
You’ve collected home improvement inspiration, assembled a remodeling budget, and determined your design goals. It’s time to take your project to the next step: hiring a general contractor.
The key word when hiring a kitchen remodeling contractor or subcontractor is “trust.” Hiring an unlicensed or amateur contractor can cost you both financially and emotionally. It’s critical to find a trustworthy professional who is proven, honest, and respectful with how they treat you and your living space.
Follow the steps below to start finding your own reputable contractor today.
Step 1: Assemble a List of Contractors
A personal recommendation or trusted resource is often the best way to start. Assemble a list of kitchen contractors by asking friends, family members, neighbors and co-workers who they have worked with.
Forty-two percent of homeowners start their search with off-line, word-of-mouth referrals, according to a survey of 1,729 homeowners. That’s compared to only 13 percent of homeowners who reported that they began a search for a contractor using Google.

Chart data courtesy of Proremodeler.com
If you’re not able to find a personal recommendation, online services can be a great tool. Luckily, there are several places you can go to find information and reviews about cabinet contractors in your area. Here is a list of free online services you can use to start generating your contractor list:
- Angie’s List. Founded in 1995, Angie’s List is one of the oldest and most well-known review services for local home needs. Users can sign up for a free account, find names of local area contractors, read and write reviews, and request quotes.
Be aware that businesses spend money advertising on Angie’s List. This means they will show up higher in the search results even if they don’t have the best ratings. - HomeAdvisor: Formerly known as ServiceMagic, HomeAdvisor is a free service that matches users with available contractors. Rather than browsing a list of contractors like Angie’s List or Houzz, homeowners answer a series of qualifying questions about their project.
HomeAdvisor then sells this information to local contractors as a lead. Be prepared to start getting calls from contractors soon after you complete the questionnaire. HomeAdvisor requires a background check from contractors. - Houzz: This is one of the best online sources for finding project photos, inspiration, and design ideas. Houzz is a free site that lets you browse project galleries and post reviews of local pros. Like Angie’s List, Houzz favors paid listings in their search results.
- NARI: Unlike the other sites listed above, The National Association of the Remodeling Industry, or NARI, is a trade organization for remodelers. To get NARI-certified, contractors must possess years of proven remodeling credentials and pass a code of ethics examination that tests “knowledge of the industry and a commitment to professional conduct.”
Step 2: Research Reviews and Business Ratings
Step 3: Provide Information to Each Contractor
Step 4: Interview Prospective Contractors
Step 5: Request Bids and Talk to References
Step 6: Sign a Contract
During the Remodeling Project

