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Renovating Your Kitchen
Many cooks prefer to work in a kitchen that looks or operates
in up-to-date fashion. An early American, country, or rustic style can
be charming, but today’s busy lifestyles requires a convenient mode of
preparing and serving meals.
If your kitchen is hopelessly out of date or if the area has sustained
some weather or structural damage that necessitates a renovation, be
sure to plan the work carefully before having it done.
First, get a competent contractor. You can find several names in the
newspaper, the yellow pages, or as referrals from friends. Check these
people’s reputations with the Better Business Bureau. Then conduct
telephone or in-person interviews about the work you want to have done.
Invite the contractor over to provide a free written estimate, and make
sure all terms of service are explained in the form, as well as the
payment schedule, which should be set up in three or four payments over
the length of the project.
Then plan your remodeling budget. Make a list of supplies to add to
your contractor’s estimate. Include any peripheral services, such as
having the dog boarded or eating out for a week or two while the work
is being completed. Check with several supply stores for an estimate of
your materials costs. Your contractor may be able to get a discount if
he or she can purchase them for you.
Arrange for the work to be done at a convenient time. This might be
during the family’s summer vacation or when everyone takes off for a
winter break. Don’t schedule it at a time when your workload increases,
for example, tax time for an accountant or the end of a semester for a
college instructor.
Finally, be sure you have set aside adequate funds to pay for the
proposed renovation. Make payment arrangements with your contractor,
and avoid interest charges if possible.
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