Who to Hire for Your Kitchen Remodel

You've decided 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 phases of a kitchen remodel which you might want to hire 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. Inquire of friends and family whose remodeling jobs you've admired. The design of a kitchen remodel project is a delicate 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 locate 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 complaints 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!