Determining your budget upfront provides valuable guidance to the designer in determining what can and can’t be done, but it also allows the homeowner to choose the contractor who can deliver the highest quality job within their budget. Avoid the temptation to choose the least expensive contractor. Instead, tailor the scope and details of the remodel to fit your budget, and then choose the best contractor.
When soliciting bids, communicate your vision to the designer. Show them drawings you’ve made and pictures of fixtures and products you like. By starting communication early, you can shorten the design process and make it easier for the designer to deliver on your dream.
No two contractors are going to bid a kitchen remodel the same way. So when comparing the bids of two different contractors, you shouldn’t go by price alone. “The most important thing homeowners are concerned about is quality of workmanship,” says John Lupo, owner of Kitchen Experts of California in Danville. “After that is budget and timing—most people have families and kids and don’t want to be out of their kitchen for a long time.
“If someone offers you a high quality, custom design that can be installed in two weeks for $30,000, someone else might give you a better price, but it won’t be the better deal,” continues Mr. Lupo. He says it’s important to compare apples to apples and not compare custom bids with those using national suppliers. “There’s nothing wrong with multiple bids, but if someone can deliver the quality you want in the time frame you want and for what you’re willing to spend, there really isn’t a need for more bids.”
A disturbing trend Mr. Lupo sees in the kitchen remodeling business is the number of companies that are folding due to economic pressure. Homeowners should check the stability of companies before they invest money in a remodel. “They need to ensure their contractor will be around to complete the job.”
