You've decided at last to commit to that long-delayed kitchen remodel. As you
stand in the middle of your current kitchen and survey it the thought occurs to
you that you don't know the first thing about how to begin a kitchen remodel.
This is a very good time to call in the help of professionals.
Broadly, there are two segments of a kitchen remodel which you might want to
appoint help for: design and planning and the actual construction phase. Many
remodeling firms will handle both aspects of your kitchen remodel, with in-house
designers and a roster of skilled professionals such as plumbers, electricians,
floor layers and cabinet makers to call on. Or you can subcontract all the
services out yourself, hiring a designer or decorator for the first phase, and
finding your own contractor for the final phase of the kitchen remodel. Some
people prefer the convenience of only dealing with one company, but others
prefer a hands-on approach and don't mind the legwork and research it takes to
hire many separate workers.
One of the best ways to find a designer is word of mouth. Ask around. Ask your
friends and family whose remodeling jobs you've admired. The design of a kitchen
remodel project is a process, with the designer needing to be aware of the
client's tastes as well as how they generally use the space. A good starting
point is to identify in general terms what sort of design you think you might
like. To start with, look through magazines and tear out photos you like, and
then look for a designer whose tastes match your ideas. If a designer
specializes in contemporary spaces and you live in an historic home, it is not
going to be a good match for your kitchen remodel design. Another thing you can
do is do searches on the internet. Many sites have lists of local designers they
work with.
Once you've found a designer and decided on a plan for you kitchen remodel, it's
time to locate a contractor. A convenient place to start is with your
designer-inquire if she works with anyone regularly, or can make a
recommendation. If not, internet research is a good place to start. Many a
website maintains lists of kitchen remodel contractors. Be sure to check
references and see an example of your chosen contractor's work, if possible.
Check the local site of the Better Business Bureau to make sure your contractor
has no complaints against him. One safe way to proceed is to go through a home
improvement chain store. They work with a wide variety of contractors and cannot
afford to associate with inferior professionals. It's always a good idea to
protect yourself, though, and check references and ask to see examples no matter
who you are working with.
Follow a few simple principles and you'll find the process of hiring people to
help you with your kitchen remodel easy and satisfying. And before you know it,
you'll be surveying your brand-new, remodeled kitchen!
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