Questions to Ask When Hiring a Remodel Contractor

My hubby and I have been doing some easy updates on the house over the years that we have lived here. One of the things that I really want to do is remodel the kitchen. It is not designed very well and even though it has a lot of space, much of it is wasted. My best friend lives in LA and she just had her kitchen remodeled so I called her for some tips and questions to ask when hiring a remodel contractor. She used a company at Remodel Ontario CA and she shared some tips with me that she used when she hired them.

Here are 6 questions to ask when hiring a remodel contractor:

* Ask questions regarding the Bid: Is the bid an estimate or a fixed amount? If it is an estimate, how much of an increase in the bid amount can you expect from other expenses. Make sure that the bid reflects all of the work that they will be doing for you and that you completely understand it.

*Who will be running the Job? Is your contractor going to be there on a daily basis or will the job be subbed out to others? Ask about who will be in the home at a given time and if you are expected to be there or are they expecting keys so they can come and go as needed.

* Ask About licensing and referrals: Don’t be afraid to ask where they are licensed and for the number. Make sure to look them up on the state licensing board website for issues. Ask for referrals and go and talk to them. Ask to see the job they completed for them, if possible.

* Ask about building permits: You want to know who is in charge of getting the permit and make sure that it is taken out for your remodel, if it is required for your job.

* Is there a Guarantee? Does the company offer a guarantee on their work? If so, what is covered and how does it work.

* How much is your down payment? How does the down payment system work. Where in your remodel will more payment s be needed and what are the amounts? Try and nail down as much information as possible.

Hiring a remodel contractor can be a scary prospect, but it does not have to be if you know the right questions to ask. I am going to use these tips as a guideline to open the conversation about our specific job.