Contractor for Kitchen Remodel: What’s the Biggest Mistake to Avoid?

[yourdreamremodeling]

I'm about to hire a contractor for kitchen remodel, but I keep hearing stories about projects going wrong—missed deadlines, poor finishes, and unexpected costs.

If you've done a kitchen remodel, what's one mistake you wish you had avoided? Was it not checking references, not having a clear contract, or something else?

I want to get this right the first time, so any real-world advice would be appreciated.