Finding the right contractor (who know their stuff) to fix, remodel or otherwise renovate your kitchen may prove to be a difficult task. The fact is in most large cities across the United States there are literally hundreds of different kitchen contractors to choose from!
Most are great companies that have been around for decades or even two or three generations. But there are also some with less experience and less time in the remodeling industry. Nevertheless it is your job to research them and ask all the right questions before hiring one. The objective is to have as little headaches as possible and end up with a perfect kitchen.
We’ve written this article to help you navigate through the research process for hiring and choosing the right kitchen contractor, and also to help you get on the right track. Remodeling any room in the house can quickly become overwhelming. Not if you do enough planning up front.
Let’s dive in shall we?
Consult referrals
Truth be told, one of the best ways to know how much a person can offer is by asking people who have an idea of what you’re looking to get from such a person. You can ask around from your neighbors, friends or relatives who might have consulted a contractor for their kitchen remodeling. Go further to know about how the contractor responded to the challenges experienced, and whether or not you can request for their services again.
Request for credentials
A few recommendations you’ve gotten from referrals might not just be enough, there may still be a need for you to press further by carrying out your own research to know about the contractor’s qualifications and how much knowledge he’s been able to acquire over the years. This can either be achieved either via phone calls or checking them out via their websites. Also, confirm that the contractor has acquired the necessary licenses required to practice in the locality you reside, or is a registered member of the known associations like the National Association of Homebuilders, also known as NAHB, National Association of the Remodeling industry, popularly referred to as NARI.
Interview the contractors
At this point, I believe your long list would have been narrowed down based on your research and consultations. Now, the next thing is to interview the ones that have passed through the first two stages successfully. You do not need to interview a large number of people. You could have three contractors and choose the best that suits you the most. How they respond to your questions may also influence your decision making. Also, check out for the contractor who doesn’t do all the talking, this category of contractors always turn out to be the best because they take your opinions and suggestions as important as theirs too.
Check their past jobs
Once you’ve been able to select your contractor, request for a reference; that is, a proof from one of his previously done jobs to ascertain for sure that you’re getting the best for your kitchen.
Put it on paper
One of the mistakes most homeowners make is that they get carried away with their contractors to the extent that they forget to document every file they have on them. Even though you’ve been able to get hold of a professional contractor for your kitchen remodeling, it’s imperative that you document your agreement, transactions, and plans that you have made together. This will not only help in the future to have a guide but also make you accountable.
