Choosing Kitchen CabinetsChoosing kitchen cabinets doesn't have to be confusing. With a little research on your part you'll know what to ask for, what you want and need, and where to find it. All while saving the most money you possibly can. 1st - Decide what you need, what you want, and what you can afford.
Thinking about these questions will help get you going in the right direction. 2nd - Decide where you are going to look when choosing kitchen cabinets - don't limit yourself to factory cabinets only. After you’ve decided what you want and need and are choosing kitchen cabinets, check around. If you need to purchase new cabinets, don’t fall prey to the idea that all custom kitchen and bath cabinets are out of your pocket-book range. There may be cabinet shops out there that are actually less expensive than many factory cabinets (especially when you figure in all the costs like installation, tax, moldings, etc.). But, do be sure to check out the factory cabinets too. Bids should be free - at least once. All initial bids should be free. If you have to pay someone to bid on your project - Run. But, don't expect someone to bid on your cabinets more than once for free. If you make changes to your plan, or change you mind as to what you want and it needs to be re-bid, expect to pay a small fee at a custom cabinet shop. Factory cabinet bids will likely continue to be free no matter how many changes you make. But, remember, the more times you change your mind, the more chances there will be errors, especially with factory or semi-custom cabinets. Semi-custom cabinets are just factory cabinets with a few more options than stock cabinets. Explore rural and small shops - you may find some bargains If you are in a metropolitan area, take a look on the internet or in phone books from outside your area, under the headings cabinetry or kitchens. Rural cabinet shops have cropped up all over in the past 20 years. They are usually very good and usually less expensive than metro custom cabinet shops (although, don’t rule them out either, again, check around). Keep your eyes open when going local. Remember to always check any cabinet shop out first, before you put your hard earned money down. Here are some things that you can do to protect yourself as you compare kitchen cabinet companies: Real World Experience: My husband and I owned our own custom cabinet shop in rural Wisconsin for 14 years. Many times our customers were so satisfied, they would offer to let anyone see some of our work and visit their home. When we had a prospective customer that was unfamiliar with us, sometimes we would take our previous customers up on their offer (of course, always giving them advance notice and at least a thank you note as follow-up, if not a bottle of champagne – or their favorite beer!) We ran an honest shop, but we have seen some horror stories. One local fellow thought he was a cabinet maker, and wasn’t. He built cabinets in his spare time out of his barn (and not a nice one, either). He was always cheaper than factory built cabinets, but his work wasn’t nearly as good as factory. Often times he wouldn't even complete a job. There the homeowners sat, with half a kitchen. Our shop had to finish his work more than once. You can get some relative bargains out there, but you can also get taken - keep your eyes open while choosing kitchen cabinets! KEEP IN MIND: SOMETIMES FACTORY - DEPARTMENT STORE - LUMBER YARD CABINET QUOTES CAN BE SNEAKY When choosing kitchen cabinets, don’t just look at the bottom line price. If you quote factory cabinets (even some custom shops will leave these things out, too) make sure that the following are included in the price, or that you get prices for and consider: 3rd - Get what you need, what you want, and what you can afford. While choosing kitchen cabinets, make sure you are given a quote for what kind of kitchen and bath cabinets you want. If any cabinet shop or salesperson is hesitant to quote what you really want (especially if they can't explain why) be concerned. They should be helpful and not just push what they want to sell or what they have on hand. If they think something won’t work for you, they should be able to give legitimate reasons as to why, not just that they don’t sell those things. It’s okay if they lead you in the right direction, but after you weigh your options, you should get what you want. Again, don't forget about Countertop options. They really make a big difference in price. When choosing kitchen cabinets, ask your supplier what they offer for countertops. Keep the above ideas in mind as you are choosing kitchen cabinets. You will make informed decisions and save yourself some money. Return to Kitchen Cabinet Idea page from Choosing Kitchen Cabinets page, or see our related sites. And remember - Have a Happy Kitchen!! |