your License Number?

Unfortunately, there are plenty of people out there who make promises they don’t deliver. Asking for a contractor’s license number is a good way to weed them out. If a contractor won’t provide a license number, steer clear. They likely don’t have one at all.

On the other hand, a reputable contractor should be ready and willing to share their license number. Not only does this give you confidence that the contractor is legitimate, but it also gives you the ability to check whether there have been any recent complaints against the contractor, too. Just reach out to your state’s consumer affairs department to check that the contractor is in good standing.

2. Do You Have Insurance?

The second question you should always ask a potential contractor is whether they have insurance. The last thing you want is to make a pricey kitchen cabinet investment only to have something go wrong and learn your contractor isn’t insured. Asking about insurance potentially saves you from trouble later.

A good contractor should carry liability insurance, automobile insurance, and workman’s compensation insurance (if they have employees). This both protects your investment and shields you from liability for accidents, injuries, and public property damage. Never hire a contractor who is uninsured.

3. What’s Your Wait Time, and How Many Current Projects Do You Have?

It’s natural to be excited for your kitchen remodel to start. You want your new cabinets as soon as possible! But it’s not always a good sign if a contractor is available to work on your project right away. After all, a busy contractor is probably popular for a reason!

So ask about typical wait times and how many projects the contractor currently has going on. It’ll give you an idea of how in-demand the contractor’s services are. And you’ll have a better idea of how long you have to prepare for your kitchen renovation to begin.

4. How Does the Installation Process Work?

If you’ve never had new kitchen cabinets installed, you probably don’t know what the process involves. So ask the contractor how their process works. Be sure to ask about what you can expect, how long your kitchen will be unavailable, and how the contractor will keep in contact with you.

Understanding what to expect from the kitchen cabinet installation process allows you to plan around the work that’s going on. And it gives you a realistic idea of what to expect. And with everyone on the same page, the process is much more likely to progress smoothly.

5. Do You Offer a Warranty?

Installing new kitchen cabinets is a great way to improve both your home’s aesthetic and its resale value. So it’s typically a sound investment. But what happens when it’s not? Since kitchen cabinets cost a significant amount of money, you should always ask whether a contractor offers a warranty.

No one can protect against unforeseen accidents or misuse of your new cabinets. So if your 10-year-old son and his friend ruin your cabinets with frequent water fights in the kitchen, that’s not covered. But your contractor should offer a warranty covering defects in materials or workmanship for a certain amount of time to protect your investment. Here at Edgewood Cabinetry, for example, we warranty our cabinets for five years if they fail under normal use due to defects in workmanship or materials.

Hiring a contractor to build and install new kitchen cabinets is a big decision. Asking these five questions will help you choose a reputable one.

Would you like to learn more about whether Edgewood Cabinetry is a good fit for you? We’re happy to answer your questions and give you a free quote. Just drop us a line, and we’ll be in touch soon!

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Moving? 6 Reasons to Do the Kitchen Redesign Before Moving Into a New Home