Aside from the time spent on the new book here (Click) and working with several FSBO Independent Homesellers, we’ve been working on a Reasonable Realtor series on a less expensive kitchen remodel that can help you live with your kitchen or sell your kitchen.  This week we are looking at NOT replacing your cabinets.
While redesigning a kitchen is a fun way to create change, kitchen cabinet refacing is a more affordable alternative to replacing those worn cabinets.  Complete kitchen redesigns can cost tens of thousands of dollars, not to mention they can take months to finish.  Though the kitchen is the most important room in the home to many, there are less expensive and quicker ways to spruce up the room and add to a homes’ resale value.  One of these ways is through kitchen cabinet refacing.

Refacing cabinets and renovating the kitchen costs a fraction of remodeling and replacing, and costs could be reduced even further if the homeowners do much of the work themselves.  However, how do you know if it is time to consider kitchen cabinet refacing?  If the cabinet drawers or door front are faded or overly worn, or if the kitchen is beginning to look as if it belongs in a different era, it may be time to reface the cabinets.  Excess wear and tear may even make it difficult to properly open and close drawers and cabinet doors.  Whether you are looking to sell your home and want to add to its value, or if you just want to enjoy the look of an updated kitchen, considering kitchen cabinet refacing has its rewards.
Refacing of the cabinets is ideal when major changes are not warranted.  For instance, if a homeowner is satisfied with the layout and functionality of their kitchen, a full remodel is unnecessary.  During kitchen cabinet refacing, a thin coat of wood, veneer, or laminate is wrapped around the cabinet face.  Outdated and overly worn materials can be replaced and extras such as new countertops, pull out shelves, and new drawer slides can be added effortlessly.  Additional cabinet space can be added, and the entire style of the kitchen can be changed at about half the cost of a traditional kitchen remodel.

Life is an adventure!

Kitchen cabinet refacing can be adventurous for the homeowner, with so many styles, colors, and add-on features to choose from which to choose.  Doing an extensive refacing is best left to the professional, and often the entire process from design to installation can take little more than a week.  For those wishing to do the work themselves, a little more planning and time may be required.  The large-scale home improvement stores will offer the materials needed for the refacing, though the entire design and planning process will be left up to the individual homeowners.  Companies that specialize in kitchen cabinet refacing may need to be consulted along the way.
In addition to providing an all-new look to the kitchen, refacing the cabinets will also add to their durability and lifespan.  With the high costs of complete kitchen remodels, coupled with the hassle of having a kitchen torn apart for weeks if not months, it makes sense to consider the more affordable alternative.  Increase your home’s value and add to its charm by choosing kitchen cabinet refacing over a complete remodel.
Yes, I am the Reasonable Realtor, Don Martin, MARTIN PROPERTIES (615) 973-8970. Just make your comments here, or you can reach the Dean of Graduated Realtors at www.FSBO-GUY.com or “like” him at http://www.facebook.com/MartinProps – Quiet Lawnmowers Here.