Kitchen Remodeling Jacksonville Florida

Kitchen remodeling Jacksonville Florida is a lot like kitchen remodeling in many other places in the country as in you have to be careful with who you choose. Just like with any type of construction you have to be careful with who you pick to do the work because you are not only giving the person/company you choose a lot of your hard-earned money but you are also entrusting them with one of the most precious things in your life, your home.

There is an almost limitless number of kitchen remodeling companies in Jacksonville, Florida and you need to make sure you pick the right one for YOU and your specific job.

1. Get recommendations

Start with your friends and family and then check in with the National Association of the Remodeling Industry for a list of members in your area.

You can also talk with a building inspector, who'll know which contractors routinely meet code requirements, or pay a visit to your local lumberyard, which sees contractors regularly and knows which ones buy quality materials and pay their bills on time.

2. Do phone interviews

Once you've assembled a list, it is recommended that you make a quick call to each of your prospects and ask them the following questions:

•Do they take on projects of your size?

•Are they willing to provide financial references, from suppliers or banks?

•Can they give you a list of previous clients?

•How many other projects would they have going at the same time?

•How long have they worked with their subcontractors?

The answers to these questions will reveal the company's availability, reliability, how much attention they'll be able to give your project and how smoothly the work will go.

3. Meet face to face

Based on the phone interviews, pick three or four kitchen remodeling contractors to meet for estimates and further discussion. A contractor should be able to answer your questions satisfactorily and in a manner that puts you at ease. It's crucial that you two communicate well because this person will be in your home for hours at a time.

On the other hand, don't let personality fool you. Check in with your state's consumer protection agency and your local Better Business Bureau to make sure contractors don't have a history of disputes with clients or subcontractors.

Do the hiring yourself. Your project is more likely to stay within budget and on time if you hire pros yourself than leaving the hiring and supervising to a general contractor.

4. Investigate the facts

Now that you've narrowed your list, put your research to use. Call up former clients to find how their project went and ask to see the finished product.

Even more important, visit a current job site for your kitchen remodeler and see for yourself how the contractor works. Is the job site neat and safe? Are workers courteous and careful with the homeowner's property?

Look for proper licensing and insurance. Make sure the contractor is licensed to do business in your state and that he has proper general liability and workers-compensation insurance. Check with your local government for permit requirements and confirm with the contractor who is responsible for paying for permits.

Also visit the Contractor's License Reference Site to learn about licensing requirements in your state and to find out if a contractor is licensed.

Check the Better Business Bureau for filed complaints. Also contact your state's attorney general's office. Look for contact information in your state here. (Should you encounter a problem or fraud later on, report problems or fraud to your state attorney general.)

Another place you can check as well is the Department of Consumer Affairs.

When you find a contractor ask for references. Often times, homeowners search only for the lowest price. Granted, price plays a major role in any construction project. In some cases, the cheapest bid is not supplied by the best contractor. Striking a balance between the two can ensure a successful building experience.

Ask the contractor for three recent references. Call their past clients and ask to see their work. Ask important questions such as:

* Was the contractor punctual?

* Were any changes discussed with the owner prior to proceeding?

* Was the jobsite clean and free of debris at the end of the day?

* Was the job completed in the time allotted?

* Were they on budget?

These questions will help determine if the contractor is worth hiring again. Remember, a bad contractor can cost you time and money.

5. Make plans, get bids

Plan for success. Get three bids to gauge the going rate for work. But don't jump at the lowest bid; surveys have shown that people who hired the lowest bidder generally got poorer work. You have your short list of contractors whose track records seem clean and whose work ethic looks responsible.

Now it's time to stop looking back at past work and start looking forward to your project. A conscientious contractor will want not only a complete set of blueprints but also a sense of what homeowners want out of a project and what they plan to spend. To compare bids, ask everyone to break down the cost of materials, labor, profit margins and other expenses.

Generally materials account for 40 percent of the total cost; the rest covers overhead and the typical profit margin, which is 15 to 20 percent.

Comparing bids is a crucial step in hiring the right contractor. It is advisable to receive at least three bids for any one phase of construction. This establishes market value for your project and will allow you to analyze the bid. Make sure the bid includes the following:

* Scope of work – a detailed list of what the contractor will perform

* Timeline for completion

* Payment schedule

* Process for approving changes in construction

If the contractor is quoting labor and materials, request the bid be separated between the two. This will allow you to see if they are adding profit into the material price. It will also make it easier to compare multiple bids for the same work.

6. Set a payment schedule

Payment schedules can also speak to a contractor's financial status and work ethic. If they want half the bid up front, they may have financial problems or be worried that you won't pay the rest after you've seen the work.

For large projects, a schedule usually starts with 10 percent at contract signing, three payments of 25 percent evenly spaced over the duration of the project and a check for the final 15 percent when you feel every item on the punch list has been completed.

A reputable contractor will not threaten you or pressure you to sign documents if the job is not finished properly.

7. Don't let price be your guide

The single most important factor in choosing a contractor is how well you and he communicate. All things being equal, it's better to spend more and get someone you're comfortable with.

8. Put it in writing

Draw up a contract that details every step of the project: payment schedule; proof of liability insurance and worker's compensation payments; a start date and projected completion date; specific materials and products to be used; and a requirement that the contractor obtain lien releases (which protect you if he doesn't pay his bills) from all subcontractors and suppliers. Insisting on a clear contract isn't about mistrust, it's about insuring a successful renovation.

Obtain a contract. A written contract will specify what will be done to complete the job, associated costs, and the payment schedule. Never sign a blank contract or one with blank spaces. Stick with the plans. Making changes to plans after work begins could lead to cost overruns and delays.

Selecting the right contractor for the job is the most important decision you can make. Take the necessary time to investigate the contractor, their referrals, past performance and standing with material suppliers.

*Review sample bids and contracts and compare them to those you receive to see if the contractor puts schedule details, product selections and change orders in writing.

*For a sample contract, contact the American Institute of Architects or the Associated General Contractors of America. Have a lawyer review your contract before signing.

*Look for a good fit. Ask if you will be treated as a partner in the project. A strong rapport and close communication with your contractor helps make any job go well.

*A permit is required for most work costing more than $300 (see How to Pull Building Permits).

*Call a contractor's suppliers and subcontractors to make sure he or she pays their bills on time.

*If you need a gas line put in for a new stove or dryer, call a plumber.

*Comparison shop and buy your own fixtures to save the markup.

*Make sure the contractor provides you with a certificate of insurance before you make any payments or work begins.

*Be leery of contractors who ask for more than 30 percent up front.

Kitchen Remodeling Jacksonville Florida to Kitchen Remodeling Contractors