Do You Really Need a General Contractor for a Kitchen Remodel?

If you're planning a kitchen remodel, there's a good chance you've looked at your budget and wondered:

Do I really need to hire a general contractor?

Maybe you've gotten a few estimates and thought, What if I hire the plumber, electrician, cabinet installer and painter myself? How hard could it really be—and how much money could I save?

It's a fair question.

After more than 20 years working in kitchen design and remodeling, I've seen projects handled both ways. Some homeowners hire a general contractor to oversee construction, while others hire and coordinate their own subcontractors. Both approaches can work... but before you make the decision based on cost alone, there's one thing I want you to understand:

When you eliminate the general contractor, you don't eliminate the job of the general contractor.

Someone still has to do it and that someone is now you.

BEFORE

What Does a General Contractor Actually Do?

A kitchen remodel involves a lot of moving parts. Depending on the scope of your project, you may have demolition, framing, plumbing, electrical, drywall, flooring, cabinetry, countertops, tile, painting and appliance installation. All of those people can't simply show up whenever they're available.

Work has to happen in a particular sequence. One trade often needs to finish before another can begin. If something gets delayed, it can affect several other parts of the project. A good general contractor coordinates all of this. They're also the person dealing with problems when they arise—and if you've ever remodeled before, you know there will be a few!

Can You Manage Your Own Kitchen Remodel?

Absolutely.

You can still hire professional plumbers, electricians, cabinet installers, painters and other subcontractors. The difference is that you're now the person coordinating them. When the electrician has a question, you're the point person. If the cabinet installation is delayed and the countertop template needs to be rescheduled, you're handling it. If a subcontractor doesn't show up, you're figuring out what happens next.

For some homeowners, this works very well. They're organized, decisive, comfortable communicating and have enough flexibility in their schedules to handle problems when they arise.

For others, it can start to feel like a second full-time job. And that's why I wouldn't make this decision based solely on how much money you might save.

Is Being Your Own General Contractor Worth the Savings?

Managing your own subcontractors may reduce some of the cost associated with hiring a general contractor... but your time has value too.

Before deciding to take on the job yourself, consider how available you'll be during construction.

Can you answer calls during the workday when someone needs an immediate decision? Are you comfortable following up with tradespeople? Can you handle a difficult conversation if something isn't done correctly? Are you organized enough to keep track of several moving pieces at once?

And perhaps most importantly:

Do you actually want to do it?

There's a big difference between being capable of managing a kitchen remodel and wanting to spend weeks or months of your life doing it. For some people, the potential savings make the responsibility worthwhile. For others, paying someone experienced to manage the construction is worth every penny.

AFTER

Don't Overlook the Value of a Contractor's Relationships

There's another benefit of hiring a reputable general contractor that homeowners don't always consider...

Good contractors usually have established relationships with their subcontractors.

They may have worked with the same plumbers, electricians, carpenters and other tradespeople for years. They know the quality of their work. They know who shows up and those subcontractors know how the contractor runs a project. That can be a huge advantage.

Think of it as the difference between hiring a well-oiled machine and assembling the machine yourself. That doesn't mean you can't put together a great team of subcontractors on your own. You absolutely can, but those established relationships have value and that should be part of the equation when you're deciding whether a general contractor is worth the cost.

Whether You Hire a GC or Not, Plan Your Kitchen First

This is the part I can't emphasize enough...

Your kitchen should be designed and planned before construction begins.

Construction is not the time to start figuring out your cabinet layout, researching appliances or deciding where your lighting should go. You want the major design decisions made ahead of time.

Because once construction begins, unanswered questions can create delays—and delays tend to have a domino effect.

A great general contractor can manage construction, solve problems and bring tremendous experience to your remodel. But your contractor still needs to know what they're building.

After more than two decades designing kitchens, I've found that the smoothest projects aren't necessarily the ones where nothing goes wrong. Unexpected things happen in remodeling.

The difference is that a well-planned project gives everyone something to come back to.

There's a plan.

So, Do You Really Need a General Contractor?

It depends. Some homeowners are perfectly capable of hiring and managing their own subcontractors. Others will find tremendous value in having an experienced general contractor coordinate the construction.

Instead of asking only:

“How much money can I save?”

I'd ask:

“What am I willing and able to take responsibility for?”

Consider your time, personality, experience, access to reliable subcontractors and comfort dealing with problems as they arise. Then weigh all of that against the potential savings.

There isn't one right answer. The important thing is understanding which remodeling experience you're choosing before your kitchen is torn apart.

Planning a Kitchen Remodel? Start Here.

Whether you hire a general contractor or manage your own subcontractors, don't let demolition be the beginning of your kitchen remodel.

Start with the plan.

Download my FREE Kitchen Design Starter Kit to start thinking through your kitchen before construction begins, while you still have the time and flexibility to make thoughtful decisions.

And for more on this topic, listen to the latest episode of Kitchen Remodel Made Easy: Should You Be Your Own General Contractor for a Kitchen Remodel? Episode #31 🎧