Kitchen remodeling or renovation is an expensive and complex project that most of homeowners like to outsource to contractors. Working with a trusted professional guarantees that your project will run smoothly and will be finished successfully. The right contractor will complete the job on time and within the budget, whereas the wrong kind of contractor can do just the opposite.
TrustedPros.ca offers a number of free tools and services for homeowners to ascertain the skill level and professionalism of the contrators they are considering to hire. As kitchen renovations are often sensitive and urgent - you have no place to cook until the reno is complete - make sure you utilize all available help before your sign up with a kitchen renovation contractor.
Check the contractor profiles for insurance info
They should have liability insurance to protect you from and property damage your kitchen sustains during the remodeling process. You can call the insurance company of the contractor to ensure the insurance policy is up to date. You can also request to have your name placed on the insurance certificate so you are notified if the contractor cancels their insurance or the policy lapses during your kitchen project.
The contractor should have worker's compensation insurance to protect you from being responsible for any injury the contractor may sustain while working on your kitchen. Ask the contractor for insurance documents if they don't have this info on their profile.
Check and verify the contractor's license
This will assist you in the instance that faulty work is performed on your kitchen remodeling or renovation project. If the contractor requires a permit to work on your kitchen, ensure he gets the required permit before beginning work on your kitchen. You can verify the contractor's license by doing a web search on licensing and registration in your state. For your convenience, TrustedPros has compiled a list of licensing requirements for provincial contractors, which you should consult before hiring a contractor.
Choose two to three contractor's to get quotes from. You will see a different estimate price from each one and this can help you control the kitchen remodeling or renovation cost. Remember; never choose a contractor just because he has the lowest price. Choose your contractor based on his reputation, work references, and past work samples.
Check and verify the contractor's references
Ask each contractor for references. Ask for the phone numbers of the references so you can call and verify the contractor's work. Ask the references if they would use the contractor again, if the contractor stayed on schedule and within the budget, if the contractor honored their warranties, and if there was anything they did not like about the contractor.
When hiring contractors on TrustedPros, you can simply look at their customer ratings and TrustScore. TrustScore is an advanced rating system that evaluates contractors against 15 stringent criteria, including authenticity of reviews, employee and supplier complaints, time in business, and more. It gives a more accurate picture of the contractor's credibility. You should also read the contractors' customer reviews and see if they have completed similar project in the past.
Make sure you get all estimates and warranties in writing
This will ensure no hidden costs are applied during the project, and avoid any disputes in the future. This will ensure what the contractor puts under warranty and how long the warranty is in effect for. Lastly, you can also go through the TrustedPros Hiring Guide to make sure that you hire the best kitchen renovation contractor the first time.
Just follow these basic steps and you will choose the perfect contractor for your kitchen remodeling or renovation project. You will have your beautiful dream kitchen that will make your neighbor's green with envy.
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