Allow me to jump on my soap box for a minute. Having designed kitchens for 20 years and having worked for kitchen firms large and small, I am appalled at some of the pricing and sales tactics used to lure consumers into a kitchen remodeling contract.
In some ways I find kitchen remodeling and cabinetry sales very similar to the way cars were sold 10 or 15 years ago.
Do you remember when you would walk into a showroom armed with pricing from one or two dealers, confident that you were ready to negotiate the best price? After all, the cars were the same, weren’t they?
You would sit down in a small conference room and the slick salesman would slip you a piece of paper with what appeared to be an excellent price. As you prepared to sign the sales agreement you noticed that the price had increased as undercoating, paint protector, floor mats and a half-dozen other things were tacked on.
So you got the best price . . . or did you?
Beware the kitchen cabinet retailer or designer who talks only about price, as you may be in for a surprise. Are you sure all of the trim is included? Are the balusters you discussed in the quotation? Is there enough tile included to cover potential spoilage?
Think for a moment about how an expert installer might save you 5%, 10% or even 15% on wasted material. Consider how a professional kitchen designer can save you money by specifying stock pieces that are made to look and feel custom by the addition of trim, hardware and good design.
Long after the memory of price has faded, your kitchen’s function, durability and beauty will be an every day reminder of the value you received.
My prices will always be competitive, but sometimes I do not offer the lowest price. However, you can be sure that I always offer an excellent value.
According to the NKBA, the average price of a new kitchen from a kitchen dealer in 2010 is expected to exceed $30,000.