Why you should hire a General Contractor
A kitchen remodel is one of the most challenging and rewarding renovation projects you can do. Fresh kitchen design ideas can breathe new life into your home and your lifestyle.
Done right, a kitchen renovation can add both significant value to your property and enjoyment for you and your family. However, taking on a kitchen project yourself can pose significant challenges, including:
Obtaining proper design plans and permits.
Discovery of mold, rot, termites, or asbestos during demolition.
Financial liability if anyone is injury while working in your home.
A general contractor is the single point of contact for all the trades. At skön, we have more than 25 years of experience and are the general contractors for every kitchen we design and install, providing our clients with a seamless, worry-free experience from start to finish.
Here is a list of all the benefits of choosing skön as your Kitchen Renovation Specialist. Please use this list as a guide to ensure you hire the right company for your project.
Licensed and knowledgeable. A kitchen renovation is more than just new cabinets and appliances. Design-wise, a kitchen must work within the designated space and be in harmony with the rest of the home. There is also plumbing and electrical work to consider, two areas where experienced professionals can ensure the long-term functionality and safety of your kitchen. skön has both a New Home Building licence and a Certified Renovator designation.
WorkSafe Coverage. Confirm your contractor’s coverage is up to date. If a sub-trade gets injured on your project and the coverage is not current, you may be deemed liable. The situation is the same if you decide to manage the renovation yourself and hire individual sub-trades on your own – you may be liable.
Liability Insurance. In the event of insufficient or no liability insurance, any accident, water leaks, or fire that causes damage may not be covered. This situation could leave you with both the inconvenience and additional cost of repairs. The potential financial cost is even greater if you live in a condo and an accident damages adjoining units.
Polite and Dependable. Contractors and sub-trades in your home needs to respect your time and your belongings with proper job site protection materials. Scheduled work that is delayed by a trade not showing up on time will set your project back and add significant cost. Certain aspects of a kitchen renovation need to be done in a specific order – when one part of the job gets delayed, you could be forced to reschedule all the other sub-trades that were ready to come after. It should also be clearly stated how the Contractor will protect your home from damage and maintain cleanliness during the work.
Detailed Quotes and Timelines. This information should include a proper set of design plans that may be submitted for permits, an itemized list of the entire project, and timelines for completion. Understanding what should be included on a quote and what is a fair market price for your renovation will help you get the kitchen you want.
Warranty. Reputable General Contractors provide written agreements on their work and do not ask for ‘cash’ payments. Contractors or sub-trades that work for cash are rarely around if a warranty issue arises.
Get the kitchen you deserve.
Before undertaking a kitchen renovation, do your homework. There are many reputable General Contractors out there and unfortunately, and a few who may not live up to your expectation, or worse. If you stay diligent, you can have the kitchen of your dreams completed in a timely manner for a fair price.
If you have any questions specific to your kitchen renovation or want some general information on what you need to consider, please feel free to contact us.
To arrange an on-site project consultation, please visit Get Started.
The skön team
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