Keeping It Creepy: Managing Scope Creep in Kitchen Remodeling Projects

You’ve got ideas for your kitchen—big ideas, some of them. Commercial grade appliances, a stone backsplash, a custom granite island. You’re even adding a window and widening a door. It’s exciting.

Then you take a look beyond the spot where your new countertops and elaborately trimmed custom cabinets will be. And you see your boring dining area, your dated den, and your—shudder—mudroom. So maybe you could extend the tile a bit… or find some hardwoods that compliment the finish on those cabinets. Maybe the other doorways and windows in eyeshot need an update too—you know, just to keep it all consistent.

We call this phenomenon “scope creep.” What begins as a thorough (but isolated) kitchen remodeling project can turn into a major makeover for the surrounding areas. After all, once you’re done with the kitchen and living areas, the adjacent bedrooms start to look a little blah. And the porch outside that new window… it needs some serious attention.

Part of dealing with scope creep is just knowing it will happen. Maybe not today, maybe not next year, but your upgraded or remodeled kitchen will impact the rest of your space. And positively, for the most part. But because creep is going to happen, a good way to manage it is to embrace it! That’s not to say you should go crazy, but you should take creep into account when planning—and pricing—your remodel.

Some very typical things that drive up costs of a kitchen remodel include:

·      reconfiguring the layout of your kitchen

·      removal of walls or soffits

·      moving windows or doors (in particular external doors/windows)

·      adding windows or doors (again, external doors/windows)

·      rewiring, or moving plumbing/gas lines

·      lighting upgrades, particularly layered lighting

·      custom islands and countertops, particularly with very high-end surfaces

·      upscale, custom, or commercial grade appliances

·      tile or stone flooring

This is more than a quick update we’re discussing. This is not a coat of paint and new linoleum. This is an overhaul. And, while Remodeling Magazine has suggested that a mid-level project of this sort runs an average of $55,000, once you pick a few premium appliances and luxury upgrades—and decide to enhance your natural lighting by adding a pair of windows—the actual numbers tend to fall within the $60,000 - $90,000 range. Again, this is fairly mid-level stuff. An upscale project with serious structural changes, customizations, and (of course) scope creep can run upwards of $100,000 - $200,000. Sounds like a lot, but keep in mind that many Northern VA homeowners (and buyers) have come to expect particular kinds of upgrades, appliances, and atmospheres in their kitchens and surrounding areas. 

So if you’re looking to remodel, keep in mind the items listed above and take a long, hard look at the areas surrounding your kitchen. If money’s no object, let it rip. If not, consider balancing your budget between the high-end appliances and the commercial grade ones. Weigh tile floors vs. hardwood. How much can you do before serious plumbing comes into play? Will those beautiful high cabinets mean tearing out the soffits? Is so, what’s behind them? If it’s ductwork, you’ll need to call the HVAC people.

Because the combinations of possible changes to your kitchen and surrounding areas are countless, there’s no single magic way to keep the costs down. So it goes without saying that it’s good to work with a contractor who can help you figure out the best way to balance your budget with your needs and your wants—and who has ideas about when and where to creep, and when it’s best to invest primarily in the kitchen. In short, someone who will understand and share your vision of the space you want to live in. That way, when you do creep just a little into that formal dining area or living room (because it will happen!), it will be part of a well-managed and unified plan to make your house into the home you’ve always wanted.