You’ve made it through 99 percent of your kitchen remodel and you cannot wait to get moved in and begin loving every inch of it. But there are a few more very important steps in the process that need to be completed.
These are the things that, if left undone, can make a stunning remodel mediocre, and leave you feeling that your expectations weren’t met, let alone exceeded. So before you consider your remodel complete, follow these very important recommendations for wrapping up your project.
The Punch List
One of the most important is the punch list — an itemized accounting of all the seemingly tiny things that remain to be done or that must be corrected for you and contractor to agree the work is complete and the job is done.
The best way to compose a punch list is to walk through the almost-finished project with your contractor and your written scope of work (again proving the value of a scope of work with a high level of detail) to conduct a step-by-step inspection of every single aspect of the remodel.
For example, open and close every cabinet door, drawer, pull-out shelf and Lazy Susan to make sure they function smoothly and quietly. Test all faucets, checking that hot and cold are where they’re supposed to be, that water pressure is adequate and that the hardware is correctly installed.
Other things to inspect include paint, woodwork and trim, flooring (including grout if any), countertops and all new appliances. Look for chips, cracks, spots that need a touch up, and so on. Take notes as you go defining exactly what needs additional work, where it is and the nature of the problem.
Appliance Warranties
Another key thing you want to do is make sure you have all the manufacturer’ paperwork for each new appliance, piece of hardware or other component. Check to be sure each contains the manufacturer’s warranty information so you have it in case anything goes wrong in the future. Your contractor’s warranty only covers their work, it does not cover materials.
Clean Up and Move In!
Last but by far not least is the cleanup. It should be included in your scope of work and should be thorough. Depending upon the extent of the remodeling project, good contractors often include a full house cleaning to be sure all residual dirt and dust is removed from every room.
You can now clearly see the light shining at the end of the remodel tunnel and once everything on your punch list is completed to your satisfaction, you will get the green light to move back into your kitchen! Enjoy!
To learn all of the steps in a kitchen remodel, read our all inclusive article, "Your Dream Kitchen Remodel," or click on the image below to get our complete remodeling toolkit, including worksheets and an ebook.
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