“We all handle the pandemic in our own ways, I guess,” Brad said. “Being home so much really gave me the opportunity to focus on how to improve our living space. The kids are only going to be young once, and so much of what we expected them to have in terms of a normal life has been taking away.”
With that in mind, Brad and his wife Dorsey spent much of 2020 renovating the children’s bedrooms and the family room. The new spaces are bright, kid-friendly, and very enjoyable. So what’s the problem?
“Well,” Brad said. “We’re spending our family time in these attractive rooms and then it’s time to have something to eat. And when you go in the kitchen – it’s not bad, it’s exactly how it was before, but somehow, now, it doesn’t fit with the home’s vibe.”
“It’s grim,” Dorsey agreed. “I’ve tried brightening it up with a coat of paint and changing the curtains, but it’s just not an uplifting space. Everything’s close together, and when Brad and the kids get in here to help with the cooking, it’s just too crowded.”
How Often Does the Average Homeowner Remodel the Kitchen?
“On one hand I’m ready to get on the phone with our Needham kitchen remodeling contractor right away,” Brad said. “But on the other hand, we’ve only had this home 8 years. I feel like that’s really early to renovate the kitchen. Are we making a bad financial decision to do this upgrade now?”
Renovating the kitchen is the most common home upgrade. When we talk about how often people upgrade the kitchen “on average” it’s important to note that this number varies a lot based on the neighborhoods you live in and the life stage of the homeowners. Nationally, on average, considering all homeowners at every stage of life, kitchen remodels happen every ten to fifteen years. However, people in nicer neighborhoods, who may be planning to sell their homes in the foreseeable future, and those who have younger children who still have busy teenage years to go through, are most likely to renovate the kitchen.