The fact that kitchen remodeling is a project worth the money, effort, and time make hiring a good kitchen renovation contractor a vital process of the project. Remodeling your kitchen renders your home more livable and also helps to boost the value of your home as other remodeling projects can do. Therefore, there is a need to hire a professional contractor to handle the project to your satisfaction. Below are some of the steps to follow when hiring contractors for a kitchen upgrade.
- Figure out What You Want
- Do Your Research First
- Invite Companies for Consolations
- Ask for References and Review Past Work
- Work With a Designer if Required
- Do Drawings and Complete Planning
- Create Schedule
- Pay Step by Step
- Warranty and Insurance
One can easily get carried away or overwhelmed while sourcing for ideas online. Understanding the steps that make up the process before you begin saves you from being overwhelmed. It is essential to look at the bigger picture before embarking on the journey. Below are some of the steps to follow when hiring contractors for a kitchen upgrade.
1.Figure out What You Want
You need to figure out what you want. You need to ask yourself what your current kitchen lack, or the problems you are experiencing. It might be too little space to cook effectively, too little space to store food and dishes, lack dining areas, too old appliances, or maybe the kitchen just makes you wince because it is so outdated and so ugly.
The most overwhelming task in the project is weighing out the expenses of a remodel. Therefore, it’s the one you should handle first. Remodeling a kitchen can be a major expense; therefore, the first concern is to consider your budget when deciding how big you want to go. Employ the assistance of a local real estate professional for counsel on the additional worth your endeavor will add to your home. Conduct a study on your favorite kitchen and remodeling magazines and websites for hints on budgeting.
2.Do Your Research First
Kitchen remodeling projects are investments. On point remodeling would advise you to research before you hire a contractor because hiring the right contractor makes all the difference in how well the job is going to turn out and also determine what your experience will be like throughout the remodeling process.
When hiring a contractor, don’t just give up and settle for the first one that comes your way. Follow the same process companies follow when they want to hire employees. They don’t just pick the first applicant. They scrutinize all applications and select the best candidate for the job.
First of all, you need to compile a list of kitchen renovation contractors by asking for recommendations from friends and family (ask them who they have had a good experience with), conduct online researches by visiting companies websites or social networks where you can get information and reviews about the contractors.
3.Invite Companies for Consolations
After compiling your list of contractors, the next step is to interview the contractors. Endeavor to invite at least 3 contractors at most 5 so as not to be confused when trying to make decisions. Ask them a couple of questions. You can ask them questions about how much experience they have in the work you need to be done, how long they have been in business, whether they have insurance or not, whether they are licensed according to the laws of your state, about where they get their materials from, ask them about a list of references of their past works and when they could be available to start.
Chemistry weighs a lot in the selection of a contractor because this is going to be a longstanding relationship therefore you have to trust the person you’re working with. The designer must understand your needs for lighting, storage, fixtures, and appliances. Poor communication can lead to a bad project. If you are not comfortable discussing the project cost and time frame comfortably, choose another contractor.
4.Ask for References and Review Past Work
Another thing to do when hiring a kitchen renovation contractor for upgrade is to ask the contractors about a list of references of their past works. Remodeling a kitchen can be quite expensive and tasking and the last thing you would want is to be a contractor’s first project.
You need to avoid contractors that have only a few works in their portfolio. Customer reviews can provide information. You can check customer reviews posted on the contractor’s website. Reach out to the contractors’ references and ask them about their experience with the contractor.
Ask them how they like their kitchen. Ask the contractor if you could be taken to an ongoing or recently finished project. While on-site, be sure to review blueprints, sketches, or other plans to get an idea of the approach of a contractor on the ongoing project.
5.Work With a Designer if Required
Kitchen designers are interior designers who plan out the design, layout, style, and materials needed for your kitchen remodeling project. A designer may act as the project manager. A contractor can also act as the project manager or the, ensuring that the process goes according to plan and keeping open lines of communication.
The designer may have a project manager on board to see the project even though they can function as project managers. Designers enjoy discounts due to buying advantage, therefore, hiring one might save you a few extra bucks.
6.Do Drawings and Complete Planning
You can look at several resources to help you develop actual plan drawings and blueprints for your kitchen. Hiring a kitchen designer or a contractor will save you the stress of having to draw a design to scale. They will handle all the drawing and planning.
7.Create Schedule
Make sure to create a schedule and decide the working hours, as you might prefer to be at home during the remodeling project. Average, a kitchen renovation contractor takes 6-8 weeks to renovate a moderate-sized kitchen. Depending on the scope of work they do, it is highly recommended to ask for time estimation needed from beginning till the completion of the project.
8.Pay Step by Step
After interviewing the contractors, evaluating their team strength, and accessing their appearance. Ask the contractor to provide a quote for the project. The quote must include the cost of materials required for the kitchen remodeling as well as the price for the estimated number of labor hours.
A contractor’s payment terms are dependent on the scope of work that is done. Generally, a contractor might demand an initial deposit of around 30-50% of the total budget. We would suggest that you should only give a significant portion of the money when the project is completed and all the details are satisfactory. However, make sure to deliberate on the terms of payment, before starting the work to avoid any disputes or delay later on.
9.Warranty and Insurance from Kitchen Renovation Contractor
The final step to take when hiring a kitchen renovation contractor is to request the contractor’s insurance card. The contractor should have insurance policies that protect them against any liability if something goes wrong. The insurance should cover all subcontractors or employees who are handling the remodeling project.
On point remodeling would advise you to confirm that the insurance policy is valid by checking with the insurance company. Also, request for information about warranties covering materials and workmanship. This should be in the form of a written agreement.
Conclusion
Hiring the right contractor makes all the difference in how well the job is going to turn out and also determine what your experience will be like throughout the remodeling process. Remodeling your kitchen renders your home more livable therefore you don’t want it to be handled by amateurs.
Hiring a good contractor saves you from the stress of having to plan, design, hire subcontractors, purchase materials, supervise the project, and more. When hiring a contractor, you need to ensure that the is licensed, insured, and offers a warranty. Make sure to request that the contractor drafts a contract that states the timeline, materials, appliances, and labor needed to complete the kitchen.
