Homeowners ask me this question all the time. We get it, a kitchen remodel is a significant investment, and nobody wants to pour money into something that doesn’t pay off.
Here’s my honest answer: it depends on one thing more than anything else.
How long are you staying?
Let’s Talk Real Numbers First
For most design-build kitchen remodelers in St. Louis, the investment into a kitchen starts around $90,000–$95,000. Add a floor, and you’re typically starting at $115,000 and going up from there depending on the size of the space, scope of work, materials selected, and the age of your home.
These aren’t small decisions. So let’s be clear about when they make sense and when they don’t.
Selling in 3 Years or Less?
Talk to your realtor first. Seriously.
If you’re moving in the near term, a full kitchen remodel is almost certainly not the right financial move. Instead, focus on cosmetic updates that refresh the space without a major investment. Cabinet hardware, new countertops, an updated sink and faucet, fresh paint. These targeted changes can remove buyer hesitation without committing to a full renovation budget.
Unless something is broken or functionally failing, call it a day there.
Selling in 3–5 Years?
This is a middle ground. Cabinet painting can dramatically modernize an outdated kitchen without the full cost of new cabinetry. A new floor might make sense here too, especially if the current one is worn or dated.
You’re still not in full remodel territory, but there’s more room to invest strategically than in the short-term scenario. Key things to consider at this stage are the quality of the cabinets (don’t paint broken or poor quality cabinets) as well as if the layout overall works.
Staying 5–10+ Years? This Is Where the Real Value in a Kitchen Remodel sits.
This is the horizon where a full kitchen remodel starts to make real financial and lifestyle sense, and I want to reframe how you think about it.
Consider the car you drive. Maybe it’s a $50,000–$90,000 SUV you bought to haul your family around. Over 5–10 years, you take road trips, the kids grow up in those seats, you enjoy the heated steering wheel on cold St. Louis mornings. At the end of that time, what’s it worth? Maybe $6,000–$8,000.
Your kitchen is a better deal.
A well-executed kitchen remodel in a healthy market will still retain around $0.50 on the dollar at resale, often more, because your home overall will continue to appreciate. And unlike that car, you’re not just passing through it on the way somewhere. You’re living in it. You’re cooking in it, gathering in it, starting and ending every day in it.
Statistically, you will spend far more time with your family in your kitchen than in that vehicle. And the financial outcome at the end is meaningfully better.
At the 5–10+ year mark, the calculus shifts. It stops being just a home improvement question and becomes a quality of life question, with a financial outcome that’s more favorable than most people realize going in.
The Question Worth Asking Before Anything Else
Before budget, before materials, before design, ask yourself how long you’re staying and what you actually want out of this project.
That one conversation shapes everything. And it’s exactly where we start with every homeowner we work with. Anyone who doesn’t ask you this question just wants to sell you something and doesn’t really care about how it could affect your family’s overall future.
If you’re thinking about a kitchen remodel and want a straight answer about what makes sense for your home and your timeline, reach out. No pressure. Just an honest conversation.
Josh McDermott is the owner of McDermott Remodeling, a design-build remodeling company based in St. Louis. He specializes in helping homeowners cut through the noise and make confident decisions about their home.