HOW DO YOU INCREASE YOUR CHANCES FOR A SUCCESSFUL REMODEL AND AVOID BEING VICTIMIZED AND BECOMING A SAD STATISTIC? 

When done properly, a remodeling project can make your home more enjoyable and prove to be a valuable investment. Unfortunately, we’ve all heard horror stories about home remodeling projects that have gone bad, longer than expected installation, final bills that come in higher than the quote, shoddy workmanship, sadly are commonplace.

Plus to top it off, according to Contractors State License Board, 96% of contractors go out of business in the first few years.

We put together this checklist to help you have the best chance of success when looking for a good contractor.

LICENSE & INSURANCE QUALIFICATIONS:

You can check your contractors license number by visiting www.cslb.ca.gov you can check to see if their license is valid, check to see what classifications they’re qualified for, just because they’re a contractor does not make their qualified to work on cabinets, countertops, backsplash, or flooring.

To be qualified for cabinets, they should have a C6 license, for countertops C54 license. For all types of flooring they should have a C15 license.

Check out if they have the proper and current liability insurance, with at least $1,000,000 – $2,000,000 coverage. Request to see their Performance Bond.

Unless the contractor is going to do the work himself, you must verify that he carries Worker’s Compensation Insurance, in case one of his workers are injured at the job site. You don’t want to worry about entangling your home in a big lawsuit.

EXPERIENCE QUALIFICATIONS:

Now that you’ve verified license and insurance qualifications, you want to make sure that they have the experience needed to properly remodel your kitchen.

You can find that out by asking the following questions:

  • How long have you been in business?
  • How many kitchens have you remodeled?
  • How many satisfied clients have you helped over the years?
  • Can I see recent projects you’ve completed?
  • Can I see before and after kitchen transformations you’ve completed?

REPUTATION:

The contractor you’re working with should provide you with a reference list of satisfied clients, request to see if they’ll allow you to connect with any of their clients to hear about their experience.

You should also be able to online and check their ratings on the Better Business Bureau, Yelp, Houzz, Google+, and Facebook.

Check to see if they have earned any awards.

PHILOSOPHY:

If the contractor you’re working with is an accredited member of the BBB, they will have to, at minimum, adhere to the strict code of ethics that include: Trust, Integrity, Honestly, Safeguarding Privacy, Transparency and Reporting Violations.

In PKC’s case, not only do we adhere, but we go beyond the industry standard, as a selfishly strive to gain the lifetime value of our clients.

CONTRACT & DOCUMENTATION:

Did you read the full contract? Do you fully understand your contract? Are all promises in writing? Were you provided with diagrams, as well as instructions for each phase of the work? Description is to include the work to be done, the materials to be used and equipment to be installed, including brand names, model numbers, quantities and colors. Having specific descriptions can prevent disputes.

Does it include a 3 day right to cancel a contract as required by law? Did your contractor give you a “Notice to Owner” – a warning notice describing liens and ways to prevent them? Even if you pay your contractor, a lien can be placed on your home by unpaid laborers, subcontractors or material suppliers. A lien can result in you paying twice, or in some cases losing your home in foreclosure. Check the “Notice to Owner” for ways to protect yourself.

PROCESS

Do they have a clear process with a clear timeline to complete your remodeling project? Do they use specialized teams or a “jack-of-all-trades”?

Are measurements verified twice? So as to avoid delays during the work?

Can you be assured of no surprise price changes?

Will there be continuous communication that you can rely on, or if their cellphone is turned off, you’re out of luck?  

GUARANTEES

What type of guarantees are you offered?

At minimum, you should look for: timeline guarantee, no price changes guarantee, workmanship guarantee for at least 2 years.

If you’re ready to schedule your complimentary consultation with one of our kitchen design specialists, please feel free to give us a call at 866-482-0919, text 818-208-1854 or sign up on our website. 

Be sure to check out our specials page to see our latest offer!