5 Steps for Screening Kitchen Contractors

Are you looking to hire a kitchen contractor? While it might seem like it’s easy to hire a kitchen contractor, the truth of the matter is that it’s important to do your due diligence. Hiring the right kitchen contractor means finding a professional that suits your needs, and that’s not always easy. In this blog post, we’ve put together a series of five steps you can take when screening kitchen contractors. Together, these steps are designed to help you find the kitchen contractor for your project.

First, research online

The first step in finding the right contractor should be to search online. Try searching online for kitchen contractors near you to find a list of local contractors who can help with your kitchen project. Keep in mind, the list you find will often be ranked by various factors, such as reputation and credibility, but you don’t always want to go with the first contractor listed. You can go beyond search engine results to check out social media. Through social media, especially Facebook, you can find out more about each company, including reviews left by recent customers. These reviews can help point you in the right direction. For example, you’d probably steer clear of a kitchen contractor with several negative reviews.

Next, call them, and ask questions

Once you have a list of potential kitchen contractors in your area, the next step is to give each of them a call. When you have them on the phone, ask questions about recent projects, the scope of work they do, how many crews they have, and more. Ultimately, you want to take this time to feel out which contractors are the best fit for you. You’ll also be able to gauge things by how quickly each company replies to your messages and questions. This is a great opportunity to ask questions and get an idea of the level of customer service you can expect.

Ask for references, and check them

When you have narrowed down your search to a few kitchen contractors, you’ll want to ask for references. Most kitchen contractors will happily offer a list of references for their work, but you’ll want to take the extra step and verify those references. By speaking with some of these references, you can further screen and whittle your search down do a few contractors.

Get and compare quotes

At this point, you’ll likely be down to just a few kitchen contractors who still fit your project and preferences. Now, it’s time to go ahead and get quotes from each. When getting quotes, you’ll want to provide each kitchen contractor with the same information and try to be as detailed as possible about your project. Make sure that each contractor has a clear picture of what’s expected, and ask if they have any questions. Then, wait for the quotes to come back. Many people will think going with the cheapest quote is the best choice, but keep in mind, that’s not always the case. Carefully go over each quote to see which one is the most detailed. Often, a detailed quote considers various factors, including smaller expenses that can offset a vague quote later. While cost is important, up front quotes can change, so you’ll want to go with the one that covers the most for the best price.

Get a contract in writing

After you’ve carefully looked over all the quotes you received back, you’ll be able to make a final choice. Before you commit to any kitchen contractor, however, be sure that you will get a full contract in writing. This legal contract will protect you from drastic price changes and lengthy turnarounds. A contract will specify various aspects of your project, such as completion date, and that will help you sleep better at night. If a contractor you really liked isn’t willing to offer a written contract, then you might want to reconsider.

Hiring a kitchen contractor can be a challenge if you’ve never had to go through the process before, but if you are able to go through each of these steps one by one, then your odds of finding the perfect kitchen contractor for your project are much better. Finding the right contractor can start today when you call Bright Builders – Orange County Kitchen Remodeling today.