How to hire a kitchen contractor

Americans only spend about an hour each day on meal preparation and cleanup, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports. Even so, the kitchen is the most popular room in most homes across the country.

Along with cooking and cleanup, people use the kitchen for dining, socializing, working, doing homework or even watching TV. The kitchen gets a lot of traffic every single day. Is it time for a remodel?

Why upgrade the kitchen?

Kitchens are typically the first space potential buyers look at when scouting for new homes. Even though the cost of a kitchen remodel can be pricy – Bankrate estimates that homeowners spend an average of about $21,800 on their kitchen home improvement projects – experts say it’s well worth the investment. The return is nearly 100 percent, and a beautiful, modern kitchen can increase a selling price than any other room in the house. Plus, it creates a more appealing environment for you and your family.

Start planning your kitchen remodel now.

A kitchen remodel is clearly a must for many homeowners, whether they just moved into a fixer-upper or have been in their house, condo or apartment for years.

It’s crucial that you find a kitchen contractor with the talent, expertise and worth ethic needed to get a quality job done that is within your timeframe and budget.

Visit Contractor Scan to find a kitchen contractor you like and trust. Just tell us what you want to remodel and give us the scope of the work. Our team will analyze your data to match you with a few great companies. You’ll receive free quotes from trusted local contractors. It’s fast and easy!

Once you have narrowed down the options, it’s time to hire your kitchen contractor. Here are a few steps to help smooth the process.

Check for credentials.

Thoroughly research each candidate. Make sure they hold all of the professional licenses that are required by your city and state.

Designations also are helpful and should be factored into your decision. The National Kitchen and Bath Association and the National Association of Home Builders are two professional organizations that have high standards for contractor certification. If a contractor took the rigorous steps to earn such certificates, then he or she is a likely a quality professional who is well worth your time and money.

Interview each candidate in person.

Set up face-to-face meetings with three contractors who pique your interest. You can’t get a feel for someone over the phone, email or text!

Sit down with each one and ask to see their portfolios. You should like what you see and get a feel for the contractor’s experience and talent. Make sure your personality clicks with at least one of them. It sounds silly, but the person you choose will be in your home for weeks, if not longer! Plus, you and your contractor need to have a friendly, yet professional rapport so that communication is always open. You want to feel up to speed and comfortable every step of the way.

Don’t forget the “interview” part of the interview. The National Association of the Remodeling Industry suggests that homeowners ask a lot questions when meeting with potential contractors, including:

• How long have you been in business?
• Who will be assigned as project supervisor for the job?
• Who will be working on the project? Are they employees or subcontractors?
• Does your company carry workers compensation and liability insurance?
• What is your approach to a project such as this?
• How many projects like mine have you completed in the past year?
• Are you a member of a national trade association?

Check References.

Ask for a list of references and call every single one. Not much more needs to be said on this. If their reviews are positive, great! If not, you know to pass.

Get everything in Writing.

A construction contract ensures both you and your contractor are protected. It should include the bid price, a payment schedule, a site plan, the scope of the project, a change-order clause, an express limited warranty and a dispute resolution clause, to name a few. You may want to ask an attorney to look over the contract so that nothing is overlooked. It’s best to address as many issues as possible before the project begins.

One last thing: The contract should also include a waiver of lien. It’s a very important element of a construction contract that keeps subcontractors, suppliers of materials and anyone else working on the project from putting a lien on your house should the contractor fail to pay his or her bills.

Hopefully you’re ready to find an amazing contractor and begin the journey toward a kitchen you love. Good luck!

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