Finding your dream home isn’t always easy. Sometimes you find the right neighborhood, but none of the houses are available, meet your needs, or they all require some remodeling to transform them from a house into a home. At Honey-Doers, we’ve been helping homeowners in the Minneapolis area and beyond transform their spaces for over 20 years. From roofing to bathroom remodels, our team knows how to help Minneapolis homeowners feel at home in their space.
For most, the kitchen will be the first room that is tackled after a move. As the heart of the home, your kitchen is where your family naturally gatherers and where your guests will converge when the holidays or game day rolls around.
When it comes to kitchen remodels, getting the ball rolling can be hard; that’s why we have an incredible and versatile team on hand that’s ready to help you every step of the way. We take pride in using a hands-on approach through every stage of your project, so there will always be someone just a call away who knows every detail of your kitchen renovation. Want to know when your sink will be put in? Want to check in on your timeline? We’ve got your back.
And to help you on your way to creating your dream Minneapolis kitchen, we’ve created a high-level guide to help you be prepared when the times comes to remodel your kitchen.
What are Your Wants and Needs?
Deciding to remodel your kitchen can be an overwhelming task. You might already have some ideas and visions in place, but taking a step back to really consider some of the larger parts of a remodel is important.
You’ll want to start by identifying your wants and needs for the space. Are you looking to completely gut the kitchen and start from scratch, or are you willing to keep the current cabinets and just update countertops, flooring, backsplash, and appliances?
Is the layout of the room functional, or would moving things around create a better flow? These are important factors to consider for a remodel because they’ll not only inform your design choices but your contracting choices as well. There’s a big difference between a contractor who can repaint a room and one who can handle a gut job.
How Do You Find the Right Contractor?
Finding the right contractor doesn’t have to be hard if you know what to look for going in. Here are a few best practices to follow when it comes to finding a kitchen remodeler in Minneapolis.
Get Recommendations
One of the best ways to find a good contractor is by word of mouth. If someone you know has recently remodeled part of their home, ask them about their experience. While online reviews can be helpful, finding someone you already know and trust to give you some advice adds another layer of security.
At Honey-Doers, we’re proud to say that through exceptional service and quality craftsmanship, we continue to build upon our reputation and grow our pool of satisfied customers. If you’re looking for kitchen remodeling services in Apple Valley, Eagan, or Lakeville, chances are that someone in your circle already knows our name.
Conduct Interviews and Do Your Research
Conducting interviews, whether over the phone or in person, is a simple way of vetting your potential contractors. Not only will you be able to ask targeted questions, but this call will afford you the opportunity to gauge your potential contractor’s customer service.
Questions you might consider asking a potential contractor:
- Do they take on projects your size?
- Are they willing to provide financial references, from suppliers or banks?
- Do they use any subcontractors?
- Do they have a list of references?
- Can they provide you with proof of insurance and licenses?
- Will they be obtaining the permits?
- What would the expected timeline of the project be?
- How many projects of similar size or scope have they handled?
While there may be many more questions you might want to ask before narrowing down your choice, these are a good starting point to get a feel for the company’s availability and reliability.
Get Bids
You have narrowed down your search to the top three contractors. By now you should be moving away from their past work and on to your own project. Each contractor will likely have a different bid for your project. When you are comparing bids, ask everyone to break down the cost of materials, labor, profit margins, and other expenses. While one contractor may be a little bit more expensive, their timeline might be more appealing or their results more attractive. Never forget the price of experience and the money it can save you in the long run.
Get it in Writing
The last, and most important step, once you have decided on the contractor to use, is to have a contract drawn up. You want every detail that you and the contractor have discussed written down.
Things you might want to include in your contract:
- The payment schedule
- The expected start date and projected completion date
- The scope of the work
- Specific products and materials used
- Warranty on completed work
- Exclusions they might have
The contract is the most important thing to have before starting your project. It creates a trust between you and the contractor, ensuring a successful kitchen remodel.
What Should You Expect During the First Stages of a Remodel?
Now that you have your plans, contractor, and signed contract, it’s time to begin the actual process of your remodel. If this is your first remodel, you might not know what to expect during the first stages. The trick is understanding that not everything will happen exactly as you anticipate it.
Know that the process of remodeling your kitchen won’t be like what you see on home renovation shows. It will be hard work and will more than likely take longer than you expect it to. Your daily routine will likely change and become somewhat disorderly, and you will have a lot of choices to make about the design, layout, and functionality of your remodel.
Having a good contractor will help alleviate some of the stress that comes with remodeling your kitchen. At Honey-Doers we’ll help you through every stage of your kitchen remodeling process. With a dedicated team of designers and contractors, we always aim to exceed your expectations through our personable and dependable work.
Start Your Kitchen Remodel Today
If you are thinking about remodeling your kitchen, the best thing you can do is to find the right contractor who can provide all the support you need. We’re proud to say that we’ve been helping Minneapolis families create their dream kitchens for over 20 years. Armed with the knowledge, tools, and resources to transform your ideas into a fully completed residential remodel, we’ll get your kitchen remodel done right the first time. Contact us today for a free estimate to get started.
