Kitchen remodeling: a guide for pros

What customers ask, how to win the job, and what to put on your profile.

Offering kitchen remodeling

Kitchen remodels are sold on layout and finish choices, and they go wrong on measurements, lead times and hidden plumbing or electrical. Win the job by making the layout and the order schedule clear before the customer signs.

What customers ask

  • Can you keep the sink and range where they are, or do you recommend moving them?
  • How long will the cabinets take to arrive, and when do you order them?
  • What do you do if you find water damage under the old sink?
  • Do you handle the plumbing and electrical, or do I hire those trades separately?
  • What countertop material do you recommend for a kitchen like mine, and what does the template visit involve?

How to win the job

  • On the first visit, measure wall lengths, ceiling height, window and door positions, and the location of every outlet and fixture, then show the measurements on the plan.
  • Show the work triangle on a simple layout drawing and walk the customer through what moving the sink or range adds to the plumbing and gas work.
  • Put the order dates for cabinets and countertop template in the schedule, so the customer sees the lead time that controls the job.
  • Quote the plumbing, gas and electrical work as separate lines, with the permit and inspection steps named, so the customer knows what sits outside the cabinet price.
  • Bring a sample door, a sample drawer front and a countertop sample with the seam location marked, so the customer can see the actual finish.
  • Write the hidden-damage clause into the quote, stating how you will document water or rot found under sinks and behind ranges and how the change is approved.
  • Name the person who will be on site and the person the customer calls about the order status.

What to put on your profile

  • Finished kitchen photos from the same angles as the before photos, with the cabinet line and countertop material named
  • Close-up photos of drawer boxes, soft-close hardware, joinery and the countertop seam, which show quality
  • A photo of the rough-in stage with the new plumbing and wiring visible, before the walls were closed
  • A short note on the appliance hookups and venting you handled, such as range hoods and dishwasher drains

Follow-up that helps the customer

  • A care sheet for the countertop, sealer and cabinet finish, sent with the final invoice
  • A check after the first few weeks to look at door alignment, the sink connections and the caulk lines
  • A list of which items are covered by the manufacturer warranty and which are covered by your workmanship warranty

Licenses and permits

Kitchen remodels often need licensed plumbing and electrical work and building permits, particularly when the layout changes. Confirm your contractor registration, trade licenses and insurance in your state and locality before you take the job.

Questions

Do I need to be the one who pulls the permit?

Confirm who pulls it in your area. Some jurisdictions let the contractor pull it, and others require the licensed trade or the owner to pull it. Say in the quote who pulls each permit and what it covers.

How do I price a cabinet line I have not installed before?

Get the manufacturer's installation guide and the box specifications before you quote. Ask the supplier about any special hardware or filler needs, and put any unknown in the quote as an item that will be confirmed.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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