• Get a minimum of 3 referrals. Talk to as many clients as possible. Listen. You will be literally married to the team you hire for a minimum of a few months. We cannot stress this enough!

• Visit the sites of their previous jobs, if possible.

• It makes sense to hire a team that they typically works on projects the same size and scope as yours.

• Find out how many years their company has been in business, ideally in your area.

• Check with your local Better Business Bureau

• Request a copy of their business license

• Request a copy of the certificate of insurance to make sure they are fully insured and bonded.

• Do they carry workman’s’ s compensation, property damage and personal liability insurance.  

• Who will be overseeing your project?  Make sure that there is a designated person on your project. This person will be responsible for overseeing the whole scope of the project. Find out how often you can expect to see them at the site and how often they will meet with you as the project progresses.

• Were their last 3 projects completed on time and on budget? If not, why?     

• Always have a contract.

GENERAL CONTRACTOR - Finding a qualified contractor is half the battle. Benefits, Pros & Cons

DIFFERENT TYPES OF GENERAL CONTRACTING FIRMS

• Large Companies: Define  15-25% of the overal job cost.  They

• Small companies -do a majority of the work themselves alongside a smaller team.  Hire out sub contractors (electrical, HVAC, stone fabricators, plumbing, and tile install..they sometimes do this themselves).  This is often charged by time and material.

SPECIFIC QUESTIONS YOU SHOULD ASK (in addition to what is list above)

• How many years have they been in business 

• Ask for copies of business license 

• Confirm that they are fully insured.   Require that they give you a copy of their certificate of insurance.  

• Will the contractor help you obtain your building permits?  Do they have connections to help expedite this process? (EXPAND ON A LIST OF NECESSARY PERMITS)

• If you plan on living through the renovation, ask them how they typically do this?  Will they leave a fridge plugged in as long as they can? And if so, does that actually make sense?  Will they clean up the site at the end of every day?  What of partition will they use for dust prevention on the rest of the site?

• Ask them what cabinetry companies they recommend (though take that as a suggestion and please still do your research)

HOW TO FIND A CONTRACTOR

• Ask family and friends

• Go to local plumbing retailers, tile shops, lighting showrooms, appliance showrooms and ask if they have recommendations.

KEYS TO A SMOOTH RELATIONSHIP

• in advance schedule weekly meetings and updates

• Spell out jog rules and expectations

• Be respectful of their time and time off.

• Get everything in writing.

• Be firm, but fair.

• Stay calm.

TIPS

• Know that your contractor cannot give you a final complete bid until you know your kitchen layout and specifications.  

• The “budgeted allowance” a contractor bids for items like Cabinetry, Lighting, and surface materials can vary greatly from what you have in mind. So you really need to know what those costs are and plus them into your overall budget. The actual cost of the cabinets, counters and lighting can can vary greatly from what the estimated cost the contractor will place in their budget for your allowance.   So we highly recommend for your budget that those numbers you get a second and third option on the overall cost of the cabinets.

• Cheapest Quote doesn’t mean the cheapest cost

• There are no miracles when it comes to construction costs. Often you get what you pay for.

• If you find the right person consider waiting for them, in 2 years having the work done right matters more

• Do your research

• Understand that changes increase cost. Be ontop of that!

  
  

KITCHEN DESIGN SHOWROOM - They have in-house designers that you will work with on the plan and will not typically charge for the drawings.  Be prepared that they will sell you specifically the lines that they carry so make sure to find one that has a largest enough variety to fit your needs and priorities.

SPECIFIC QUESTIONS YOU SHOULD ASK (in addition to what is list above)

• No matter what.  No matter how smoothly the project will run, something happens and you want to make sure that the cabinet company will work with you if a cabinet door comes in damaged or chipped.  That once they deliver the cabinets that they will come back and finalize the punchlist, adjust the doors if needed.

• Do they install their products.  If not, who do they recommend.  If the installer scratches or damages a cabinet door, who’s responsibility is it to replace?

• Do they have a touch up company that they work with to help maintain your cabinets over the years with scratches and chips

• How is the paint applied (expand on this)

• Do they work with stone fabricators?

• Will they work with the contractor in making sure all elements are covered, for example, in cabinet lighting, under cabinet lighting, flooring, dropped ceiling beams that can interfere with cabinets, window opening etc.

• When do they take their final measurements?

• Who provides the measurements?  We always recommend that are responsible for the measurements, though if changes happen on the site after those measurements.  They need to know.   They are not responsible to replace a cabinet or repair a cabinet that does not fit in the space.

• Will they tape of the kitchen layout after framing is complete, prior to ordering. (Review HVAC vents and grills to make sure they do not interfere with cabinets, ceiling speakers, windows and their casings, door casings, lighting ceiling mounted and recessed)

  
  

ARCHITECT OR INTERIOR DESIGNER - We highly recommend working with one.  It is absolutely an added cost to the project.  But even if you just work with one to help prioritize and select your materials, it will be money well spent.  If you are working with an experienced architect or designer they will know what you should avoid, where you should put your money and other areas you can save on.

SPECIFIC QUESTIONS YOU SHOULD ASK (in addition to what is list above)

• How do they charge? Hourly vs, % of overall budget

• Do they meet with the contractor and subs?

• If there is design error and the cabinets are made to the drawings, but don’t fit the space.  Who pays for the new cabinet?

  
  

LOCAL CABINET MAKER

SPECIFIC QUESTIONS YOU SHOULD ASK (in addition to what is list above)

• How paint is applied?

• How durable is the paint

• Cabinet construction

• How and where cabinets are built

• Is paint of cabinet included

• Is there a Warrenty

• Hardware used (self closing glides, hinges etc)

• Will they create the cabinet drawings and work with you on the layout, design and specific components/features of the cabinets (spice drawers, utensil holders, dish storage in drawers, fridge panels, etc)