10 Questions to Ask Your Remodeler

Q: What should I ask a kitchen remodeler before hiring them?

The 10 most important questions: (1) Are you a licensed general contractor in Florida? What is your license number? (2) Are you insured — general liability and workers' comp? (3) Will you pull all required permits? (4) Who will be on-site managing my project daily? (5) Do you use subcontractors, and are they licensed? (6) What is the payment schedule? (7) What is the project timeline and how will delays be handled? (8) Do you provide a written contract with full scope of work? (9) Can I see references or visit a completed project? (10) What warranty do you provide on labor?

Q: How much should a contractor ask for upfront?

In Florida, a licensed contractor typically requests 10–20% upfront to secure your project date and begin material ordering. Be cautious of contractors requesting 50% or more upfront before work begins. Never pay the full amount before the project is complete.

Jose Ruiz — Owner & Sales Director, Best Price Kitchen Bath & Floors · Ask us any of these questions before you sign

Use This List. Print it, bring it to every estimate. A contractor who can't or won't answer these questions clearly is not the contractor you want managing your home. Every legitimate licensed contractor should answer all 10 without hesitation.

Are you a licensed general contractor in Florida? What is your license number?

This is non-negotiable. Ask for the license number and verify it yourself at myfloridalicense.com before the estimate is over. Best Price Kitchen Bath & Floors answer: Yes. CGC1535490. Verify it.

Are you insured — general liability and workers' compensation?

Request a Certificate of Insurance naming you as the certificate holder. Uninsured workers injured on your property are your liability in Florida. Best Price Kitchen Bath & Floors answer: Yes. We carry full GL and workers' comp. Certificate available before contract signing.

Will you pull all required permits?

Any contractor who suggests skipping permits to "save money" is asking you to assume serious legal and financial risk. Walk away. Best Price Kitchen Bath & Floors answer: Yes. Tim Yaxley pulls every permit required by Palm Beach County code. No exceptions.

Who will be on-site managing my project daily?

Large companies often send crews you've never met. Know who will actually be in your home. Best Price Kitchen Bath & Floors answer: Tim Yaxley, our licensed GC with 30 years of South Florida construction experience, is personally on-site on every Best Price Kitchen Bath & Floors project.

Do you use subcontractors, and are they licensed?

Most GCs use licensed subcontractors for trade-specific work — plumbing, electrical. This is normal and fine. The GC's license covers the project; subs must also hold their own trade licenses. Best Price Kitchen Bath & Floors answer: Yes, we use licensed, vetted subcontractors for electrical and plumbing. All carry their own licenses and insurance.

What is the payment schedule?

Payments should be milestone-based — deposit to secure, draw at material delivery, draw at cabinet installation, final payment at completion. Never pay in full before the project is done. Best Price Kitchen Bath & Floors answer: Structured milestone-based payments. Final payment due at final walkthrough and your approval.

What is the timeline and how are delays handled?

Get a start date, a substantial completion date, and a clear policy on how material delays or weather delays are communicated and managed. Best Price Kitchen Bath & Floors answer: 3-week minimum kitchen completion. Start and completion dates in the contract. Tim communicates proactively on any delays.

Do you provide a written contract with full scope of work?

Never proceed based on a verbal agreement. The contract should detail every material, finish, quantity, and task included. What's not in the contract is not included. Best Price Kitchen Bath & Floors answer: Full written contract with complete scope. Our $500 Design Package produces detailed CAD drawings and a full itemized proposal before you sign.

Can I see references or photos of completed projects?

A contractor with a strong track record will have references, portfolio photos, and ideally Google reviews. Check Google, not just photos provided by the contractor. Best Price Kitchen Bath & Floors answer: 26 Google reviews at 5.0 stars. We'll provide references on request.

What warranty do you provide on labor?

Materials carry manufacturer warranties. Labor warranty is from the contractor. A quality contractor stands behind their work. Best Price Kitchen Bath & Floors answer: We stand behind our work. Ask Jose directly for our current labor warranty terms on your specific project scope.

Ask Us These Questions

We encourage every homeowner to ask all 10 before signing. We answer every one honestly and completely.

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Or call Jose directly: (561) 668-5088

What should I ask a kitchen remodeler before hiring them?

The 10 most important questions: (1) License number? (2) Are you insured? (3) Will you pull permits? (4) Who is on-site daily? (5) Are your subs licensed? (6) What is the payment schedule? (7) What is the timeline? (8) Do you provide a written contract? (9) Can I see references? (10) What is your labor warranty?

How much should a contractor ask for upfront?

In Florida, a legitimate contractor typically requests 10–20% upfront to secure your project date and begin material ordering. Be cautious of 50%+ upfront requests before work begins. Never pay in full before completion.

10 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Kitchen Remodeler