Why We're Finally Redoing Our Own Kitchen

By James and Katie Boyle

James and Katie Boyle are a dedicated real estate duo with over 25 years of experience, specializing in Cape May and Atlantic Counties.

A house down the street from us, the exact same layout as ours, just sold for way over asking, and the big difference was a completely redone kitchen. That’s the sale that finally got us moving on ours, five years after we moved in.

So we’re doing it, and we’re bringing you along to share how it really goes, the good and the bad.

Some projects you should wait on. A couple of years ago, the cabinets were painted, and this was definitely not approved by one of us first. They’re chipping now, they don’t look good, and honestly, it’s a project we should have waited on until we could do it the right way. So the cabinets are getting replaced, we’re taking a wall out, and we’re adding an island.

Get at least three quotes, and break them down. This is the part we really want you to take with you. Before we committed to anything, we got quotes from three different general contractors, and if you’re considering any home renovation, that’s so important. Ours came back really, really different from each other. Some of them included the materials, and some didn’t. We actually had to make a spreadsheet just to compare them fairly. Breaking the cost down like that is the only way to see what’s really included in each price.

A remodel done right adds real value. So why do all this now? That neighbor’s sale said it all. A kitchen done the right way adds a lot of value, the return on your investment is strong, and on top of that, you get to enjoy a really pretty kitchen while you’re living in the space. That’s the whole reason we’re finally doing it.

We’re going to keep bringing you along as we go, including the mistakes we make on the way. If you’re thinking about a renovation of your own, or what adds value before you sell, we’d love to talk. Call or text us at (609) 226-0678, email us at james@myboyleteam.com, or visit myboyleteam.com.