Kitchen remodel: what to check before you hire

What a complete quote should cover

Check that every quote you get prices each of these — or says clearly that it's excluded.

• Demolition and debris haul-off
• Cabinets — brand or maker, construction, and who installs them
• Countertops — material, edge profile, sink cutouts, and backsplash
• Plumbing — sink, faucet, dishwasher, and any gas line work
• Electrical — new circuits, lighting, outlets to code, and whether the panel needs an upgrade
• Appliance installation and hookups (even if you buy the appliances)
• Flooring, drywall repair, and paint
• Ventilation — a range hood vented outside
• Permits, inspections, and final cleanup

Questions to ask every contractor

1. Are the cabinets custom, semi-custom, or stock — and is installation included?
2. Does the electrical price include a panel upgrade if one is needed?
3. Who measures and templates the countertops, and when?
4. Is this a fixed price, or an estimate that can change?
5. Which items are allowances, and what dollar amount is each one?
6. What's the payment schedule, and what work is finished at each payment?
7. Who pulls the permits, and are permit fees included?
8. Who runs the job day to day, and which work goes to subcontractors?
9. How are change orders priced and approved?
10. What's the start date, how long will it take, and what happens if it runs late?
11. What warranty do you give on your workmanship?

Before you sign, check the contractor's license, bond, and workers' comp on the CSLB website. In California, a down payment should never be more than 10% of the contract price or $1,000, whichever is less.

Copy an email that asks every contractor for these answers →

The usual order of work

Every job is different, but a schedule that skips or reorders these steps is worth asking about.

1. Design, measurements, and selections
2. Permits
3. Demolition
4. Rough plumbing and electrical, then inspection
5. Drywall and any flooring that goes under the cabinets
6. Cabinet installation
7. Countertop templating, then countertop installation
8. Backsplash, fixtures, and appliances
9. Paint, final inspection, and a punch list

Often left out of kitchen remodel quotes

If one quote is much lower than the others, start here.

• Permits and inspections
• Electrical upgrades — new circuits or a panel upgrade
• Appliance installation and hookups
• Countertop edges, backsplash, and cabinet hardware
• Drywall patching, paint, and debris haul-off

What does it cost?

It depends heavily on your house, your finishes, and your city, so we don't publish averages. Instead, we compare your actual quote against real project records and tell you which prices look high, which look low, and what's missing.