When you’re thinking of remodeling your home or business, you’ll need a professional contractor you can trust. We want you to know you’re making the right choice with Infinity Kitchen and Bath, so here are 8 pieces of advice to help you pick the best contractor:

Ask Around for Recommendations:

The first step is to ask people you trust to recommend a remodeling contractor they know. Family and friends are a great place to start. You can also check the National Association of the Remodeling Industry to sort through certified and experienced contractors near you.

Another avenue to take is to contact a building inspector. They keep track of contractors that meet safety codes consistently. You can also go to the nearest lumberyard for recommendations, since they’re a common source for contractors to obtain materials. Infinity Kitchen and Bath always uses quality for our remodeling, so give us a call today!

Do Research on the Contractor:

Once you’ve sifted through some of the contractors, you can start getting more information on them. Previous customers can give you a good insight into their experience dealing with the contractor. You can also ask to see the projects they’ve had done.

Keep in mind that you’re not confined to testimonials. If you find out the job site the contractor is working at, you can stop by to see them in action. Check their safety measures, how clean they keep the work area, and their attention to detail with protecting property.

Interview Them Over the Phone:

It’s also a good idea to get in touch for a phone interview with each contractor. You’ll be able to ask any questions you might have, like how familiar they are with a project of your scale or if they have any financial options. You can also ask for a list of past customers to get started on your own research.

Make sure to ask how many projects they’re working on to see if they’re available for your remodeling needs. You can also ask if they use subcontractors and, if so, how long they’ve been working together. You’ll love our answers when you call Infinity Kitchen and Bath today!

Meet Them in Person:

After you’ve talked to your contractors on the phone, pick the top three to have a face-to-face meeting. When you meet with them, note their communication style and how easy they’ll be to work with for your remodeling. 

You can also look into their rating with the Better Business Bureau and check the consumer protection agency through your state. This will tell you if they’ve had any issues with previous clients or subcontractors.

Have a Plan in Mind to Compare Bids:

When you hire Infinity Kitchen and Bath, we’ll make sure you understand the estimate and budget for the project. We’ll also need a full blueprint before we get to work and our team will manage expectations. These factors should be the standard for any contractor you look into, because they separate professionals from inexperienced contractors.

To make sure that you’re getting the most out of your estimate, ask for a cost breakdown. This should include materials, profit margins, labor, and other expenses. Material costs make up a lot of the total, usually, but there will also be overhead with a profit margin that might be around 20 percent.

Quality is More Important:

Choosing the contractor with the lowest bid can be a huge mistake. If a bid’s too low, it can mean that the contractor is desperate or uses shortcuts in their work. Quality is also about communication, because you want them to understand your needs and what you want from your remodeled space.

Create a Schedule for Payment:

It’s important to establish a payment schedule beforehand with your contractor. By doing so, you can gauge their experience with finances and their work ethic. If you’re asked for a large portion of the cost before the work begins, they might not trust your financial ability or have problems on their end.

Some contractors may require 50% up front, with remaining payments split into 25% at predetermined milestones. Other projects may be 25/50/50. In some cases, a remodeler may decide to require no money up front. Please discuss the specifics of your project with us when you call today for a more exact estimate or payment schedule, because each customer and remodel is different.

Have Everything in Writing:

As with any contract, you always want to have a hard copy of everything. Make sure that your contract highlights the full scope of your remodel, including:

1. Proof of liability insurance
2. Payment schedule
3. Proof of worker’s compensation
4. The date they’ll start and finish
5. Products and materials needed
6. A requirement that they have to obtain lien releases from suppliers and subcontractors

We’ve worked with a lot of customers at Infinity Kitchen and Bath. When these aspects are wanted in writing, we know that you want the best outcome for your home while keeping everyone involved protected. 

If three are any unforeseen circumstances or issues that affect the project, the cost or length of time required for your remodel can change. That’s why it’s crucial to have everything documented at the beginning in the contract. 

Now that you know the steps to take to choose the best contractor, you can feel secure picking Infinity Kitchen and Bath. Our experts are happy to get started with any questions you have to make sure you get the remodeling you deserve when you give us a call today!