A kitchen makeover is a significant undertaking – an important investment in your home. As such, it pays to partner with a professional contractor who can help you realize your dream kitchen. PHX Home Remodeling is a great pick if you’re in the market for a reputable kitchen renovation contractor with an A+ Better Business Bureau rating.
After all, the success of your project largely hinges upon the contractor you hire. You also need to look out for glaring signs that you need to steer clear of a particular pro. Here’s a breakdown of potential red flags to be aware of.
Vague Contract
You’ve probably heard the adage, ‘the devil is in the details.’ Well, this rings true when referring to contracts. A good agreement should detail aspects such as:
- The scope of the project
- Payment schedule
- Materials needed
- Start and completion dates
- The contractor’s liability insurance
The more the details, the better. If the contract is too generic, with few details, you should run for the hills! Such a contractor may not have your best interests at heart.
Case in point, they may want to exploit loopholes and compromise on quality. As such, consider replacing them if they don’t provide a satisfactory arrangement. Similarly, signing a contract without first discussing the project details with your contractor would be an unwise move.
Lack of Communication
Good communication often translates to successful endeavors and should be a priority for any reputable contractor. In fact, it helps streamline the entire process and avoids potential misunderstandings, issues, or delays.
Openness and honesty are key here – ensure your contractor explains everything and keeps you in the loop from the get-go. If they fail to return calls, emails, or texts promptly or fail to provide updates, you may have a serious problem.
What’s more, if your contractor is unresponsive when addressing issues or complaints, it indicates they are not taking their job seriously. As such, it might make sense to show them the door.
Bargain-basement Rates
If a prospective contractor’s bid is way below the market rate, you could be in for an unpleasant surprise. For instance, they could be inexperienced or lack the resources to deliver a quality kitchen remodel. Or, they may be cutting corners and using subpar materials. You don’t want to end up with a shoddy remodel, so if it looks too good to be true, it most likely is.
Some contractors charge low prices, only to pad the final bill with hidden fees or delay completion until you pay more. Thus, you may pay way more than the initial quote. This explains the need to get several quotes from different professionals and compare apples to apples. This way, you can get a contractor who can deliver the goods.
Failure to Meet Deadlines
Sure, unforeseen hiccups and constraints can slow down the remodel, but if your contractor fails to meet the timeline established in the contract, you should be wary. This could be due to poor planning and the contractor’s inability to complete your project on time.
Or, they’ve probably bitten off more than they can chew (by taking on too much work) and, thus, can’t commit the necessary time to your project. While it’s difficult to know for sure, you might want to look elsewhere if your contractor can’t stick with the deadline, as this may derail your kitchen remodel or result in costly delays.
To avoid hiring such a contractor, do your homework to find their qualities. To this end, reviews might work in your favor – which leads us to the next point.
Scanty Reviews
While researching a contractor, check reviews from past clients. Reviews can help you gauge a contractor’s reliability, professionalism, and quality of their work. They also speak volumes about their customer service. However, a lack of reviews, especially on third-party websites like Yelp or the Better Business Bureau, should set alarm bells ringing.
For instance, the contractor’s track record may be questionable. Or, they may be new in the business and don’t have many reviews yet. In the latter case, you could end up dealing with an inexperienced contractor – a chance you’d be ill-advised to take. Either way, it pays to be cautious by conducting further research before hiring them. That said, it would be wise to take your business elsewhere.
If you have doubts about your kitchen’s remodel contractor, it’s better to walk away. You might dodge a bullet by so doing. While at it, trust your gut – if something feels off, it probably is. Rather than waste valuable time and money on the bad apples, find a reputable contractor capable of delivering a successful kitchen remodel.
