How to Find the Best Contractor for Your Kitchen or Bathroom Renovation.
How to find the best contractor for your kitchen or bathroom renovation.
Finding the right contractor for your kitchen, bathroom or whole home renovation is important to ensure a successful and stress-free installation. When looking for a contractor, here are some important factors to consider and to look out for.
Finding the right contractor for your kitchen, bathroom or whole home renovation is important to ensure a successful and stress-free installation. When looking for a contractor, here are some important factors to consider and to look out for.
Experience and expertise
Experience and expertise
When beginning your search, it is important to look for contractors who specialise in kitchen and bathroom installation. Both kitchens and bathrooms can involve challenges and design considerations, so it is crucial to find a contractor who has experience.
The installation is just as important as every other aspect of a kitchen. Specialist kitchen installers are experts at fitting cabinetry and understanding the important details needed for it to function.
Most kitchen or joinery companies will offer installation as part of their service. This can make life easy as they fully understand the products that they are installing and are quick at solving any problems that arise.
When beginning your search, it is important to look for contractors who specialise in kitchen and bathroom installation. Both kitchens and bathrooms can involve challenges and design considerations, so it is crucial to find a contractor who has experience.
The installation is just as important as every other aspect of a kitchen. Specialist kitchen installers are experts at fitting cabinetry and understanding the important details needed for it to function.
Most kitchen or joinery companies will offer installation as part of their service. This can make life easy as they fully understand the products that they are installing and are quick at solving any problems that arise.
Specialist bathroom installers have to be experts in plumbing, joinery and tiling to ensure a successful installation. They understand the importance of detail and critical dimensions.
When buying a bathroom, most companies will offer design and supply service. In some cases, they may off in-house installation or be able to share details of local installers allowing you to get comparable quotes in order to make an informed decision. When a company is not installing, ensure that you have all of the detailed technical information and drawings to pass onto your contractor.
Specialist bathroom installers have to be experts in plumbing, joinery and tiling to ensure a successful installation. They understand the importance of detail and critical dimensions.
When buying a bathroom, most companies will offer design and supply service. In some cases, they may off in-house installation or be able to share details of local installers allowing you to get comparable quotes in order to make an informed decision. When a company is not installing, ensure that you have all of the detailed technical information and drawings to pass onto your contractor.
License and Insurance
License and Insurance
When selecting a contractor, check that they are licensed, have the necessary certifications and more importantly that they have insurance. This will provide you with protection in case accidents occur or damage during the installation. Making any changes to your home means removing existing elements, which can sometimes reveal unexpected issues (especially in older properties).
When selecting a contractor, check that they are licensed, have the necessary certifications and more importantly that they have insurance. This will provide you with protection in case accidents occur or damage during the installation. Making any changes to your home means removing existing elements, which can sometimes reveal unexpected issues (especially in older properties).
Top tip: Use ‘Protect My Install’ to find contractors who are:
– Independently accredited
– Gas and electric compliant
-Fully insured
– Health and safety qualified
Also, look for companies who are TrustMark registered. This will give
you peace of mind and reassurance.
Top tip: Use ‘Protect My Install’ to find contractors who are:
- Independently accredited
- Gas and electric compliant
- Fully insured
- Health and safety qualified
Also, look for companies who are TrustMark registered. This will give you peace of mind and reassurance.
References and reviews
References and reviews
Take the time to research contractors by reading reviews from past clients. Look at Google reviews, Trust Pilot, and their company website for testimonials. This will allow you to discover their quality of work.
Take the time to research contractors by reading reviews from past clients. Look at Google reviews, Trust Pilot, and their company website for testimonials. This will allow you to discover their quality of work.
Clear contract and documentation
Clear contract and documentation
Ensure that you receive a well-written contract to avoid any misunderstandings. This should include project specifications, a timeline, payment schedule and warranty. This will protect you as well as the contractor.
Ensure that you receive a well-written contract to avoid any misunderstandings. This should include project specifications, a timeline, payment schedule and warranty. This will protect you as well as the contractor.
References and reviews
References and reviews
Take the time to research contractors by reading reviews from past clients. Look at Google reviews, Trust Pilot, and their company website for testimonials. This will allow you to discover their quality of work.
Take the time to research contractors by reading reviews from past clients. Look at Google reviews, Trust Pilot, and their company website for testimonials. This will allow you to discover their quality of work.
Clear contract and documentation
Clear contract and documentation
Ensure that you receive a well-written contract to avoid any misunderstandings. This should include project specifications, a timeline, payment schedule and warranty. This will protect you as well as the contractor.
Ensure that you receive a well-written contract to avoid any misunderstandings. This should include project specifications, a timeline, payment schedule and warranty. This will protect you as well as the contractor.
Portfolio of work
Portfolio of work
When looking for a designer, you request to see their portfolio to see if they can deliver your vision – do the same for your contractor. This will highlight their attention to detail and skill set. If you don’t like their previous work, or it differs to your project significantly, perhaps they are not the right contractor for your project.
When looking for a designer, you request to see their portfolio to see if they can deliver your vision – do the same for your contractor. This will highlight their attention to detail and skill set. If you don’t like their previous work, or it differs to your project significantly, perhaps they are not the right contractor for your project.
Cost estimates
Cost estimates
Different contractors will have varying price structures and by obtaining several quotes you can compare the costs to ensure that you are getting a fair and competitive price.
Different contractors will have varying price structures and by obtaining several quotes you can compare the costs to ensure that you are getting a fair and competitive price.
Top tip: Speak to your designer as they may understand installation fees and can estimate the rough cost for your project.
Top tip: Speak to your designer as they may understand installation fees and can estimate the rough cost for your project.
Payment schedule
Payment schedule
Agree on a payment schedule with your contractor which is fair. Be cautious of contractors who request a large upfront payment before any work begins.
Agree on a payment schedule with your contractor which is fair. Be cautious of contractors who request a large upfront payment before any work begins.
Timeline and availability
Timeline and availability
Confirm with your contractor that they can commit to your timeline to avoid delays.
Confirm with your contractor that they can commit to your timeline to avoid delays.
Top tip: Communicate this with your Designer to ensure product is ordered in a timely manner to prevent storage fees. Delays can be costly.
Top tip: Communicate this with your Designer to ensure product is ordered in a timely manner to prevent storage fees. Delays can be costly.
Communication skills
Communication skills
For a project to run successfully, you need to ensure that you have effective communication with your contractor.
For a project to run successfully, you need to ensure that you have effective communication with your contractor.
Top tip: When finding your contractor, look for someone who is responsive, listens to your ideas, and will answer your questions. A contractor who doesn’t do this may make mistakes.
Top tip: When finding your contractor, look for someone who is responsive, listens to your ideas, and will answer your questions. A contractor who doesn’t do this may make mistakes.
Installation clean-up
Installation clean-up
Talk to your contractor about their clean-up policy and agree on the disposable of rubbish. The site needs to be clean and organised for health and safety purposes.
Talk to your contractor about their clean-up policy and agree on the disposable of rubbish. The site needs to be clean and organised for health and safety purposes.
Warranties
Warranties
Inquire about warranties for both labour and materials and make sure you are happy with the contractors policy. Warranties will differ across companies.
Inquire about warranties for both labour and materials and make sure you are happy with the contractors policy. Warranties will differ across companies.
Overall, research and find a contractor who is reputable, has great knowledge and skill, and can provide a fair cost for the works. Do not rush into a decision as a well-chosen contractor will make all the difference. For more help and guidance, get in touch.
Overall, research and find a contractor who is reputable, has great knowledge and skill, and can provide a fair cost for the works. Do not rush into a decision as a well-chosen contractor will make all the difference. For more help and guidance, get in touch.