You and your contractor will ultimately share “an extended, very involved relationship,” says Scott Westby, owner of Main Street Kitchens in Walnut Creek. If you have a good rapport, not only will the remodeling experience be more pleasant, you might actually “have some fun with the project,” he says.
When deciding which contractor to hire, Mr. Westby advises to compare quotes and dig into details. In particular, determine the exact scope of the project. “There are all sorts of possibilities for conflicts when you hire a designer to design the project, a cabinetmaker to build the cabinet and a contractor to put them in,” he says. “If something doesn’t fit, whose fault is it?”
Design/build firms, which provide both contracting and design services, are gaining popularity. “When you have one place to go, it makes for smoother relationships and harmonious resolutions to problems,” says Mr. Westby. “A design/builder gets to take credit for a great job, but if something goes wrong, it’s their responsibility as well.”
Mr. Westby encourages people to “do their due diligence” by confirming the licensing of any contractor they’re considering. Equally important, he says, is to ask for recent customer contacts. “Talk to them and see what their experience was like. If possible, look at an existing job to see how it’s being managed and maintained.”
