HIRING YOUR TEAM
People you should consider hiring, the following if they are not doing the work on their own.
General Contractor
Architect
Interior Designer
Kitchen and Bath Designer
QUESTIONS YOU SHOULD ASK ANY POTENTIAL PROFESSIONAL
Meet a minimum of 3 referrals. We literally cannot stress this enough. Talk to everyone. Talk to all of their clients, go to their sites. Listen. You will be literally married to them for a minimum of a few months, imagine if only you could get them for your future spouse/partner!
Speak to their last clients
Visit the sites of their previous jobs, if possible.
It makes sense that they typically work on projects the same size and scope of your own.
Find out how many years their company has been in business, ideally in your area.
Copy of their business license
Fully insured. Get a copy of the certificate of insurance.
Do they carry workman’s’ s compensation, property damage and personal liability insurance.
Who will be overseeing your project? Make sure that there is a designated person on your project. This person will be responsible for overseeing the whole scope of the project. Find out how often you can expect to see them at the site and how often they will meet with you as the project progresses.
Where their last 3 projects completed on time and on budget? If not, what was the discrepancy.
Always have a contract.
GENERAL CONTRACTOR - Finding a qualified contractor is half the battle. Benefits, Pros & Cons
SPECIFIC QUESTIONS YOU SHOULD ASK (in addition to what is list above)
How many years have they been in business
Ask for copies of business license
Confirm that they are fully insured. Require that they give you a copy of their certificate of insurance.
Will the contractor help you obtain your building permits? Do they have connections to help expedite this process?
If you plan on living through the renovation, ask them how they typically do this? Will they leave a fridge plugged in as long as they can? And if so, does that actually make sense? Will they clean up the site at the end of every day? What of partition will they use for dust prevention on the rest of the site?
Ask them what cabinetry companies they recommend (though take that as a suggestion and please still do your research)
HOW TO FIND A CONTRACTOR
Ask family and friends
Go to local plumbing retailers, tile shops, lighting showrooms, appliance showrooms and ask if they have recommendations.
KEYS TO A SMOOTH RELATIONSHIP
in advance schedule weekly meetings and updates
Spell out jog rules and expectations
Be respectful of their time and time off.
Get everything in writing.
Be firm, but fair.
Stay calm.
TIPS
Know that your contractor cannot give you a final complete bid until you know your kitchen layout and specifications.
The “budgeted allowance” a contractor bids for items like Cabinetry, Lighting, and surface materials can vary greatly from what you have in mind. So you really need to know what those costs are and plus them into your overall budget. The actual cost of the cabinets, counters and lighting can can vary greatly from what the estimated cost the contractor will place in their budget for your allowance. So we highly recommend for your budget that those numbers you get a second and third option on the overall cost of the cabinets.
Cheapest Quote doesn’t mean the cheapest cost
There are no miracles when it comes to construction costs. Often you get what you pay for.
If you find the right person consider waiting for them, in 2 years having the work done right matters more
Do your research
Understand that changes increase cost. Be ontop of that!
ARCHITECT OR INTERIOR DESIGNER - We highly recommend working with one. It is absolutely an added cost to the project. But even if you just work with one to help prioritize and select your materials, it will be money well spent. If you are working with an experienced architect or designer they will know what you should avoid, where you should put your money and other areas you can save on.
SPECIFIC QUESTIONS YOU SHOULD ASK (in addition to what is list above)
How do they charge? Hourly vs, % of overall budget
Do they meet with the contractor and subs?
If there is design error and the cabinets are made to the drawings, but don’t fit the space. Who pays for the new cabinet?
How do you charge for preliminary Plans
What is the fee structure?
What drawings are included with your Construction Document
How you do charge for changes of plans
How many times are you willing to update plans
Do they work with a specific engineer?
Have they worked with your builder?
What is the timeline for their process?
How often do they intend to meet?
Will they work on interior elevations?
Will they work on the decorative Lighting plans (chandelier and sconce locations)
Will they draw in furniture into the floor plans
Could you be allowed to go to the site of past projects
KITCHEN DESIGN SHOWROOM - They have in-house designers that you will work with on the plan and will not typically charge for the drawings. Be prepared that they will sell you specifically the lines that they carry so make sure to find one that has a largest enough variety to fit your needs and priorities.
SPECIFIC QUESTIONS YOU SHOULD ASK (in addition to what is list above)
No matter what. No matter how smoothly the project will run, something happens and you want to make sure that the cabinet company will work with you if a cabinet door comes in damaged or chipped. That once they deliver the cabinets that they will come back and finalize the punchlist, adjust the doors if needed.
Do they install their products. If not, who do they recommend. If the installer scratches or damages a cabinet door, who’s responsibility is it to replace?
Do they have a touch up company that they work with to help maintain your cabinets over the years with scratches and chips
How is the paint applied (expand on this)
Do they work with stone fabricators?
Will they work with the contractor in making sure all elements are covered, for example, in cabinet lighting, under cabinet lighting, flooring, dropped ceiling beams that can interfere with cabinets, window opening etc.
When do they take their final measurements?
Who provides the measurements? We always recommend that are responsible for the measurements, though if changes happen on the site after those measurements. They need to know. They are not responsible to replace a cabinet or repair a cabinet that does not fit in the space.
Will they tape of the kitchen layout after framing is complete, prior to ordering. (Review HVAC vents and grills to make sure they do not interfere with cabinets, ceiling speakers, windows and their casings, door casings, lighting ceiling mounted and recessed)
LOCAL CABINET MAKER
SPECIFIC QUESTIONS YOU SHOULD ASK (in addition to what is list above)
How paint is applied?
How durable is the paint
Cabinet construction
How and where cabinets are built
Is paint of cabinet included
Is there a Warrenty
Hardware used (self closing glides, hinges etc)
Will they create the cabinet drawings and work with you on the layout, design and specific components/features of the cabinets (spice drawers, utensil holders, dish storage in drawers, fridge panels, etc)
CONTRACTS
Once you have established your team, you must obtain and have contracts signed by both parties. Here is what they should include:
List entire scope, materials (specifics including brand names)
Start and Completion dates
Project Timeline with actual dates
Total Cost including payment schedules
Payment Schedule
Spells out everyones responsibilities and the individuals who are responsible
Appropriate contact information: number, address, license number.
Make sure you have reviewed it completely and the everything is covered.
What they are and are not responsible for
Who is responsible of waste removal
Binding arbitration clause?
It should be spelled out what if there is a change order?
Before final payment remitted, the punchlist (specific to that professional) must be complete.
Request signed lien releases (look into this)