It is a well-known fact that kitchens sell homes.
“A kitchen renovation is one of the most valuable renovations you can do on a property, but, it is also one of the most stressful projects to have to live through,” said Adrian Goslett, from RE/MAX.
If you are planning a kitchen renovation of your own, then you need to brace yourself for the discomfort.
Rally the troops
You are about to enter into a world of dust clouds and construction workers, so you’re going to need back-up, especially if money is tight after paying the various contractors involved.
If you have any favours to call in, now is the time. Ask friends and family if they wouldn’t mind dropping off meals or, better yet, having you over for dinner a couple of nights during the messiest parts of the renovation.
Outsource supplies
Your ability to cook is going to be severely limited to outdoor braais and microwave meals.
Unless you like doing your dishes in your bathroom sink, it is better to outsource your meals if and when you can. Make a game of it and create a take-out and restaurant bucket list; it’s the perfect opportunity to force yourself to try those places you’ve never gotten around to trying.
Conduct operation sleep-out
A kitchen renovation can be a messy affair. From chopping out tiles and sanding down cupboard doors, the course of the renovation can be difficult to live with. Sometimes it’s better to retreat rather than try and endure it.
If you have the funds, consider spending some nights at a hotel or B&B. For a budget-friendly escape, pop up a tent and camp out in your backyard.
If you have any favours leftover, phone a friend and see if they’d be willing to loan you their spare bedroom for a few nights.
Survival tactics for home base
It is highly unlikely that you will be able to get out of the house for the entire duration of the renovation. In order to survive, find a room removed from all of the dust and chaos of the project and create a temporary kitchen.
