How Smart Renovation Planning Impacts Home Value

Planning your kitchen renovation may seem like it’s mostly fun and games.

The complexity seems minimal, and the stakes seem low. Throw together a quick template on graph paper, visualise it in a 3D modeling program, et voilà – a workable plan. Right?

Not necessarily.

Modeling software is good, but it often doesn’t tell you if a cabinet door is going to catch on a drawer handle, or whether there’s enough room between the stove and the island for the oven door to open.

Is the corner really 90 degrees? If not, your counter might not meet the backsplash properly, leading to unsightly caulk lines or tasteless shims.

And buyer’s remorse is a real thing. Nobody wants to live with their kitchen remodel for a month only to realize that there just aren’t enough cupboards, and the only option is to perpetually keep the plates in the dishwasher.

Smart kitchen planning works with the existing architecture of the home, the functional operation of the current kitchen, and the homeowners’ preferences to give you the right kitchen on the first try.

If you live in Valley Village, kitchen remodeling is both a creative art and a precise science. Choosing the right home remodeling company can mean the difference between happy homeowners and high ROI, and instant regret.

Planning for Success: Quality Speaks for Itself

It’s easy to convince yourself that all your kitchen needs is to be newer.

Newer cabinets, newer counters, newer fixtures, and newer floors give a fresh feel and better function… at least for a while.

All the doors open without sticking. All the drawers open without falling onto the floor. No splintery edges or stains on the counters, no crumbling grout between the floor tiles.

Unfortunately, this upgrade may not remain satisfactory as long as you think.

If your chosen contractor chooses bargain bin and builder grade surfaces and appliances, the planned obsolescence factor is going to show itself quickly.

On the other hand, a contractor who is accustomed to working with the best materials will inevitably have the best finished product.

They will know how to plan and install the marble counters with minimal waste, and how to properly seal and care for them to keep them gorgeous as long as possible.

Imperfections in the subfloor will be corrected before the tiles are installed, preventing loose tiles and crumbling grout down the road.

Drawer hardware and cabinet hinges will be of high quality, impeccable design, and excellent durability, so that they won’t just function well for the first few weeks after the installation but onward into the coming years and decades.

Poor planning and shoddy craftsmanship show themselves down the road, sometimes after a long time and sometimes almost immediately. But smart planning and impeccable work pay off over and over, every time you use your kitchen and find that it never starts to feel old.

Plan the Work and Work the Plan

The average, run-of-the-mill contractor isn’t going to want to invest much time in the planning process.

Many of them have a fairly standard kitchen layout that they are familiar with, which they try to fit into your allotted space–whether it’s the most appropriate and functional option or not.

They will make you feel like you are part of the design process by letting you select among paint colors and tile patterns, but make no mistake: most of the decisions have already been made. And if you ask for more control, that initial low quote is going to change quickly.

Contrast this with a bespoke kitchen from a high-end renovation company, and the planning process becomes a vital component of the job.

Your preferences, your architecture, and your lifestyle will all be considered and will shape the final outcome in a hundred ways.

Proper Planning Pays: How the ROI for a Solid Renovation is Generated

Certain renovations add more to the resale value of a home than the cost of the renovation itself, and a good kitchen renovation is at the top of this list.

This is a big part of why cutting corners and hiring standard contractors doesn’t pay off in the long run.

If you view a kitchen renovation as an investment, saving a few thousand on the front end by choosing the cheapest contractor could be described as stepping over dollars to pick up pennies.

A good kitchen renovation is greater than the sum of its parts. Choosing a cheaper countertop surface might mean the difference between a buyer paying top dollar and a buyer deciding to lowball because it makes the whole home feel cheap and bland.

But a kitchen that functions beautifully and the quality of whose materials will obviously hold up for years of use creates an impression of a home in which buyers can imagine spending many happy and contented years.

Hire the best contractors, and you will be rewarded with the best ROI.

Valley Village Kitchen Remodeling: How Smart Renovation Planning Impacts Home Value and Long-Term ROI was last modified: February 3rd, 2026 by Billy Guteng

Written by Billy Guteng. February 3, 2026

Billy is a content writer for Kukun. He was born in France, and has lived in multiple cities around the world ever since. He loves art, design and architecture as well as construction and real estate.