Having the inspiration to recreate your kitchen and bath is the first step on what can be a long journey to your dream home. While you may have the creativity and motivation to get the ball rolling, chances are you won’t have the construction background needed to get the job done entirely on your own.
This is a scenario where a kitchen and bath remodeling contractor comes into play. While it may seem daunting to go through the process of picking someone to redo your interior for you, the benefits of hiring on a contractor are vast. Especially if your remodel includes heavy lifting and restructuring of walls, you’re going to want a professional in there to do the job and keep your home and family safe throughout the home transformation.
Just like any type of contract work, it’s important to step back and think about what actually needs to be done before you hire someone on. Most likely, you’ll be investing quite a bit of time and finances into this project, so you want to make sure you have the right person on the job. Here are a few tips for when it comes to choosing a kitchen and bathroom remodeling contractor to make sure the job gets done well the first time around.
Do your research
Before you hire, make sure you’ve looked into a contractor’s company record. Whether he or she is an independent hire or working with a company, you’re going to want to make sure you take the time to verify the status of their license and legitimacy of their place of employment. While it’s sad to consider, if you don’t look into these very important facts, you may find yourself out of a lot of money without much to show. A great contractor will be more than willing to back up their experience with their educational and professional achievements for potential clients.
Don’t be shy when it comes to questions
While you might feel out of your element when it comes to the specifics of the remodeling process, never be afraid to ask questions you have before you hire someone on for the job. Even if it seems insignificant at the time, you need to be able to communicate freely and easily with the person who will be in charge of major changes in your home. Use questions before hire as a great way to feel out your contractor’s ability to communicate with clientele on a variety of topics.
Be sure of the features you aren’t willing to negotiate on
Hiring a contractor for a remodel is a bit of a test of will as well. Every professional is going to walk into a project with some ideas of their own. If there are certain features you want included in the remodel such as granite countertops or stainless steel appliances, it’s important to state those facts up front and with confidence. While you can learn a lot by keeping an open mind when it comes to a contractor’s initial thoughts, if those granite countertops are a must for your remodel, make sure you stick to the plan you’ve fallen in love with! A great contractor will be happy to work with you on those important features.
Be clear about your budget
Similarly, it’s essential that you are clear about your budget limitations well before hiring on a professional. If both you and your potential contractor understand your financial boundaries up front, there is less likely to be a problem down the road. In the same vein of thought, you shouldn’t hesitate to tell a potential contractor where you prefer to invest the majority of your money. If you want to repaint cabinets instead of replacing so that you have more to spend towards stunning granite countertops, your potential contractor should be aware of this up front. Being on the same page financially is going to ensure that your remodel doesn’t break the bank and remains stress free throughout.
Talk to previous clients
Even if you’re on the shy side of life, make sure to be bold enough to ask previous clients what they thought of this particular contractor’s work. While a contractor may market his or herself well, talking to people who have worked directly with them is a must when it comes to production accuracy. Seeing the final results in other homes is a great way to gauge what your own results could look like.
Make a plan for the unexpected
While hiring a contractor is extremely beneficial when it comes to the logistics of remodeling, like so many things in life, it’s important to expect the unexpected. When choosing a contractor for a kitchen and bath remodel, make sure to take mishaps, setbacks and adjusted timelines into consideration. If you understand the need to be flexible from the beginning, the remodeling adventure you have decided to take will be that much more enjoyable for everyone involved!