Avoid disappointment: Add
up the costs before you
begin.

Savvy Shopping Tips

Before you hit the stores, surf the Web. Many manufacturers have their own Web sites, so you can learn about their products in a comfortable environment and feel more knowledgeable when speaking with salespeople. Study the latest products in magazines. Mark those features that appeal to you, and ask the salesperson to show you which products include them.

For example, if you rarely use your microwave oven and don't think a new one would make you use it more, a basic model will probably be fine. On the other hand, if your microwave oven is integral to most of your cooking, you might be happiest with a larger, more powerful model with more options.

Simply by updating your kitchen or bath, you will likely recoup some of your investment when you sell your home. You won't, however, increase that potential by trying to guess which dishwasher your home's future owner will prefer. Instead, you'll end up choosing so generically that your kitchen or bath won't feel like your own. Or, you'll waste money on fancy equipment and features you don't need.

 

Compare tile with tile.

Not all products are priced the same way, so be sure to figure costs accordingly. For example, some flooring materials are figured by the square foot, others by the square yard. Similarly, stone is typically sold by the square foot when it's used as flooring. Countertops, though, are priced by linear foot, so be sure to convert your figures for tile and stone for accurate comparison.

For some products, such as cabinetry, construction methods and finishes reflect the difference. Faucet prices are determined primarily by the product's inner workings; appliances differ mainly when it comes to features and styling. Within each category of flooring and countertops, quality accounts for price differences.

When you're shopping, it's easy to get caught up in the excitement of all the latest appliance features, cabinetry finishes, and faucet styles. When each upgrade seems to cost so little more than the previous one, you may not realize how quickly they add up. It's wise to make an exploratory shopping trip to check out features, then go home and make a list of those that interest you most.

 

Be sure you're getting
features you want.

When comparing different types of products, remember there's bound to be some crossover at one or both ends of the price range. In flooring, for example, a basic laminate is comparable to a moderately priced vinyl.

Installation significantly adds to the total cost of items such as cabinetry, countertops, and flooring. For example, installation for some stone can run as much as two to three times the cost of the material. Add about half the price of the cabinetry itself for the installation.

You may want, and could put to good use, a larger oven, for example. But if its size requires cabinetry and countertop reconfigurations, you'll be launching into a bigger and more expensive project.

 

Buying based on price alone
isn't your best bet.

It may seem as though buying the most deluxe model or style will help you avoid having to replace it as your needs change, but you may regret your purchases before then. A refrigerator with a large freezer, for example, costs more initially than a standard size, and it's more expensive to operate. Plus, it needs to be at least half filled to work properly.

You may qualify for a builder's or remodeler's discount if you purchase cabinets and/or several appliances from the same supplier.

Whether providing a few hours of consultation or overseeing an entire remodeling project, a designer can help you match your preferences in products with the design of your kitchen or bath. You'll save yourself some headaches and heartaches by finding out up front, for example, that a commercial-style range needs to be placed along an outside wall for ease in venting or that your bathroom floor must be able to hold the weight of a filled whirlpool tub. To find a designer in your area, contact the National Kitchen and Bath Association (877-NKBA-PRO) or the National Association of the Remodeling Industry.