1. Observe and protect
Write down what you don't like about the current kitchen, take a few photos, and note anything you've already had repaired or replaced.
2. Evaluate the house and site
A kitchen remodel is bounded by what's already true about the house: where the plumbing and wiring run, which walls are load-bearing, where windows and doors sit, and how much ventilation the space needs.
3. Define a written scope
Nail down prep and protection, exact materials, who pulls permits, testing, cleanup, what's excluded, and how a change mid-project gets priced.
4. Compare providers
Look past the bottom-line number to how each provider explains their reasoning — what they'd do differently, and where their scope stops.
5. Inspect closeout
Walk the finished kitchen together, confirm everything tests out, collect your warranty paperwork, and ask what upkeep the new materials need.