This article was written by Maria Frank and published in the Sunday, August 11, 2024 edition of the Houston Chronicle.
Fallen trees during the recent hurricane caused extensive damage to homes necessitating restoration and rebuilding.
In particular, kitchen remodeling is a big undertaking and can often leave homeowners overwhelmed right from the start. It can be difficult to let a third party such as a designer and/or remodeler take the lead on something as intimate and important as your kitchen design.
In order for you to get the kitchen of your dreams, it’s important to foster a good working relationship between you and the designer. A designer brings expertise and enthusiasm to the mix while considering your daily routines to create a kitchen that is functional as well as beautiful. Good communication and honest feedback are crucial to the success of the homeowner/designer/remodeler collaboration.
Here are a few of our tips to help make choosing a designer and remodeler a smashing success.
Know Your Expectations and Articulate Them
When it’s time to meet with prospective designers or remodelers, be prepared with both your budget and your expectations for the project. Make a list of goals—they can be general (“more counter space”) or specific (appliance brands/models, materials preferences)—and discuss them within the context of your budget. A major upside of working with a professional designer or remodeler is allowing them to direct you toward the materials, brands, and features that fall within your budget—saving headaches, and heartaches.
Ask Questions—Lots of Questions!
Ask as many questions as you can think of. You want a sense of their work history and work ethic, as well as a sense of them as a person. Examples of questions to ask include:
• Can I see samples of your work?
• How long have you been in the business, and what are your credentials?
• What kind of ongoing training/education/certifications have you pursued?
• How long will this take?
• What are the cost procedures and payment schedules?
A final note, one troubling aspect of post-storm recovery is the emergence of unscrupulous contractors attempting to take advantage of the situation, and unsuspecting homeowners. Here are some post-storm suggestions when selecting a professional to work with.
- Find several local contractors you like and interview them; always ask for, and check, references. The BBB of Greater Houston and South Texas is a trusted online resource.
- After storms contractors are very busy, which is the perfect time for someone to try to take advantage. Watch out for high-pressure tactics, contractors who don’t want to put anything in writing, or who ask for large sums of money up front.
- Use the GHBA Member Directory to get started on your search for a trustworthy Houston-area building professional.
GHBA has a host of post-storm recovery resources for Houstonians to help you navigate the recovery process, including disaster recovery websites and other tips.