How this referral service works in Concord, CA
Who we are, who you will talk to, what we will not decide for you, and how to check a California contractor license.
We are a referral service, not a contractor
Concord Remodel Guide does not remodel kitchens or bathrooms, does not hold a contractor license, and does not perform construction. California makes it a misdemeanor to advertise for construction without a license in that classification, and advertising includes an electronic page. This site publishes information for Concord, CA homeowners and passes requests to an independent licensed general contractor.
CSLB's Fast Facts for online marketplaces say a referral service is legal within limits. It cannot solicit or negotiate a contract for a contractor, and it cannot offer to do the construction itself. You contract with the contractor, and you pay the contractor.
Where your request goes
When you send a request with the form, it comes to us first. We ask if we may pass your request to one independent licensed general contractor serving Concord, Pleasant Hill, or Clayton, and we tell you who that contractor is before we pass it on. That contractor gives you their own assessment and their own written contract, under their own license.
How we get paid
Right now no contractor pays us. You pay us nothing either way, and you are never obligated to hire anyone. When a contractor does pay for referrals, this site will name them and their license number.
How a remodel works with the contractor we connect you with
Every remodel is designed, quoted, permitted, and built by the contractor you hire, not by us. Here is the typical path from first call to final payment, including a few things worth asking about.
1. Phone call and onsite consultation
Typical: 1 to 2 weeks to schedule
Most contractors start with a short call, then visit to measure and look at plumbing, electrical, and walls. Many East Bay contractors do this first visit at no charge; some charge a fee for the onsite visit.
Questions to ask
- If there is a fee for the visit, is it credited toward the project?
- What is your CSLB license number, and is it a B general building license?
- Is the license holder involved in my project, and who manages it day to day?
2. Design, selections, and written scope
Typical: 2 to 6 weeks
Expect a layout, often 3D renderings, and a written scope covering cabinets, countertops, layout changes, and electrical. Pre-selecting finishes before construction is the best way to avoid change orders and delays.
Questions to ask
- What is included, and what is an allowance?
- How do change orders work, and how are they priced?
- What might we find when walls open in an older home, and how is that handled?
3. Contract
Typical: About 1 week, plus a 3 day right to cancel
California caps the down payment at $1,000 or 10 percent of the price, whichever is less, and any payment before completion has to follow a written schedule tied to work actually done.
Questions to ask
- What is the payment schedule, stage by stage?
- Is the final payment due after the city's final inspection?
- What is your workmanship warranty, in writing, and for how long?
4. City of Concord permit
Typical: About 2 to 4 weeks for a typical remodel
Concord requires a building permit for kitchen and bathroom remodels, including replacements, and for shower or tub enclosures. The contractor usually applies through the city's online permit portal. The city's posted schedule targets about 10 business days for a first plan review of a residential alteration, 5 business days for a minor alteration such as a tub or shower remodel, plus about 2 business days of processing on either side; the city says times vary by workload.
Questions to ask
- Who pulls the permit, and will my project be filed as an alteration or a minor alteration?
- Does my project need anything beyond the building permit?
5. Ordering materials and prep
Typical: Often overlaps with permits; cabinets can take several weeks
Cabinets, specialty tile, and appliances are ordered once selections are final. Before work starts, the contractor plans dust containment and protection for floors and other rooms.
Questions to ask
- What are the lead times on my cabinets and counters, and will work wait until they arrive?
- How will you contain dust, and can we live in the house during the work?
6. Demolition and rough in
Typical: About 1 to 2 weeks including inspections
Demolition usually takes 1 to 3 days, then framing, plumbing, and electrical rough in, followed by city inspections before walls are closed.
Questions to ask
- Which inspections happen, and will you tell me when each one passes?
- What working hours should I expect?
7. Installation
Typical: About 3 to 5 weeks
Drywall, then cabinets, then countertop templating and installation, then backsplash, tile, fixtures, lighting, and appliances.
Questions to ask
- How long between cabinet install and countertop install?
- Who is my point of contact if something looks wrong during installation?
8. Final inspection, walkthrough, cleanup, and final payment
Typical: About 1 week
The city does a final inspection. The contractor walks the work with you, makes a punch list, completes it, and cleans up.
Questions to ask
- Will I get a copy of the final inspection?
- What is the follow up schedule for warranty items?
What many remodeling contractors leave out
- That the City of Concord requires a building permit for kitchen and bathroom remodels, including replacements, and for shower or tub enclosures.
- California's down payment cap and progress payment rule, and the three day right to cancel.
- That final payment should follow the city's final inspection, not just your own walkthrough.
What we will not do
We do not quote a price, agree a scope, take a deposit, or book the job. California's home improvement statute treats an oral agreement between a salesperson and a homeowner as a home improvement contract. We stop at your contact details and, if you want one, a time for the contractor to follow up. The details are in the contract guide.
Call recording
Calls to this site are recorded to confirm referrals and for quality. You will hear a notice at the start of the call, before you are connected and before any recording starts. If you do not want to be recorded, hang up and use the request form instead.
Check the license
Before you sign, look up the contractor on the CSLB license check and make sure the license number is on the contract. A licensee has to show that number in advertising. This site does not name a contractor.