process
Make an Appointment to Visit our Selection/Design Center
At Miramar Kitchen & Bath, you will always be greeted with a friendly smile and helping hand. Because we understand how exhausting the remodel process can be, we have designed our selection center to be your one-stop-shop for your kitchen and bath remodeling project. From cabinets and countertops to faucets and tubs, we can help you chose the materials and then install them for you.
Enjoy a One-Stop-Shop
During your appointment at our selection/design center, you will have the opportunity to meet with one of our remodeling specialists who will work with your budget to help you choose materials that will make your new kitchen or bathroom shine.
Your remodel starts here and we are so excited to help you achieve your design goals one step at a time.
Steps to Choosing a Contractor
Remodeling within your budget while choosing materials you love are all important factors when remodeling your space. Choosing the right contractor is an even more important factor.
If your project isn’t a D-I-Y project, you are likely hiring someone to complete the job for you.
If you are hiring someone to do the work for you it is extremely important to trust the people that will be in your home everyday.
Before hiring a contractor, you should follow these five steps:
It is important to interview a variety of contractors for a number of reasons.
1. You want to make sure the contractor is a good fit for your project. Check the contractor’s license classification to confirm their license legally allows them to complete your project.
2. You want to make sure the contractor can work within your budget.
If each contractor gives you a similar estimate and one gives a much lower estimate than the others, you’ll want to toss out the lowest bid. The lowest bidder is likely leaving out important aspects and you’ll end up on the hook for more money than you anticipated.
3. Each contractor will run their business differently. Some are full-service contractors while others will just install the materials you purchased. Depending on your needs, it is important to make sure the contractor you hire will be able to cater to those needs.
Trust your gut, but don’t trust the contractor … yet. After you’ve narrowed down your choices, it is extremely important to do your research on your potential hire.
Here are some suggestions:
1. Ask for the contractor’s license number and look it up through the Contractors State License Board (CSLB).
2. Check out the contractor through the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and read the reviews if there are any.
Asking questions — and a lot of questions — is another key component in choosing a contractor. The National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI), recommends asking questions about the company’s employees, how long the company has been in business, and more.
Find out more below in the next section.
Talk to people who have used the contractor before. People who have used that contractor have been through the remodeling process with them and will be able to share their experiences with you.
At this point in the process you have likely picked your contractor and are getting closer to signing a contract. Many conversations will happen during the remodeling process, so make sure everything you have agreed upon is in writing. By getting everything in writing, this means you and your contractor are in agreement as to the scope of work, payment terms, and more.
Miramar Kitchen & Bath is a remodeling contractor that specializes in kitchen and bathroom remodeling. If you’d like to learn more about our services, please click here.
If you are interested in working with us, we encourage you to check us out through the BBB and on the CSLB website. License #657333.
NARI: Questions to Ask a Contractor
Start by asking questions about a company’s business practices and experience in a similar type of project. If you decide you want to hire a particular remodeling contractor, then you can discuss when he or she can start, what time he or she can knock on your door each morning and when you will have your home to yourselves again.
Here are some questions NARI members recommend you should ask signing a remodeling contract:
What To ask a Contractor:
- How long have you been in business?
- Who will be assigned as project supervisor for the job?
- Who will be working on the project? Are they employees or subcontractors?
- Does your company carry workers’ compensation and liability insurance?
- What is your approach to a project such as this?
- How many projects like mine have you completed in the past year?
- May I have a list of reference from those projects?
- Are you a member of a national trade association?
Check your Contractor's License
Always verify workers’ compensation and liability insurance information by calling the agency. A copy of an insurance certificate does not let you know if the policy is still current. Even if the certificate has an expiration date, you cannot tell if the insurance has been canceled by either party. If licensing is required in your state also ask if the contractor is licensed and call to verify compliance with the law. Not all states offer or require licensing. California does not require a contractor to have general liability insurance.
Choosing the Right Contractor
It’s also important to realize that sometimes it’s not the answers you get that are significant, but what you don’t get. Asking the right questions is not enough. You need to pay attention to your instincts and to what information is missing.
Unlike your accountant or stockbroker, your remodeler will be a part of your daily life and available for some on-the-job education. He or she will be privy to your personal life, more so than your doctor or lawyer. Your contractor will know how you look early in the morning and how well behaved your dog is. It makes sense that you should take some time to carefully select this person and make sure that it is someone to whom you can ask questions.
Remodeling can be a fun experience. You get to create your dream room and learn a little about design and building along the way. All you need to do is ask questions. So tap into your curiosity and ask away.
