The best season for remodeling your kitchen
One of the most troubling questions for homeowners looking to remodel their kitchens is when they should do their remodeling. Generally speaking, the best time of year to remodel your home is the summertime. If you remodel your home during the summer, you can spend a lot more time outdoors with your family and you won't be as inconvenienced by a full kitchen remodel, for example. Instead, you can just barbeque outside. Also, if you remodel during the summer, then you can leave windows and doors open so that paint can dry more quickly and so that you can get rid of fumes faster.
However, there are downsides to remodeling your kitchen during the summer. The summertime is when most people remodel their homes, so you will probably have to wait for different subcontractors such as plumbers and cabinet makers, since they are also most busy during the summer. If you can wait, then you might want to consider having your remodeling done in the fall or the late spring so that you can avoid the huge rush that occurs during the summer.
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Here are some tips to help you find the right contractor to make your kitchen remodeling even easier:
1. Contact your state's Department of Commerce
Many states' Department of Commerce is the entity that actually licenses any remodelers, any roofers, any residential home builders, or the installers of manufactured homes. Most states requires that all of these builders and contractors actually have an official license in order to do business within the state.
It is important to hire a licensed contractor. Contractors in many states are required to have a Contractor's Recovery Fund, which is set up in order to protect the consumer. If you end up hiring an unlicensed contractor, then you won't have any recourse to this fund. Contact your state's Department of Commerce to ask about their rules and regulations for contractors, and any protection that they have put in place for consumers.
2. Ask the contractor questions
Here are some important questions to ask your contractor, other than about bids:
If the contractor only gives you a P.O. Box for the address, ask for another address.
Make sure that you get a local phone number where you can reach the contractor during regular business hours.
Ask for proof of licenses. Also ask for proof of insurance. Ask for hard copies.
Ask for references. Then follow up on those references.
3. Other questions that you need to ask.
Estimates
ask if a contractor offers free estimates.
try to get at least three different estimates
make sure that you qualify the contractor when you ask about an estimate. Ask about liability insurance, workman's compensation, and a license. If they say no to any of these, you don't even need to continue with the estimate.
take notes with each contractor that you talk to. Ask questions and ask for clarification. Make your goals and your plans clear.
Ask for the estimate in writing. It must be in writing. If the contractor has made any verbal statements of promises, make sure that they are in the estimate. Make sure that it is a detailed estimate. Once again, don't be afraid to ask questions. You need to be perfectly clear about absolute everything.
don't rush the decision. Look at all of the different implications. You might be tempted just to go with the lowest price, but also look at the quality that the contractor is offering. Compare the quality of the job with the cost and then make your decision.
