Alfano Home Remodeling Describes The Truth About Hiring A Kitchen Or Bath Contractor!

Nov. 14, 2009 - PRLog -- The truth about how to hire a good kitchen or bath contractor can be useful to those people with open minds. If a person is not open minded and believes that there way is the only way, need not read this. As for contractors that are not legitimate, they will not appreciate this article and want to refute it all. However, the truth is the truth and I believe people should be made aware of how to hire a contractor for there home.      
   

I would start with finding a professional contractor that you and your family are comfortable with and someone you can ask questions. A contractor is going to be in your home and in your personal space, you should think of them as trustworthy. You should have people in your home that you can leave alone, go shopping, or for a walk and not worry that they are rummaging through your personals. You want people in your home that can be accounted for and don’t strangely appear and disappear at there leisure. The contractor should be an extension of your family and someone you can trust.
   

Next, I would find someone that has a license and insurance. However, let it be noted that New Jersey contractor laws are very lenient and don't have much substance. To become a NJ contractor a person must send $90.00 to the state with a copy of an insurance policy and in 30 days you’re a contractor. There is no test, prerequisites, schooling, continuing education or a good monitoring system that works. I believe that there should be all of the above to become a contractor, but that’s for a later article. Your best bet is to find a person that can provide referrals of the work you are requesting them to tackle. Referrals above all, are a great source of information. Always ask allot of questions and to view the work or atleast a portfolio of pictures and I would recommend interviewing atleast three people.      
   

This part is very important and I would read this part carefully! I would stay away from any contractor that requests large upfront payments towards labor. There is absolutely no reason to pay for labor upfront. Materials can be paid for in advance to the company providing the materials. I would suggest a written or typed contract that spells-out every detail of the work to be done. Do not assume anything because there are many, many conversations that take place before, during and after the contract is signed and usually the customer remembers there ideas only. However, a contractor may have other projects taking place and can't remember everything and it's not intentional if they forget certain items. Items in writing remove any doubt and limit arguments and keep everyone happy.
     

Putting the above aside for a moment, I need to discuss estimates. If you receive two estimates or even three, compare one to the next of the same kind. You can only compare estimates if each contractor is providing the same or similar labor and materials. Request a materials list with model numbers, if applicable and a separate labor description. For a customer to truly compare estimates they need to be the same. Be very, very leery of estimates that are much lower than the next person because there is something very wrong! There are costs associated to having a legitimate construction company and if one estimate is significantly lower than the next there is a reason for that. A contractor may not have legal people working for them; they may not have insurance, or a valid location, trucks, equipment, a license, or even exist.
         

Presentation of an estimate and a contractor is also very important. Look into the estimate and the presentation of the paper work. If it's a good well written estimate and very detailed, usually that's the type of work they will do in your home. If it is an estimate on scratch paper and not easy to read or understand without needed detail, than that's usually the work you will have done and the price you pay will reflect it.
   

Also, if a contractor has a showroom and is willing to help with the design and choosing of materials, there is great validation that comes with that type of service. A contractor with a showroom can be accounted for and has a solid foundation. It will also make a customer’s life easier by not having to travel to many different places to choose materials. There may be a separate fee for this service or it may be built into the pricing, but it’s worth it. Within reason legitimate estimates should be close to each other if the services and materials are similar.
   

Last, if a contractor is prompt to the estimate, provides the estimate within a week, there pricing is fair, and you can validate the above mentioned items, use that person. Also, if you decide not to use a contractor, call them. There is nothing worse than people with no respect for others or there time. As a contractor a customer’s feedback is the only way to make ourselves better at our job.

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Kitchen & Bath Concepts By Alfano Home Remodeling is a Family owned and operated kitchen and bath remodeling company that provides full service “one stop shopping” product sales and installation.