How to Prep for a Kitchen Remodel
- Anthony Broberg
- Apr 6, 2025
- 2 min read
Prep for your kitchen remodel with confidence. Learn the key steps to plan, budget, and avoid delays—plus tips to reduce stress and surprises.
🧰 How to Prep for a Kitchen Remodel
Tips to make the process smooth, stress-free, and worth the wait.
Planning a kitchen remodel can feel like juggling flaming knives—while blindfolded, on a budget, with a hungry family asking when dinner’s ready.
But it doesn’t have to be chaos.
Whether you’re doing a light refresh or a full gut job, prepping properly is the key to making your remodel smoother, faster, and far less stressful. Here’s how to set yourself (and your contractor) up for success:
1. Define the Why (Not Just the Wow)
Before you start picking out backsplash tile, get clear on why you’re remodeling. Is it function? Flow? Resale? Better storage? Knowing your why helps guide every decision and keeps you from getting distracted by shiny-but-useless upgrades.
2. Set a Realistic Budget (With a Buffer)
Include materials, labor, permits, and a 10–20% contingency for surprises. And yes, there will be surprises—this is construction, not a Hallmark movie.
3. Make Decisions Early—And Stick to Them
Every time you change your mind mid-project, it costs time and money. Finalize your materials, layout, and appliances before demo day. Your future self (and your contractor) will thank you.
4. Prep Your Space—and Your Patience
You’ll need to clear out cabinets, protect adjacent rooms, and maybe even set up a temporary kitchen (think toaster, microwave, and mini-fridge life).Also, mentally prepare: things get dusty, noisy, and occasionally delayed. That’s normal.
5. Talk to Your Contractor About Scheduling and Scope
A good contractor will walk you through timelines, logistics, and any required permits. Ask about:
Working hours
Material delivery coordination
Dumpster placement
Access routes and safety for kids/pets
6. Be Available—But Not Hovering
Stay reachable in case quick decisions are needed, but trust your contractor to do their job. A little breathing room goes a long way on both sides.
Final Thought:
A remodel is a marathon, not a sprint. Prep well, stay flexible, and remember—there’s a light at the end of the dust cloud, and it looks like your dream kitchen.
