Custom kitchen cabinets can be a large financial investment, which in today’s housing market may not always get you the return on your investment that you would expect. Before making the decision to spend a large amount of money, consider these factors.

1. Budget- Custom cabinets alone can cost anywhere from $25,000 to as much as $100,000 for a kitchen full of cabinets. With that in mind, you have to consider whether you really need custom cabinets to achieve the kitchen of your dreams, or can you use semi-custom or stock cabinets to achieve a similar look for less. How much you spend on your kitchen will also depend on the next factor

2. Property Value- If budget is not an issue, it is time to move on to property value. While a kitchen renovation is normally a good financial investment, your property value and comparable property values around you can have an affect on whether or not custom cabinets are right for you. Investing $75,000 into a house that is worth $600,000 make a lot more sense than investing $75,000 into a house that is worth $200,000.

In addition to the value of your house, you also have to consider the value of comparable houses in your area. In your house is in an older community or an area that hasn’t started to be redeveloped, a high end kitchen can put your house out of the price range of comparable houses in your area, which means you may not get your investment back. In a situation where your property value is lower than others in your area, custom cabinets may be what you need to increase the value of your house

3. Kitchen Use- This is a simple one… will the kitchen actually get used? With the busy lifestyles of families today, take out food and eating out at restaurants has taken the place of family meals. If you don’t plan on actually using your kitchen, do you really have to invest in custom cabinets?

While there are other factors that could affect your decision to buy custom cabinets versus stock or semi-custom cabinets, if you can get past these three issues, than custom cabinets may be right for you. If not, there are plenty of other options on the market that can give you the same look, quality, and durability as custom cabinets at a much lower cost.

I have been remodeling houses and rental properties for over 15 years. I have discovered the secret to saving thousands on kitchen cabinets. Find out my secret to buying kitchen cabinets at 30-40% below retail.

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