Most of the trouble on a kitchen or bath job starts before the first cabinet comes off the wall. Usually it's a contract nobody read closely, or a payment schedule nobody bothered to negotiate. Take these questions to every estimate meeting, ours included. Write the answers down. Our page on remodeling work in Severna Park can help you start building your short list.
Checking the License Before Anything Else
- What's your MHIC number, and is it on the contract? Maryland requires contractors to show the number on all contracts, trucks and advertisements. A pause here tells you something.
- Who sold me this job, and are they licensed? The contract has to carry the contractor's MHIC number, plus the name and license number of any salesperson who sold it. Check both.
- Who's doing the plumbing and electrical work? In Anne Arundel County, trade work like plumbing and electrical must be performed by county-licensed tradesmen.
- Why does any of this matter if the job goes bad? The MHIC Guaranty Fund only covers work by licensed contractors, and homeowners who hire unlicensed ones get nothing from it. Look the license up yourself before you sign.
Permits for a Severna Park Kitchen or Bath
- Which permits does my project need? Trade work like plumbing or electrical needs its own separate permit. Get the list in writing.
- Is the permit cost already in your number? County building permit fees are based on the value of the work. Ask to see that line.
- Who's home to let the inspector in? The county charges $150 for any scheduled inspection that isn't canceled 24 hours ahead or that the inspector can't get into. Somebody has to be there. Settle in advance whether that fee is yours or the contractor's.
Planning a project like this? Call Top Notch Contractors at 410-598-9933 for a straight estimate. We're a licensed Maryland home-improvement contractor (MHIC# 05-147079) remodeling Baltimore homes since 2010.
Money Questions to Settle in Writing
- Do you want anything before I sign? Maryland law says a home improvement contractor can't ask for or take any payment until the contract is signed.
- How big is the deposit? The statute caps it at one-third of the contract price. A 2026 bill, HB 1499, proposed raising that to one-half. On a hypothetical $60,000 kitchen, $20,000 is the ceiling.
- Can we tie payments to finished stages? MHIC says the schedule after the deposit isn't set by law, so you and the contractor negotiate it, and you can agree on a deposit below one-third. We'd suggest linking draws to things you can see, like a passed rough-in inspection or cabinets set and level.
Before you lay bids side by side, read our post on kitchen remodel costs in Towson, Catonsville and Severna Park.
Reading the Contract Line by Line
- Does it spell out the work and materials? Maryland requires a written, legible contract signed by each party that describes the work and materials, and you get a signed copy before work starts. Vague wording invites substitutions. Push for model numbers on faucets and appliances, plus the cabinet line and door style.
- What are the start and finish dates? The contract must give approximate dates for when work begins and when it's substantially complete. Our kitchen and bath timeline for Severna Park explains what's realistic.
- Is there a mandatory arbitration clause? If there is, it has to name the arbitrator, state any fees, say whether the result is binding and disclose that a Guaranty Fund claim is paused during arbitration, with both parties initialing and dating beside it. Read that section twice.
- Can I cancel after signing? If the sale falls under the Maryland Door-to-Door Sales Act, you can cancel until midnight of the fifth business day, or the seventh day if you're 65 or older, and a Notice of Cancellation form must be attached. If the job is financed through a mortgage or lien on your home, the first page must carry a notice that includes a three-business-day right to cancel.
How the Job Runs Once Demo Starts
- Who's my contact, and how quickly do they answer? Get one name and one phone number. Then ask how often you'll hear from that person in a normal week, and whether updates come by text or a call.
- How do change orders work? Every change should be written up and signed, with a price attached, before the crew does it.
- Is my house older than 1978? MHIC warns that paid renovation in pre-1978 homes may require lead abatement accreditation and lead information for the homeowner, and it points people to EPA and MDE. Ask whether the crew lead on your job holds that accreditation, and what they'll do to contain dust when they open up old plaster walls.
- What does the first morning look like? Find out where the dumpster goes and how dust is kept out of your HVAC returns. On a bath remodel, ask which bathroom stays usable. If you only have one, plan for that now.
For an estimate on your own project, call 410-598-9933. Top Notch Contractors is MHIC-licensed (#05-147079) and has been remodeling Baltimore homes since 2010.