Custom Home Building, Remodeling and Restoration: What to Do Before Hiring Kitchen Remodeling Contractors

What-to-Do-Before-Hiring-Kitchen-Remodeling-Contractors A kitchen remodel is so much fun in the planning stages, but when it comes to hiring contractors, it’s hard to know who to pick.

Avoid the confusion by planning ahead. Follow our tips and you’ll be armed with everything you need before you hire your kitchen remodeling contractors.

Know What You Want

The first thing you should do is know your requirements. What kind of kitchen do you need? Is it going to be state-of-the-art, will it have complex fittings, or will it be more low-key functional?

Sit down beforehand and design your ideal kitchen.

Once you have your exact wishlist in mind, you’ll know how specialized your contractor needs to be.

Fix Your Budget

Next, you need to know how much money you have to spend. If you’re on a strict budget, it’ll affect how much you can spend on your contractor.

If you’re on a budget, work out how you can reduce costs without scrimping on quality. Sites like eBay offer great deals on kitchens, so you can find low-cost cabinetry and furniture, and spend more on a quality installation.

Remember, any project will need a contingency of around 10-15% of your total budget. So know the total amount you can pay, and subtract 15%. The figure you’re left with is what to work towards with any potential kitchen remodeling contractors.

Find a Reliable Contractor

Now you’re ready to choose your contractor, there are a few things to look out for.

Ask Around

Do you have a friend, family member or neighbor who had a kitchen remodel recently? Find out the contractor they used, and what they thought.

You can also check out review websites to find out other people’s experiences with their contractors.

Interview Them

First, speak to prospective kitchen remodeling contractors on the phone. When you find ones you like the sound of, arrange to meet them at your home for a more informative discussion.

At home, give your possible contractors a thorough list of what needs to be done, and ask for a reasonable quote.

Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Check Out Their Work

Have a look at a contractor’s portfolio. Often, their website or social media page will have examples of previous remodels.

Don’t stop there, though. You should ask for a list of clients you can contact, and ask them what it was like working with that contractor.

The end result may have been great, but you want to know how long the work took, and how easy (or difficult) it was to deal with that particular company.

Draw Up a Schedule

The price looks good and you’re happy the contractor’s reliable. The next thing you’ll need is to know how long it’ll take, and what you should expect along the way.

Get a Solid Contract

Before you hire your chosen contractor, you’ll need to cross the ‘T’s and dot the ‘I’s.

Read through your contract, including any small print. Find out exactly what needs to happen for your remodel to work. This includes which materials will be used, and who’ll be supplying them.

Will you need permits? If so, who’ll be responsible for getting those? And make sure your contractor has liability insurance written into the contract, in case anything goes wrong.