The investment involved in a major upgrade of kitchen and bathrooms enough to make an average homeowner blench. But it is well worth it. Remodeling a bathroom or kitchen can increase the market of your home by about as much as you put into it.
If you do choose to upgrade kitchen and bathrooms, you must get the right professionals to do it. Any type of major upgrade in those rooms tends to be disruptive. But the right contractor can make it as easy and pleasant as possible. The wrong one can make it a living hell, and expensive besides, more so if you try to do it yourself. Here is how to choose a contractor to upgrade kitchen and bathrooms.
Get quotes
The first thing you need to do is to get quotes from several remodeling specialists in your area. Do not go for the first quote you get, as you are talking about a lot of money. The more quotes you get, the better.
You might notice that one or two of these quotes are much lower than the others are. While this is not automatically a bad thing, you should tread warily. Often, quotes that seem to be good to be true are. Read on to find out one way or the other.
See if they specialize
You can learn a lot about a contractor from the website. Even if you walk into the showroom of a local outfit to ask for a quote, they should have a website.
See if you can find if the contractor specializes in doing kitchens or bathroom remodeling. It is a good indication if they do, although general contracting is also fine. The thing is, general contractors do not usually offer free design for remodels. So you must come up with your own or have an interior designer do it for you.
Remodeling companies specializing in bathrooms and kitchens do typically offer free design services. They have a unique take on how to do efficient remodeling. This is important, because general contractors usually do new construction, while remodelers deal with existing structures. General contractors can do remodeling work. But probably not as well as remodelers can, and their quotes may not be as accurate as those that come from companies that specialize in remodeling.
Check if they are authorized distributors
In most cases, general contractors only provide labor, and get their materials from their suppliers. While they can offer quotes that include materials, they do not get the same prices for materials as an authorized distributor does. Some remodeling companies are authorized to sell the materials they need for a job, as well as sell to general contractors. They get these products at a significant discount from the manufacturers. So, they can offer them to their direct clients at a lower cost.
Check for quick turnaround
Kitchen and bathroom remodelers understand that a remodeling project is disruptive. Both rooms are essential for the daily life of people in the home. So, it is important that they move as fast as possible once they get started. You need a company with a reputation for a quick turnaround with their products and services.
If you do not consider this from the first, you might find yourself in the middle of a protracted project that is wreaking havoc with your life. You can usually find this out by checking the reviews about the ability of a company to complete a project on time.
Cabinetland, for example, carries some of the best brands in cabinetry certified by the Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association (KCMA). Since it is an authorized distributor of brands such as Schrock, J&K, Aline, and Forevermark, it has a quick turnaround for the cabinets you choose at typically lower costs. The reviews on its site confirm this amply.
That said, you need to keep your schedule a bit flexible, as no remodeling contractor can anticipate all issues that may come up to cause delays in project completion. This could be anything from a problem with termites to you changing your mind about something in the middle of a project.
You can keep your expectations realistic by considering the usual time it takes to complete each phase of a remodeling project.
These general guidelines can apply to both kitchen and bathroom upgrades
Design phase – Two days to one week, mostly depending on how fast the client approves the final design and quote
Demolition phase – Up to three days, depending on how much of the room’s existing structure must go as well as where it is relative to the outside, as this affects time it takes to cart away the debris
Rough work phase – Up to four days, depending on the extent of the changes to the plumbing and electrical wiring
Installation phase – Up to two weeks, depending on the size of the project
Finishing phase – Up to two days, as this includes installing fixtures and closing the walls after inspection
Provided nothing major comes up, it should only take a maximum of four weeks for a remodeling company to complete any type of kitchen or bathroom upgrade. A general contractor might take a bit longer than that. In either case, you should arrange for a temporary kitchen or bathroom accommodations before starting the project.
Conclusion
Despite the trouble and money involved, it is generally a good idea to upgrade kitchen and bathrooms when you have a chance to do so. Just make sure you choose the right contractor to do it for you. The tips above should help with that.
Cabinet Land Kitchen and Beyond is a local remodeling company with a showroom located in Schaumburg, Illinois. We specialize in kitchen and bathroom remodeling in the Illinois area including Chicago, Schaumburg, Arlington Height, Des Plaines, Hoffman Estate, and Elk Grove Village area, from where we are within easy reach.
We offer free consultation services and quotes, so you can have the benefit of our expertise without spending a dime. And we carry only the top cabinet brands, including Schrock, Fabuwood, J and K Cabinets, Forevermark, and Aline, at prices up to 50% lower than big box stores. Our turnaround is none too shabby, either, compared to our competitors such as Cabinets To Go, Advance Cabinets and Handsome Cabinets.
Visit us today to see what we have to offer. We service Chicago land and have the expertise and resources to complete virtually any type of kitchen cabinets – ON TIME and ON BUDGET with top quality craftsmanship for all your kitchen upgrade needs.
