Doylestown Kitchen Contractors
Doylestown Kitchen Contractors
Doylestown Kitchen Contractors
So you have decided it is time to bring in a professional to renovate your kitchen. This is an exciting and important decision, but one that can bring a lot of stress as well. Making permanent and costly changes to your house is a big undertaking, but with some well thought out planning, the process can be a lot easier. Try to avoid an emotional decision and be prepared to take a step back and look at all the information you will have gathered. All the time you take in the beginning in preparation will help your project run more smoothly. One indispensable asset to your renovation project will be finding a good, reputable kitchen contractor. The process can be less daunting if you follow easy step-by-step directions.
Steps to finding a good contractor:
1.) Check to make sure that they have a contractor's license.
2.) Get two or more references.
3.) Ask how long they have been in business.
4.) Get at least three total bids for the job to do a comparison.
5.) Find a contractor that will give you pricing for small jobs over the phone.
6.) Get flat rate estimates so you know the total you will pay beforehand.
7.) Ask if they do free in-home consultations.
Put on your Sherlock Holmes hat, you're going to do some sleuthing! You are going to want to find honest referrals and ask some questions. The best place to start asking about contractors is your family and friends. Other good sources of referrals include other contractors, real estate agents and your local designers or architects. You may even ask for a material supplier and check to see which contractor is in good standing. Your city may even be able to provide a list of recommended contractors who are familiar with the local codes in your area. When asking for referrals, be sure to check the type of job the contractor accomplished. Also, determine if the contractor specializes in residential or commercial work.
Some good questions to ask your referral:
Were you happy with the quality provided by the contractor? Everybody has their own ideas of quality, so you should to take a look at your referral's completed project and judge for yourself. Pay attention to workmanship, painted areas around doors, windows and trim, quality of materials, fine details like moldings and trim work and overall appearance.
Did the contractor protect surfaces and areas? For exteriors this includes concrete, roofing and plantings. For interiors, moving and protecting furniture is a major concern but don't forget about the flooring. Contractors who are careless and sloppy with one customer will probably be that way with all customers. If you are left to clean up after your contractor this will cost you more time and money and frustration.
Were they courteous and polite? This is a very important consideration and addresses the attitude and behavior of the contractor and his crew. They will be working closely with you and will be in your house and may be around your family. Ask the referral's overall impression and if they say no, do not go any further, you should avoid working with this person.
Was the contractor on budget? Find out if the contractor had any cost overruns due to his mismanagement or errors and how he dealt with them. A professional contractor will have a well-formed plan and keep to schedule barring any outside issues beyond his or her control. If errors are made on their behalf, they should be responsible for fixing the problems at their cost.
Were they professional? This is the key question to ask. Professional contractors will be patient when dealing with problems or issues. They will problem-solve and find a solution that will work. They manage their crew effectively and address any client concerns. They will communicate with their crew and with their clients effortlessly and answer all questions.
Now it's time to do some work and start interviewing your prospective candidates. Give yourself some time and be patient. Good contractors have long days and busy schedules, but should be available to make an appointment with you for your first interview. Just as you would do your homework when choosing a new car or buying a new house, a little research goes a long way. Avoid just picking out a name from a big phone book ad. Time spent talking to different contractors before picking one for your job will save you many headaches later on. The old adage of "let the buyer beware" still rings true. Here are questions to ask to get you out of the gate quickly.
WHO WILL BE MANAGING THE RENOVATION? Confirm who will manage your project from start to finish. You don't want to find out that your contractor has sub-contracted the work and will not be actively involved on a daily basis. If your contractor has a designated employee who will be the manager, make sure you make an appointment to meet him or her. Confirm that the designated manager will be fully capable to handle all aspects of the job and able to execute important decisions. Finally, confirm how you will communicate with the project manager and how often. If you want to be involved in the daily progress of your project, make sure your contractor will be open to your communication style.
WHO IS IN CHARGE OF THE PROJECT'S DESIGN? Find out if your contractor will also design your space or if they have a designer with whom they work. There are contractors who will do your work, but do not give any design advice. They will just install the materials you have chosen. If you are apprehensive about choosing a design for your project because you do not know where to start or what materials to pick, then hire a designer if your contractor does not work with one. The best kitchen contractors work closely with reputable designers, cabinet manufacturers and granite and tile suppliers. The best scenario would be to work with a contractor-designer team to ensure all aspects of your kitchen renovation will be taken care of, leaving less stress for you.
WILL THERE BE A SIGNED CONTRACT AND PAYMENT SCHEDULE? Knowing this protects you and allows you to plan your monetary outlay ahead of time. If your contractor decides to quit your job or leave town, at least with a payment schedule you will not have paid all your costs ahead of time. It is a hard fact to swallow, but contractors have been known to stop their jobs due to poor financial management, employee problems and overlapping project schedules. Having a good referral and doing research should keep this from happening to you.
WHAT IS THEIR SAFETY AND CLEAN UP POLICY? Safety: Accidents can happen with almost any home improvement project. So ask your prospective candidate what steps he or she will take to prevent injuries and property damage. Again, if a contractor is good at his work he or she will be able to answer this question with ease.
Clean Up: Ask the contractor how he or she intends to leave the work area at the end of each working day and at completion. You don't want to be cleaning up after a contractor for hours after they've left your home. Inquire about dumpsters, daily garbage removal and clean-up areas.
WHAT IS AN AVERAGE TIMELINE FOR THE PROJECT? Know up front the estimated time it will take to do the renovation from start to finish. The majority of projects go beyond their due dates due to many factors, which can include: delays in material or product delivery, damaged products, issues with sub-contractors like plumbers, electricians, roofers, and equipment issues. The rule of thumb is to add 30% extra to your estimated time line to cover unforeseeable delays.
HOW DO THEY PLAN TO PREPARE THE RENOVATION AREA? Proper prep work is the key to a well conducted job. Make sure your contractor has a clear plan for accessing dumpsters, bringing in materials and equipment, setting up work stations and protecting furniture, entryways and floors.
HAVE THEY HAD ANY COMPLAINTS AGAINST THEM? Even good contractors can have disgruntled customers, for whatever reason. No business has zero complaints. Find out ahead of time if there are any pending issues you should know about and if they can explain them. During your construction project you don't want to be surprised from another source that your contractor has had complaints or is actively battling a customer issue.
DO THEY INCLUDE A WARRANTY? How will you be protected after the contractor finishes your renovation project? You can have issues with defective materials, leaky faucets, uneven doors, poor connections etc. A professional and ethical contractor will provide a straightforward warranty for service before he even starts demolition or drives a nail. A warranty should be good for one year after the project is completed and your last payment. This warranty should cover against material defects and workmanship errors.
Once you have gathered information and have narrowed your search to about 3-4 contractors, invite the contractors to look at the job and ask for a quote in writing. In the quote also ask them to specify the time it will take to complete the job. It is stressful to try and live in a house that is covered with protective material and is full of construction equipment and workers. Make sure all proposed contractors are quoting on the same specifications for your project so comparisons will be accurate.
When you decide on the contractor you will be working with have him or her execute a contract specifying the work to be done, total cost, payment schedule, start date, estimated completion date and warranties. Make sure the contract includes the brand and specifications of all materials, appliances, paints, etc. The contract should specify that the contractor is responsible for cleanup and the removal of all debris, dangerous equipment or electrical gear after every working day, especially if your family will have access to the work space during off hours. Have your contractor clearly state the process for dealing with any design changes you may want during the kitchen renovation period.
There are a couple of key qualifications that set a professional apart from the rest. The first is insurance. Be sure that the prospective contractor you are considering is fully insured, having both workers' compensation and liability insurance. Your selected contractor should be able to provide you with a copy of his or her insurance policy. The second is good standing with the Better Business Bureau. You can contact them by phone or go straight to their website: www.bbb.org. Here you can find out if there are any complaints filed against your candidate. Another source for investigation that has popped up in the recent years is the website called Angie's List at www.AngiesList.com. Here you can see what others have to say about this person locally. If a contractor has good reviews on Angie's List then it is a good bet they will do good work for you too.
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