Strategies to consider, before you turn your home into a full-blown construction zone.
Life is full of challenges. Believe it or not, remodeling your kitchen has the potential to be the most difficult thing you will ever go through…. That is if you let it. This is your plan on how to avoid the drama.
How to choose the right kitchen remodeling professionals for your job? Go with your gut!
Please, please, please take this advice when it comes to picking the right professionals to contract for your project. Ultimately, let your gut help you make the decision on what is best for you. It is all too common in the kitchen remodeling industry for the homeowner to decide to work with a company that has cheapest price, only to realize too late, that the great pricing did not exactly get them what they thought they were paying for.
1. Do your diligence: Always plan on getting at least two to three kitchen remodeling proposals before making your decision.
2. Take a closer look: Review a company’s portfolio of work and read their customer reviews.
3. Communication is key: Choose a kitchen remodeling company that you communicate well with. You will be spending a lot of time with them.
Know the basics of kitchen remodeling.
These steps will make your life so much more manageable during your kitchen remodeling project.
1. Do not settle: Plan on working with a kitchen remodeling company that offers a great warranty or guarantee that they will provide you with exactly what you paid for.
2. Submit your remodeling plans: For most remodeling projects and new home builds, there will need to be plans drawn up by an architect, outlining the proposed constructions layout. These will be submitted to the city for approval prior to work beginning.
3. Hire a General Contractor: The modern homeowner has figured out that there is a lot of money to be saved by hiring individual trades (cabinetry, countertops, flooring, appliances etc.) separately from a General Contractor. This is absolutely true, and you should absolutely do this and save a lot of money. However, a general contractor is needed to manage and schedule all the trades. They are there for you to lean on throughout the remodel process.
4. Hire a Kitchen Designer: Even if it’s just for an hour or two, this splurge will pay off in a big way. There is a reason why interior designers make a good living; they are great at what they do. The endless color, textures and materials involved with all the moving parts of your kitchen can be too overwhelming. Leave it to a professional to come up with a plan that will bring your vision to life, cohesively.
“So… when can I stop washing dishes in the laundry room sink?”
When you have done all your homework and picked the right kitchen remodeling professional for your project, at some point all that’s left to do is stand back let them do their jobs.
1. Be respectful: How you handle yourself and the remodeling professionals throughout this process will largely determine how the process will go, and how the project will turn out.
2. Lean on your general contractor: Request updates, timeframes, plans and progress reports on your kitchen. That is what you are paying them for, so you don’t have to be on top of every detail. It is hard letting go!
3. Think big picture: Try not to over analyze each aspect of the project as things are getting installed. Try to stay focused on the final reveal.
4. We have your back: No project goes without at least one speed bump or hang up, don’t panic! Work together through these issues with your professionals.
5. Out of sight, out of mind: Take your family for a staycation or real vacation to get away from the mess.
“Ok, so the kitchen remodel looks great, but can you guys please get out of my house now!”
A kitchen remodel process can be long and stressful. As things start to wind down and tradesmen start to finish their tasks, don’t let the glee of finally having your kitchen back cloud your vision. There are still items that may need to be addressed.
1. When and where? Ask all your kitchen contractors to perform walkthroughs with each of the contracted tradesmen prior to moving back in and make yourself available.
2. Triple check: Make sure that all the punch list items created at the walkthrough are completed to your satisfaction prior to accepting the work as complete.
3. Pull out the iPhone: Take pictures of the condition of all contracted kitchen areas before moving back into your home.
4. Cleanliness is godliness: Hire a cleaner for the house before you move back in. There is worse than moving back into your house with a brand new, but dusty kitchen.
The bottom line is….
Choose the right professionals who fulfill all your needs, and not just your budgetary needs. Use your judgement, come up with a plan and go with your gut. This is supposed to be fun! Choose people to work with that make you feel happy and comfortable. Let the professionals get to work, sit back and enjoy watching your dream kitchen come to life. Please check out our kitchen cabinets in Seattle, WA
