10 Questions You Should Ask and Answer Before Hiring a Kitchen Remodeler

By Rick Thomas | May 2, 2016

The most important part of remodeling your kitchen isn’t your choice of granite countertops or stainless steel appliances. It’s what happens before the remodel even begins. It’s finding and hiring the right contractor for the job.
Where do you start? To find answers, first you need to know the right questions to ask and know the questions the builder should be asking you. That’s right. If the builder doesn’t ask the right questions, he’s not going to be able to help you reach your true vision.
From your side:
 
  1. Ask for recommendations from friends and neighbors. What were their experiences with this builder?
  2. How does the builder represent his company? Check his website.
  3. What kind of reviews has the builder received? Sources like Angie’s List, Houzz, Home Advisor and others have legitimate reviews from real customers.
  4. What is the builder’s remodeling process and timeline?
  5. Are subcontractors people with whom you work consistently?
  6. Will there be someone assigned to my job exclusively?
  7. What’s the best way to communicate with you?  Will we have periodic meetings to discuss the status of the remodel?
  8. How is the payment schedule determined?
  9. What are the primary items in your contract that should be highlighted or emphasized?
  10. How are changes handled?
kitchen-remodeler

From the builder:
  1. How do you use your kitchen now?
  2. How would you like to use it in the future?
  3. Are you a baker? Do you consider yourself a good cook?
  4. What are the “must haves” for your new kitchen?
  5. Do you like to have multiple people cooking in the kitchen?
  6. What are your goals for your new kitchen?
  7. What do you dislike about your current kitchen?
  8. How important is storage space? How important is counter space?
  9. Do you entertain frequently?
  10. Why do you want to invest your hard-earned money into a kitchen remodel?
The best kitchen remodeler will want to get to the root of why you are undertaking this project at this time and what you expect the outcome to be. The better kitchen specialist will listen to your goals for the space and make experience-based suggestions, then help you devise a realistic budget that will be on target for your dream kitchen. He can help you find the proper value for your money. Finally, ask yourself two questions: Do you feel a sense of trust and mutual respect with the contractor? Do you think he will work until you are 100 percent satisfied and the job is done right?