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San Diego real estate library
Who to Hire for Your Kitchen Remodel
You've made the choice at last to commit to that long-delayed
kitchen remodel. As you stand in the middle of your current
kitchen and survey it the thought occurs to you that you don't
know the first thing about how to begin a kitchen remodel. This
is a very good time to call in the help of professionals.
Broadly, there are two segments of a kitchen remodel which you
might want to take on help for: design and planning and the
actual construction phase. Many remodeling firms will handle
both aspects of your kitchen remodel, with in-house designers
and a roster of skilled professionals such as plumbers,
electricians, floor layers and cabinet makers to call on. Or you
can subcontract all the services out yourself, hiring a designer
or decorator for the first phase, and finding your own
contractor for the final phase of the kitchen remodel. Some
people prefer the convenience of only dealing with one company,
but others prefer a hands-on approach and don't mind the legwork
and research it takes to hire many separate workers.
One of the best ways to find a designer is word of mouth. Ask
around. Question your friends and family whose remodeling jobs
you've admired. The design of a kitchen remodel project is a
process, with the designer needing to be aware of the client's
tastes as well as how they generally use the space. A good
starting point is to identify in general terms what sort of
design you think you might like. To start with, look through
magazines and tear out photos you like, and then look for a
designer whose tastes match your ideas. If a designer
specializes in contemporary spaces and you live in an historic
home, it is not going to be a good match for your kitchen
remodel design. Another thing you can do is do searches on the
internet. Many sites have lists of local designers they work
with.
Once you've found a designer and decided on a plan for you
kitchen remodel, it's time to track down a contractor. A
convenient place to start is with your designer-inquire if she
works with anyone regularly, or can make a recommendation. If
not, internet research is a good place to start. Many a website
maintains lists of kitchen remodel contractors. Be sure to check
references and see an example of your chosen contractor's work,
if possible. Check the local site of the Better Business Bureau
to make sure your contractor has no objections against him. One
safe way to proceed is to go through a home improvement chain
store. They work with a wide variety of contractors and cannot
afford to associate with inferior professionals. It's always a
good idea to protect yourself, though, and check references and
ask to see examples no matter who you are working with.
Follow a few simple guidelines and you'll find the process of
hiring people to help you with your kitchen remodel easy and
satisfying. And before you know it, you'll be surveying your
brand-new, remodeled kitchen!
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