Premier Kitchen & Bath Remodeling

Premier Kitchen & Bath
4856 E. Baseline Road., Suite 108
Mesa, AZ 85206
480-969-4700
premierkitchenandbath.com

Premier Kitchen & Bath's Top 10 "Do's and Don'ts" of Kitchen & Bath Remodeling:

1. Design credentials – Be sure to hire degreed interior designers with specific training in kitchen and bath designing. Certified Kitchen Designers (CKD) and Certified Bath Designers (CBD) will give you the best of both worlds in providing an esthetically pleasing design with functionality that fits your lifestyle.

2. Communication - This is imperative in any remodeling activity. Be sure that the company you choose to work with has good communication skills. If during the design process you encounter communication issues, tread carefully. Small mistakes can grow into larger issues later on in the project. Don’t hold back any information with your designer. You and your designer are a team! Make sure your designer listens to you and respects your desires, concerns and lifestyle.

3. Establish a budget - A project cost is determined by both the scope of work (construction) and the collection of products that will be installed. It is best to establish a budget prior to completing a design and/or selecting product so that your designer can produce a result that is both beautiful and affordable. Nobody wins if the completed design requires an investment beyond the expectation of the client.

4. Contractor - Be sure to hire a contractor that specializes in kitchen and bath remodeling. A specialty remodeler will be more familiar with the unique products that go into modern kitchens and baths and will be able to understand the concepts you and your designer have planned. Their finished product will likely be more polished to the discerning eye. Always check their credentials (see #7), ask for references and follow up with some of them.

5. Sweat Equity - If you are so inclined to do some of the work yourself, please limit these activities to demolition and possibly painting. Unless you are active in the trades, having your brother’s friend do the electrical is NOT a good idea. Besides breaking up the continuity of the scheduling, it will be your responsibility if problems are discovered later on.

6. Project Management - Pulling together a full kitchen or bathroom remodel is an arduous task, even for the trained professional. If you decide to hire the individual trades and manage the product vendors and project trades, don’t under estimate the amount of time and coordination that is needed. Often people find that the project took twice as long and cost nearly as much. Not to mention the STRESS factor.

7. Contractor Credentials - Be sure that your contractor is licensed, bonded, and insured. Also, make sure that he or she carries a current worker’s compensation policy. Ask to get a current certificate to assure these policies have not lapsed. Not only can these projects be expensive, if not done correctly, the damages can go way beyond the initial cost. If these policies are not in place, it is your homeowner’s policy or your pocket book that will have to step up in the event of a problem.

8. Expectations - Managing your expectations is the job of a good designer (comes back to the listening part!) The remodel that came in on budget and on time can still be a horrible experience if your expectations were not met. Be sure the company you choose to work with has educated you on the process of remodeling such as: time lines, home access, staging areas, and work schedules long before you sign on that dotted line. After the construction starts is not a good time to find these things out!

9. Value - When deciding on whom you will have to remodel your home, be sure to consider the intangibles. Important things such as: reputation, referrals, and past projects that you have seen. Honesty and integrity are worth their weight in gold! With a little due diligence, you can obtain a good feel for where a company stands on these.

10. Remember to Have Fun! - There is no reason why the entire remodeling process can’t actually be enjoyable and fun. Some kitchen and bath projects can be completed in one week, while others may take well over four months. As long as you choose your remodeling company wisely then designing and building your beautiful new dream kitchen or bathroom should be a creatively wonderful time for everyone involved.