What should you do before starting the process of remodeling your kitchen? To help ensure that your renovation will be a success, there are some steps that you need to take and questions you need to ask.
Before hiring a contractor
Make sure they have experience in your type of project
If you want to gut an old kitchen completely, find out if the contractor has done anything like it before. It seems simple enough, but people often make this mistake, especially when working with someone new. Not only does it make things more complicated for everyone involved with the renovation, but most importantly, it can also lead to mistakes along the way!
Whether these end up being big or small issues is irrelevant – what matters is that both the contractor and the homeowner are aware of everything that needs to be done. If you can’t afford to fix problems later on, choose a company with the right experience for the job.
Make sure they have good customer service
It might seem like common sense, but it is easy to get caught up in what your contractor is capable of doing without stopping to think about how they treat their clients.
Before you sign any contract or hand over your hard-earned money, take some time to watch how your potential contractors interact with others around them – do they act professional? Do they treat you like family? If not, look elsewhere!
Ask for references
Another obvious one, especially when looking at remodeling companies – but people don’t always do it anyway. You need to see examples of their previous work, but even more importantly, you need to know that they have a good reputation in the field and with their clients.
If you don’t ask for referrals now, then when would be a better time? After all, if the word on the street is terrible, there is no point in making an appointment with them to take a look at your kitchen.
If you are worried about asking for too much information from your contractor directly, there are other ways to get this information from current or past customers as well!
Look up reviews online or ask friends and family for advice – there’s a chance that you might know someone who has worked with this person before.
Working With Kitchen Remodeling Companies
Finding a reputable contractor is step one; knowing what to expect from them during the process is step two.
Here are some things that you need to know about your potential contractors:
Are they pushy?
It’s normal for contractors to be eager to get started on your project – after all, this means more money in their pockets! However, there are ways to tell if something seems off.
If it feels like they are rushing you or forcing you to sign an agreement without giving it much thought, slow down and take your time. This can be hard when you have limited windows for renovations, but being decisive yet cautious never hurts either.
On the other hand, if they are dragging their feet, it might be a cause for concern as well – are they trying to push you away? If so, why? While some contractors are indeed that busy, if this is your first time working with them, you need to find out what’s going on.
How much can they tell you about the project?
This should be obvious enough; after all, the contractor needs to prepare for what will happen during renovation! What matters here is not necessarily how many details they give you but how willing they are to answer any of your questions and concerns.
No one knows your kitchen better than yourself – these professionals exist solely because someone decided that it needed renovating in the first place!
They should be able to give you an accurate estimate of how long it will take and what needs to be done without too much procrastination. This is something that should ideally become more clear during the initial consultation.
Are they trying to push you into making a decision right away?
Once again, contractors are usually very eager to get started on the project – but there’s a fine line between enthusiasm and straight-up desperation!
If your potential contractor is rushing you or pressuring you in any other way, slow down and make sure that everything is legit. These people need your money after all; if they can’t wait until their next paycheck, there must be another reason for this behavior.
Do they seem professional and competent?
When you’re working with a remodeling company, it’s essential to make sure that they are reputable – otherwise, there is no point in letting them into your house!
Look at their website, do their employees or partners seem knowledgeable? Do they have any awards or positive testimonials from past clients?
While this doesn’t mean that they won’t be able to take care of your project, it does mean that they already have a good reputation and know-how to interact with people. After all, the better their communication skills and work ethics are then the lesser problems can arise during the renovation process.
Are they willing to put everything in writing?
OK, so we just discussed this issue above; however, if we’re honest, there is a huge difference between discussing something and putting it in writing!
After all, these people are professionals – they have been doing this for quite some time now, so do not expect them to take you by surprise. And if that’s the case, why wouldn’t they be willing to put everything in writing?
If your potential remodeling company isn’t willing to discuss everything with you before signing a contract – no matter how necessary or unnecessary it may seem – keep looking.
What’s going to happen after work is done?
You have found an amazing contractor who seems professional, friendly, and good at what they do; suddenly, it hits you: What happens once their job is done?
Unfortunately, no one can accurately predict the future, especially not when it comes to something as significant as a kitchen renovation. However, there are some aspects that you can and should discuss with your contractor.
Will their employees be working inside your house every day? Are they expected to clean up after themselves, or will that remain your responsibility? Is work going to be done throughout the day or only during daytime hours?
All of these things might seem “obvious,” but if you take a look at all of the horror stories floating around, then you’ll see where we’re coming from here.
Do they have any references?
By now, you have probably gathered that this guide is not meant for total beginners – so why would someone ask a professional contractor about references?! It’s simple: If they don’t feel like discussing any sensitive information with you, that is a huge red flag. It means that they might not be truly trustworthy or that they’re hiding something.
After all, referencing someone is the best way to determine their real personality and work ethic. How can anyone know if they are good at what they do without knowing people who have worked with them in the past? And even if references are just names on paper, don’t forget about all of the online platforms where contractors promote themselves.
Final Thought
By now, this list should have helped you narrow down your selection to just one contractor – congratulations!
The next step is crucial so stay focused. Since there are so many aspects to keep in mind during this process, especially since home renovations can run into thousands of dollars, you must trust your contractor and do not let yourself be pushed around.
This means always asking questions and demanding clear answers; it is most likely wrong if something feels off! Kitchen remodeling is not a joke and should never be treated as such.
There are many ways to determine whether or not someone is trustworthy, but the easiest (and quickest) way to check their work ethic and professionalism is by looking at social media profiles like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Don’t forget about all of those online review websites, either!
If they’re trying to hide anything from you, they probably won’t take too kindly with investigations, so prepare for them to deny everything – this is where people tend to get trapped into bad deals, so keep your cool!
On the other hand, if they’re open about their work, you are almost certain to have some success here. After all, it’s not like they care too much about some random person online who may or may not be associated with some website. So what are you waiting for? Get out there and determine whether or not someone is trustworthy!
Thanks for the heads up that consulting a kitchen remodeling company could help you create a unique cooking space based on their expertise and your ideas. My friend wants to surprise his in-laws by showing off a dedicated kitchen when they visit. I will make sure to remind him that consulting a remodeling contractor can help him with this plan.