The importance of detailed contracts and change orders in kitchen remodeling. ” I thought I was getting this cabinet? We talked about that color counter top? You said I would have this? Why don’t i have glass in the cabinet doors? Where are the roll out drawers in the cabinets? I thought the job would be done by? “
Some of the most common complaints I hear about in kitchen and bath remodeling are caused by incomplete contracts. You want to make sure that every detail (down to the color of the interior of the cabinets) is included in the contract. If it is not included in the contract then you may not not get it!
The best way to avoid problems In a kitchen remodel is to get the details in writing, especially any changes that may come up after the original contract has been signed. Talking about a change may not insure that a change happens. Think about how many details are involved in just one kitchen or bath remodel and then multiply that number by how many other projects your contractor might be working on.
Nothing makes for a more perfect memory than a written change order, signed and dated by both the contractor and home owner.
I tell my customers that the job of any good designer or contractor is to make sure the customers are clear on the details of the job and that the customer doesn’t have any “surprises”.
Change Orders
If something changes you must get a change order in writing dealing with the specific changes. I know this seems like common sense, but I know of many situations where either the customer forgot they asked for the changes and did not want to pay for it, or a contractor who did not make the change because it was talked about but forgot to write it down.
I know of a Contractor that used to build log homes. He was building a log home for a customer. The customer requested many change orders throughout the project. At the end of the project when the contractor presented the customer with the change orders, the customer said “Show me those in writing”. The contractor had trusted the home owner and all of the change orders had been verbal. He went bankrupt because the customer would not pay for the change orders!
You can’t assume anything! When assumptions are made, the remodeling experience can prove to be a costly nightmare.
