Ask a Contractor: Kitchen & Cabinet Bid Reviews

Got a big kitchen bid full of cabinet line items you can't judge? Get a plain-spoken review from someone who has built high-end custom kitchens, so you can sign with confidence or ask better questions first.

My specialty: kitchen and cabinet quotes

Kitchen bids are often the biggest check a homeowner writes, and cabinets are often a big part of it. The line items are hard to judge if you've never built a cabinet: "full overlay," "plywood box," "conversion varnish," "scribe molding." I spent years building custom kitchens, so I can tell you what those lines mean, what's missing and what to ask.

In a kitchen or cabinet quote, I look at: - Box construction: material (plywood vs. particleboard/MDF), thickness, framed vs. frameless, joinery, back panels, shelf type - Doors and drawers: door style and overlay, door material, drawer box construction, slides, soft-close - Finish: paint vs. stain, finish type, which sides get finished, touch-up and color matching - Hardware: hinges and slides included? Pulls and knobs priced, or an allowance? - Crown, fillers and panels: crown, light rail, fillers, scribes, end panels, appliance panels and toe kicks, all included or added later? - Install: who installs, leveling and shimming, scribing to walls, removing old cabinets, disposal - Allowances and exclusions: cabinet, countertop and hardware allowances, plus what's left out (counters, backsplash, plumbing, electrical, trim)

I review other remodeling and repair bids too. See the general review below.

Who this is for

• Homeowners with a kitchen or cabinet quote, or any remodeling or repair bid, who aren't sure what they're looking at
• Anyone who wants to know what a bid leaves out before signing
• People comparing two or three bids that don't line up
• First-time remodelers who want to know what to ask their contractor

I'm Jeremy Skadeland. I've been in remodeling since 1999. I started out running my own custom cabinet company building high-end kitchens and worked with other cabinet shops, and for the past 11 years I've worked strictly in home remodeling as a project manager, head carpenter and estimator. I've written bids, built from them and managed the jobs, so I know what a good one looks like. I'm not here to sell you a job or steer you to anyone. I'll just tell you what I see in the paperwork.

Review options

Kitchen & Cabinet Quote Review (kitchens, cabinet-only quotes, built-ins, vanities) - Call — $99: 45-minute Cal Video call plus a written summary within 48 hours of the call. Book a kitchen call ($99) - Written-only — $59: no call. A written summary within 48 hours of receiving your documents. Pay for a kitchen written review ($59)

General Bid Review (bathrooms, basements, additions, roofing, decks, repairs and other remodeling) - Call — $99: 45-minute Cal Video call plus a written summary within 48 hours of the call. Book a general call ($99) - Written-only — $59: no call. A written summary within 48 hours of receiving your documents. Pay for a general written review ($59)

Every review covers what's missing, what's unclear, and the questions to ask before signing. For calls, I go through your bid, photos and any drawings before we talk.

Prices cover a typical residential bid review, including comparing a few bids for the same project. If you have a very large project or many bids, email me before booking and I'll let you know if it needs more time.

What I look at in every bid

• Scope: what's included, what's vague, and what's missing
• Allowances: fixture, tile or cabinet allowances that may run low
• Exclusions: what the contractor isn't covering
• Payment schedule: deposit size and when payments are due
• Change orders: how changes get priced and approved
• Permits (if required): who pulls them and who pays
• License and insurance: what to ask for and how to check it
• Timeline: start date, duration and what happens if it slips
• Warranty: what's covered and for how long

How it works

Video call ($99) 1. Book and pay. Pick an evening or weekend time and pay up front by card. 2. Send your documents. Email your bid and photos to fieldsoftpicks@gmail.com, ideally at least 24 hours before the call. 3. We talk, then you get a summary. We go over what I found on Cal Video, and your written summary arrives within 48 hours of the call.

Written-only ($59) 1. Pay. Use the written-only payment link and enter your project ZIP code at checkout. 2. Email your documents. Send your bid, photos, project ZIP code, county and project type to fieldsoftpicks@gmail.com. 3. Get your summary. I check that your project is in an area I serve, then send your written summary within 48 hours of receiving your documents. The 48 hours start when your documents arrive, not when you pay.

What to send beforehand

• The bid or bids (PDF, photo or screenshot is fine)
• Photos of the area being worked on
• Drawings, plans or sketches, if you have them
• For kitchens: the cabinet layout or drawing, cabinet spec sheet or quote, door style and finish samples or photos, and an appliance list if you have them
• Your project type and ZIP code
• Your budget, if you're comfortable sharing it
• Your top questions or concerns

Email everything to fieldsoftpicks@gmail.com after you pay. For calls, send it at least 24 hours ahead if you can. For written-only reviews, include your project ZIP code, county and project type in the email. The more you send, the more useful the review.

Scheduling

I work in the field during the day, so calls are held in the evenings and on weekends, which tends to work well for homeowners too.

• Weekday evenings: 6–9 PM Eastern
• Weekends: 9 AM–3 PM Eastern

Some times may be blocked when I'm booked or on a job. Just pick whatever open slot works for you. Written-only reviews don't need a time slot. Your summary arrives within 48 hours of receiving your documents.

Service area

Calls are by video, so I can review bids for most U.S. projects. I don't review bids for projects in Lucas, Wood or Fulton County, Ohio. If your project is in one of those counties, please don't book or pay. I check every order before starting, and any order for a project there will be canceled and fully refunded before any work is done.

Please read: advice only

This is an educational review and opinion. It is not a home inspection, not contracting services, not an engineering or code review, and not legal advice. I don't visit your site, and you make your own decisions. See the full disclaimer.

FAQ

Will you tell me which contractor to hire? No. I'll point out strengths, gaps and questions for each bid so you can make the call yourself.

Can you tell me if the price is fair? I can tell you where something looks unclear, light or worth questioning. Prices vary a lot by region and project, so I won't give you a "right" number. I'll help you ask the questions that get you one.

Do you come out to the house? No. Everything is remote, based on the documents and photos you send.

What video platform do you use? Cal Video. It's free, and you can join from a computer, phone or tablet. The link comes in your booking confirmation.

What if I need to reschedule a call? With 24 hours' notice or more, you can reschedule for free or cancel for a full refund. Inside 24 hours, you get one free reschedule but no refund.

Can I get a refund on a written-only review? Written-only reviews are fully refundable until I start the review, but not after. If your documents don't arrive within 7 days of payment, I'll refund you in full.

When does my written-only review start? When your documents arrive at fieldsoftpicks@gmail.com. Your summary comes within 48 hours of that.

Is my information private? Yes. Your documents are used only for your review and are never shared or posted.

Questions before booking? Email fieldsoftpicks@gmail.com

Book a kitchen call ($99) Book a general call ($99) Pay for a kitchen written review ($59) Pay for a general written review ($59)