5 Things To Go Over With Your Kitchen Contractor

When you hire a kitchen contractor, you’re going to want to make sure you’re on the same page, both figuratively and literally. Go over every single detail to make sure that there’s no miscommunication over the work being done and the terms. The following are five important things that you’ll want to go over with your kitchen contractor and that you want to make sure make it into your contract:

The Work Being Done

Make sure that you go over every single aspect of the project, down to the type of materials being used and the color of the paint. All of this should be included in your contract. Look over the contract to make sure everything is included. Even if the contractor says it’s “understood” have it added. If it’s not done properly or even the most minor element is missing from the finished project, they can charge you on top of the agreed payment because it’s not in the contract.

Payment Terms

Not only should you discuss how much the project will be once it’s completed, but the milestones for when payments are due. Reputable contractors will never charge you full price at the beginning of the project–which means you should be wary about any that do (or who charge a significant percentage upfront).

Generally speaking, you should be charged no more than ten percent of the total cost upfront. The rest of the payments should be scheduled according to certain parts of the project are finished. For example, once the kitchen floor is installed, or once the cabinets are installed. The final payment, once the entire job is done, should be upwards of 33 percent of the cost. This ensures that the contractor will come back and finish up even the smallest of details.

Start and End Dates

You should agree on a start and end date ahead of the project so that you can schedule around it accordingly. Keep in mind that delays do happen, which can push your end date. However, having the agreed start and end dates in the contract will help you in case of a legal dispute (for example, if the contractor is taking way too long to finish and it’s gone well past the end date).

Change Orders

Ask the contractor to include a statement in the contract detailing that any changes that might affect the cost of the project have to be priced in writing and countersigned by both the homeowner and the contractor before work is done. This helps prevent the contractor from doing work that will cost you more money without your approval, whether it was on purpose or due to miscommunication.

Arbitration Clause

Remodeling contracts often include clauses stipulating that any disputes will be resolved by an arbitrator. This is a good thing since it will save time and money. However, make sure that the contractor doesn’t require you to use a specific arbitrator.

These are a few of the important things that you should go over with your kitchen contractor. Make sure that when you go over them, that you get them in writing in your contract. Don’t just trust that the contractor will do what you talked about — if it’s not in the contract, then they may not end up doing it. This can happen on purpose or by mistake, but you’ll have no recourse in court due to the fact that it wasn’t in the contract. If you’re planning a kitchen remodel and would like information about our Conestoga RTA cabinets, then be sure to contact us at Lifestyles Cabinetry and Millwork today.

See What Our Customers Have To Say

What a great experience to have such a reliable, professional company come to work in our condo! Zayne was so nice and helped us find the perfect cabinets for our kitchen. Dion, who works for Zayne did a wonderful job in completing the projects. We also had electrical, painting, and additional carpentry completed. Everything went just the way we wanted. We could not be happier. We are also going to get additional pricing for more work that we want to have done in our condo in the future.

Bringpeace

This is a professional company in every sense of the word! We hired them to completely remodel our kitchen when we purchased a 20 year old house. They did an amazing job! They were there when they said they would be. They worked full days with few breaks and the quality of their work was superior. I would definitely recommend them and will use them again on future planned projects!

S. T.

Wow! Zayne and his team were great. Always responsive, always professional and they provided high-quality work on a tight timeline. Every contractor on the Lifestyle team impressed us without exception. We would highly recommend Lifestyle Cabinetry and Millwork.

Leslie A.

We used Lifestyle Cabinetry and Millwork for a complete master bath remodel. The workers were friendly, cooperative, and showed up on time every day. The work was high quality and we are so pleased with the end results. We would definitely recommend them to others.

Y. L.

Lifestyle Cabinetry and Milwork re-constructed our kitchen and bathroom in 2013. They were meticulous, very professional and friendly. We are very pleased with the workmanship and wouldn’t hesitate to hire them for another project in the future.

Ron N.

Kitchen Remodel.
New cabinets
New granite countertops
New backsplash

Very knowledgeable about the work. Timely execution. Excellent workmanship. Executed the work within budget.
The people went out of their way to work on add-on features.

R. G.

I couldn’t have been happier with Zayne and his crew. Zayne presented a clear-cut plan for our project and stuck to it throughout the whole process. His guys did excellent work and were respectful while in my home. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Lifestyle Cabinetry and Millwork to anyone for any project.

P.M.

Lifestyle Cabinetry and Millwork were excellent. They were fast and efficient and always respectful when they were in my home. I loved working with Kirt and Zayne. I would recommend them to anyone! You won’t be disappointed.

Toni B.

Kitchen and bath remodels are complicated projects that require good up front planning and experience. Zayne and his crew have delivered excellent projects for me on repeated occasions. Each time the work has been completed on the agreed schedule and above my expectations. Most importantly it is critical to work with someone you trust and that has the knowledge and experience required – Lifestyle truly fits this description.

Michele R.

Zayne and his professional staff are absolutely the best in home renovation.

Zayne’s crew are professional, courteous, prompt, polite and offer suggestions while on site. The quality of the workmanship and materials are first class. Zayne will work diligently with you to develop your vision of your project and point out the constraints of your home and how you can proceed to achieve the end result.

Zayne expresses serious concern about your budget and how to accomplish your ideas without spending unnecessarily. His sub-contractors and suppliers are all equally welcoming and patient when you are working with them to find the cabinetry, trim, stone, paint and other materials that are not “cookie cutter”.

We highly recommend, without reservation, Zayne and Lifestyle Cabinetry and Millwork to anyone with a large or small project.

Robbi K.

This team is absolutely amazing!! I could not be happier with the way my kitchen turned out. I had a vision and they were amazing in building exactly to what I had pictured. They were on time, a pleasure to work with, efficient and kept right on schedule. Kurt made sure that we were happy at every turn and acted immediately on every request. Thank you!!!

Stacy C.