Kitchen Remodel Archives - Page 6 of 37

How to Avoid Being Scammed by General Contractors

Choosing to remodel your home – and selecting the right general contractor to bring your vision to life – is a major decision. For most of us, our home isn’t just where we live – it’s our most valuable asset. Inviting someone into your home to handle a renovation of any size requires a great deal of trust. From a general contractor’s perspective, being entrusted to work in someone’s home is a responsibility that’s not to be taken lightly,

Unfortunately, we have all heard horror stories about general contractors who didn’t live up to expectations. Given these stories, it’s no wonder some homeowners are cautious when it comes to hiring a general contractor. So how can Orange County homeowners looking to complete a renovation protect themselves from hiring the wrong general contractor, but instead hiring a general contractor they can trust? There are a few simple steps you can take to ensure you’ve found a quality general contractor.

man using laptop to check general contractors license online with state website

Let your fingers do the walking to check credentials online

Warning Signs & Red Flags

First off, there are a few general warning signs, red flags, or statements made that could lead you to ask a few more questions or dig a little deeper into the general contractor.

“I’m available to start tomorrow,” or something along those lines. If a general contractor has availability to start immediately or soon thereafter, you may want to ask yourself why they don’t have other work scheduled. Some general contractors book out months in advance, allowing for proper planning, product acquisition, etc.
High-pressure sales tactics. When you start feeling rushed into a decision, or the pitch takes on that all-too-familiar used-car salesman vibe, it’s time to hit pause.
Overall job costs that seem too good to be true. Unfortunately, they likely are! If you receive a few different estimates from different general contractors and one of them comes in much lower than the others, take the time to compare the estimates you’ve received. Ensure you are getting like-for-like estimates, i.e. the contractors are providing estimates on the same scope of work with the same quality of materials. Oftentimes, if you go with the much-lower bid, you may end up seeing more change orders throughout the process bringing your job total up in the long-run.

Credentials Matter

“Jack of all trades, master of none.” Although maybe an extreme example… would you entrust your dentist to perform brain surgery? While both went to medical school and sport the name doctor, that doesn’t make their credentials to do the job equal.

While some tradesmen carry multiple licenses, it would not be recommended to hire a plumber to wire your new bathroom. Or having your electrician remove a wall to create that open-space feel.

Instead, look to hire an Orange County-based general contractor who holds a State of California license (or if you are in another state, the respective state’s license). In California, utilize the Contractors State Licensing Board (CSLB) website to verify a contractor’s license status and credentials. You can search by Company Name, License Number, or even the contractor’s first and last name.

glasses on general contractor contract pages

Do some online research of general contractors you are speaking to

Ask for References

For most legitimate companies, you can find online references on sources such as Yelp, Facebook, Google, or even Houzz. However, take the reference check one step further and ask your general contractor for a couple of references you can speak to directly.

Although review websites do their best to eliminate the spam or paid-for reviews from their sites, some testimonials do end up slipping through their review process. If you are looking online and noticing overly generic praise, repeated phrases across multiple review, or a sudden flood of five-star rating in a short timeframe, take the reviews with a grain of salt. They may be a spam or paid-for review to boost the company’s overall rankings.

Instead, ask the general contractor(s) you are considering to hire for a couple of references you can reach out to directly. This allows you to ask any questions you may have, hear from an actual homeowner about their experience, and in some cases, see the finished work firsthand! If a general contractor gives you the “I don’t want to bother my clients” excuse, maybe do some additional online research of your home prior to signing a contract with that specific company or general contractor.

Trust Your Gut!

If in your conversations and interactions you’re noticing that “ick” feeling or something just doesn’t seem quite right, trust your instincts! While there may be a delay in getting your renovation started as you find another general contractor to work with, you want to find a general contractor that you feel one hundred percent confident with and in. Hiring the wrong general contractor or team can lead to extended timelines, costly mistakes, and potentially costly repairs.

If you are considering a renovation of your home, the Inspired Remodels team would love to speak with you. Having completed hundreds of remodels in Orange County over the last 20+ years, we are confident we can assist you in building your dream space.

after Orange Copunty flooring contractor installs white stone floor in kitchen with white countertops

Orange County Kitchen Remodeler Storage Tips

By Inspired Remodels / Kitchen Remodel / Comments Off

A kitchen update offers the perfect opportunity to maximize space in the kitchen. One Orange County kitchen remodeler shares 4 tips to incorporate to improve storage. Incorporate one or all of these tips to add storage to your kitchen.

Pullout Storage

Drawers and pull-outs make storage and access easy. Storage drawers allow you to better utilize the space than a base cabinet with a shelf. However, depending on your specific needs or ways that you utilize the space, incorporating a shelved based cabinet works, too!

Modern kitchens swap base cabinets for pull-out drawers for pots, pans, and pantry items. Base cabinets fitted with pull-out hardware store pots, pans, mixing bowls, and other kitchen essentials.
Inspired Remodels created this storage for the homeowner’s beloved stand mixer.

Open Shelves

Convert unused wall space into storage space with open shelves. Not only do open shelves add storage, but these days they provide an important design element. Use open shelves to display decorative serving pieces or be a spot for your best drinkware.

When used with decorative lighting, open shelves also make small kitchens feel larger. Where upper cabinets suck the air out of small spaces, open shelves expand the look of the kitchen.

Whether you use open shelves as décor or storage, discuss with your general contractor or designer (or both) if shelves are possible in your upcoming kitchen remodel.

Built-In Trash & Recycling Storage

Base cabinets easily convert into ideal spaces to hide trash and recycling bins. The limited size forces you to empty the bins more often, but that’s not a bad thing. You’ll enjoy fresher air because rubbish doesn’t linger in the kitchen. Odors don’t have a chance.

Simply add hardware to create a pull-out rack for the trash and the recycling bin and store it out of sight. Metal hardware slides easier than wood racks.

Utilize Toe Kick

Too often, the toe kick area gets ignored in a kitchen remodel. Many kitchen remodelers see this as empty space, not storage space.

However, the toe kick offers the perfect space to store flat items (think baking sheets and racks). It also serves as a hiding spot for a pull-out step stool. Either way, make use of the toe kick area in at least one base cabinet for additional storage.

Inspired Orange County Kitchen Remodeler

Get an inspired remodel when you partner with Inspired Remodels. As a kitchen remodeler, whole house remodeler, and overall general contractor you are in good hands. Their design and build approach to remodeling and renovating provides you a single point of contact through the entire process. Less stress for you and a streamlined process that improves communication for everyone. Schedule a consultation today.

Orange County Kitchen Renovation Inspiration

By Inspired Remodels / Home Improvement, Kitchen Remodel / Comments Off

Thinking of updating your home this fall? Whether you want to update older elements, create an entirely new floor plan, or create an open concept, Inspired Remodels has design ideas to get your creative juices flowing. Check out these Orange County kitchen renovation ideas and get inspired.

3 Common Reasons to Renovate the Kitchen

Most kitchen renovation projects start with a need to create a larger or more usable space. Maybe you bought a home and need to renovate the kitchen to your needs. Growing families often find their kitchens fail to meet their changing needs.

New floor plan

Some kitchen remodels start with a need for more storage or better layouts for cooking and entertaining. Homeowners want a kitchen that better accommodates their current lifestyle, whether it’s for gourmet cooking, socializing, or family meals. This often involves moving walls, windows, doors, and islands. Open-concept floor plans combine living, cooking, and entertaining areas.

Update design elements

Many Orange County homeowners update the look of their kitchens to reflect contemporary styles and personal tastes, or simply to give a new look to the space. Since the kitchen is often a focal point in homes, this room is often updated before other areas of the house.

Increasing home value

A well-renovated kitchen significantly boosts a home’s resale appeal and value. Potential buyers desire updated, modern kitchens, making kitchen renovation a smart move for homeowners looking to sell. Cosmetic upgrades like painting cabinets, replacing countertops, updating fixtures, or installing new appliances typically yield an ROI between 70-80% of the cost.

Use Contrast to Your Advantage

Mix and match cabinets. Who said uppers and lowers had to be the same color? Use complimentary but contrasting countertops. This Orange County kitchen renovation uses two colors of quartz for the countertops.

Keeping it Cool

White and grey tones give the modern Orange County kitchen a clean and cool look. From the choice of flooring to the art on the wall, this kitchen incorporates cool, coastal living vibes. Forget what you think you know about grey. Grey remains a popular color in kitchens, bathrooms, and bedrooms in Orange County. As a cool neutral tone, grey offers the opportunity to either add a pop of color or use black for drama.

Turning Up the Heat

2024 turned a corner on kitchen renovation trends. It marks the return of warm tones and more wood tones to the kitchen.

The warmth of the wood provides the perfect foil to the gorgous quartz countertops. Even the vent hood gets the warmth treatment with a little wood.

This Orange County kitchen renovation brought the dream of a casual, coastal kitchen vibe to life through the use of warm tones and natural finishes. Open shelves provide a great alternative to upper cabinets and make small spaces appear larger while offering great storage.

Get an Inspired Orange County Kitchen Renovation

Ready for a kitchen renovation that brings your dreams to life? Talk to Inspired Remodels. Their design and build approach to kitchen remodeling offers all the services you need while minimizing the hassle and stress of kitchen remodeling. Call (949) 716-1938 or contact us online to schedule a consultation.