A kitchen remodel stalls for one reason more than any other: a decision that was supposed to be made later. Counters cannot be templated until cabinets are set, cabinets cannot be ordered until the layout is final, and the layout depends on appliances you have not picked yet. Decide these five things before demo and the job runs on schedule.
First, the layout. Are the sink, stove, and refrigerator staying where they are? Moving plumbing or gas is the single biggest cost and schedule driver. Second, the appliances. Their exact dimensions determine cabinet sizes, so pick them, or at least their specs, before cabinets are ordered.
Third, cabinets: new boxes, new doors on existing boxes, or paint. Each is a different budget and a different timeline. Fourth, countertops and backsplash. Quartz, granite, and tile all have lead times, and the backsplash should be chosen with the counter sample in hand so the colors actually work together.
Fifth, flooring and lighting. In Florida homes, tile and luxury vinyl plank handle humidity and sand better than most hardwood, and lighting should be planned while walls are open. Get these five decisions on paper, and the written estimate becomes a schedule you can trust.