A kitchen remodel is one of the biggest investments you’ll make in your home, and the contractor you choose matters as much as the cabinets and countertops. A good contractor keeps the project on budget and on schedule and solves problems before they become expensive. Here’s what to look for before you sign.

Check the license

In California, any contractor doing work worth $500 or more, including labor and materials, must be licensed by the Contractors State License Board (CSLB). You can look up any contractor’s license for free on the CSLB website at cslb.ca.gov. Check that the license is active, matches the company name on the bid, and is the right classification for the work. A “B – General Building” license covers remodels that involve several trades. Our license number, #1075562, is on every page of our website.

Ask about insurance

Ask for proof of liability insurance and, if the contractor has employees, workers’ compensation insurance. If someone is hurt on your property or your home is damaged, you don’t want to be the one covering it.

Look at real past work

An experienced contractor should be able to show you completed kitchens, not just stock photos, and explain what each project involved. Ask what went wrong on a past job and how they handled it. Every remodel has surprises, and the answer tells you a lot about how they’ll handle yours.

Ask who plans the work

Moving walls, plumbing, gas lines, or electrical changes what’s possible in your layout and what it will cost. Ask who on the team handles design and technical questions, and whether they’ll take care of permits. Our projects are led by a civil engineer, so structural and layout questions get answered before construction starts.

Get a detailed written bid

A good bid lists the scope of work, materials, allowances for items you haven’t chosen yet, a timeline, and a payment schedule. Be cautious of a bid that’s much lower than the others. It often leaves things out that show up later as extra charges.

Know California’s contract rules

In California, a home improvement project over $500 must have a written contract. The contract must include a payment schedule and say who will get the permits. The down payment can’t be more than $1,000 or 10% of the contract price, whichever is less, and any change to the price or scope must be agreed in a signed, written change order. A contractor asking for a large payment up front is a red flag.

Pay attention to communication

You’ll work with your contractor for weeks or months. Notice how quickly they answer questions, whether they explain things clearly, and whether they listen to what you want. The way they communicate before the job usually reflects how they’ll communicate during it.

A recent example

On a recent kitchen remodel in El Dorado Hills, we turned an existing kitchen into a modern, luxury space with a reworked layout, custom cabinetry, and new countertops. Careful planning up front kept the layout changes on track.

Planning a kitchen remodel in the Sacramento area? Request an estimate and we’ll walk you through the scope, budget, and next steps.