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THE MOST COMMON QUESTIONS AT THE VERY START OF A NEW KITCHEN JOURNEY
BY MARK BYERS OF OLIVER GREEN KITCHENS
How much will my new kitchen cost ? This is without any doubt the question we get asked at a very early stage and it ’ s impossible to answer before any design is done . However , it is possible to provide a range based on a reliable rule that you should expect to spend between 5-10 % of your properties value on a new kitchen .
In June 2021 the Office for National Statistics reported that the average house price in England was £ 284,000 . Based on this the average cost range for a new kitchen would be £ 14,200 to £ 28,400 . This stacks up against our own experience .
Of course , every kitchen project is different so the 5-10 % rule is only a helpful guide for having an idea of what you might expect to spend on a new kitchen , before you start engaging with kitchen companies .
How much should I budget ? Although the 5-10 % rule is useful for getting an initial idea of what you can expect to spend it only provides a range . What you will want to do is narrow down the range and to do this you have no option but to develop a list of your requirements .
Like the 5-10 % rule there is a way to narrow down the range . This involves putting together a list of the appliances you want in your new kitchen . Try to be as specific as you can . If you want a specific American style Fridge / Freezer then make sure you list it . When you have your list use the internet to get prices for each appliance . Exclude sale prices and special offers . Total all the prices .
As a rule of thumb your appliance costs will represent around 30 % of your total kitchen cost . If you are more of a chef than a general cook your appliance choices may represent as much as 50 % of your total kitchen cost . This technique will help you determine if you should be budgeting towards the bottom or top end of the range .
The final thing you must do is add some contingency . Once again , we are talking about a range . This is going to be 10-20 % of your budget . Your contingency will need to be towards the top of the range if you have an older property because unwelcome surprises are common in older properties .
If the above is a little daunting , then do come and talk to us . We will be happy to work with you to establish a sensible budget .
How long will it take ? The type of projects we get involved with extend over a number of weeks because we are always doing something bespoke . They also involve some specialist services such as stone fabricators . If your project is a straightforward replacement of an existing kitchen you can reasonably expect to have everything done and dusted within two weeks .
If your project involves the full remodelling of the kitchen space , then you can expect it to take anywhere from 3-6 weeks .
When can you start ? There are essentially two things that determine when you will be able to have your new kitchen installed . One of these is availability of the trades your project will require . The other is the availability of all the goods and materials needed to complete your installation .
Trades continue to be in high demand . For us we are now scheduling from March 2022 for installations due to the availability of the skilled and experienced trades we engage .
On the goods and materials side , we are experiencing extended lead times and bumpy stock availability for some appliance types . These problems are caused by high demand and a world-wide shortage of certain parts , particularly computer chips . Some specific appliances have lead times of more than 20 weeks .
Of course , we do bespoke high-quality kitchens so lead times do tend to be longer for us . Going to a big national kitchen retailer is likely to result in shorter lead times but the trade-off will be choice .
Hopefully the big questions I ’ ve covered in this article will help you with the early planning of your kitchen project . In next month ’ s article I plan to discuss styles , appliances , and surfaces .
OG Kitchens wants to help you with your forever kitchen . Pick up the phone , email us , or come and see us . Our showroom and design studio are at 34 Hamilton Square , Birkenhead , CH41 6AZ .
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