Where to start with kitchen remodel

1. You need someone who is bonded, licensed and can pull permits from your city or county on the type of work you need done.
2. Talk with your neighbors, church members, friends and find out if anyone has had this type of work done and who they recommend or do not recommend.
3. An NKBA designer is never a bad person to have design your kitchen. They have been trained and should be able to make the experience at least a little easier. And they may have recommendations of contractors as well.
4. Get at least 3 bits.
5. Check the references and ask about the timeline for the work to be done; how payments are to be handled (never pay until the city or county has done an inspection and passed the work). There should not be any money up front before the work starts.
6. If they tell you 4 weeks, count on 6 to 8.

Good luck.

You need a licensed contractor. Skip the handyman side hustle guys, you need someone who knows your local building codes. In CA if you do a gut job on a kitchen and any wall removal, it requires a permit. If you need design help, there is a lot of free advice out there. Just do your homework well. Never pay in full up front, allow no work to be performed without a signed contract. Here are some great sites for you to study up on how to hire a contractor.

https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0242-hiring-contractor

https://www.thisoldhouse.com/ideas/top-8-pro-tips-how-to-hire-contractor

https://www.travelers.com/tools-resources/home/renovation/checklist-for-hiring-the-right-contractor

This is the CA site, but it has a lot of consumer information which is applicable no matter where you live.

http://www.cslb.ca.gov/

There are great reputable trades people out there. We are here for you when you get stuck or need advice.

I highly recommend that you take a look at HomeAdviser.com. They are a company that provides homeowners with all types of professionals. We have used them twice and been very happy with results. They do background checks on all their pro's AND they provide customer reviews too. We used one of their pros to install tile back splash. And we also hired some of their pros to install a black top driveway. Both times they were professional and very respectful. I would

I agree on finding a professional to do this job. Handymen and side guys are not who you want doing your electrical work, wall removal, etc. You want them to work fast, on schedule, and competently, so you have your kitchen back as soon as possible. (A friend has been left with a half done kitchen for many months because the unlicensed handyman who is doing the job has family problems. Plus, he's been paid for most of the job, so she will have to pay a real contractor to finish the job.)

Check with your state or county Building Department or Consumer Affairs to check for licensing and complaints before you sign with anyone.

Taking care of a little guy does not coordinate with a do-it-yourself kitchen remodel.