You see it all the time on television. People spend huge amounts of money to buy new stoves. You can get a new kitchen for a lot less money than your television would have you believe.

I once owned a beautiful Cape Cod home with an 80’s-style oak slat and melamine kitchen. When we decided to sell to start a new business, all potential buyers hated that kitchen. We did not receive a single offer. We had no choice but to take the house off the market and fix the kitchen. If you think you might need to resell an attractive kitchen, it is important. But more importantly, it is good for any homeowner to have a kitchen that they like.

We asked professionals how much it would cost to reform our kitchen. They estimated that it would cost between $ 20,000 and $ 30,000. And hiring “professionals” is not without risk. They may or may not do a proper job. We made our first DIY attempts due to bad experiences with non-compliant “experts”.

So we decided to do it ourselves … again.

We did it for $ 1,200.

Yes, we saved at least $ 18,800, maybe more.

You can do it too. That is how.

Do it step by step.

1. Your first step is to make decisions about the design of your kitchen. If reasonably functional, keep sinks and appliances in their current positions. We didn’t move anything in our kitchen and we saved a lot of money.

2. Next, save the boxes from your cabinet if possible. This is a “green” problem, as well as a pricing problem. Cabinets cost a lot of money and should never end up in a landfill. If you don’t plan to repurpose your cabinets, at least donate them to a local charity like Habitat for Humanity or Good Will.

3. Look at home supply stores for good joinery buys or manufacturer and cabinetmaker rejects.

4. You can keep the boxes and get new doors for a new look at no part of the cost. I had a cabinetmaker make me doors out of MDF panels and spray painted them cream. They did wonders in my kitchen and at the same time made my house marketable.

5. Make sure the style of your kitchen matches the exterior style of your home. This is important. My house was not sold because the house was very traditional and the kitchen was modern from the 80’s. People who liked the house hated that kitchen. The house was not sold for that.

6. Check braces that have some teeth or are used lightly. You may find useful good things if you can’t afford to buy perfect new ones. Also look for existing appliances that are for sale. Stores that keep inventory sometimes have sales. Paying in cash could also give you an edge in negotiating better prices. Sometimes the only barrier between you and a better price is asking. Have the nerve to ask.

7. Consider using lower cost options for countertops and flooring. Butcher or bamboo block is much cheaper than granite and is beautiful and functional. Ceramic tiles are functional and attractive, and they come at a good price, too. I’m going to look for solid surfaces with recycled glass for my next hack.

8. Look for used furniture that can be incorporated into your kitchen. An old buffet can be a great island. An old closet could be a pantry. Be creative. You might get a truly unique fitted kitchen for a lot less money.

9. Don’t demolish the old until you have the new in place. Your work will go much faster. Keep your old kitchen until you have everything you need to do the new one. We installed our brand new kitchen in one weekend (2 days).

10. Know the code. There are building codes to make buildings safe. You can download this data from your local government.

All of our work paid off. When we put our house up for sale again, we advertised it in the local newspaper one weekend. It was sold to the first viewers for the asking price and without a real estate agent.

We are making plans to install a “new” kitchen in our current home, reusing existing cabinets, replacing worn appliances, and moving the kitchen to another location in the home. It won’t cost a lot of money. I am too cheap to pay the professionals and I will not change.