When you start shopping for kitchen remodels, especially at one of the big home center chains, you can often get a price quote that seems too good to be true. That's because it usually is. Getting informed and knowing what to watch out for when visiting home centers will make the whole process happen with success and ease. You’ll know exactly what to look for, how to ensure you don’t pay for this process more than you should, and what red flags to avoid.
Here are some important things you should keep in mind when shopping and preparing for a new kitchen.
What do I wish I knew before remodeling my
kitchen using home center tools?
If you want your kitchen remodeling to be successful, planning and attention to detail are of the utmost importance, especially if you’ve decided to buy your equipment at one of the home centers without the help of professionals. In this case, there are many things to be on the lookout for if you want to avoid complications with the whole cooking area upgrade process, but let’s take a look at the 6 most important factors you should consider:
1. Who measured the kitchen?
If you wielded the tape measure yourself, you’re going to be on the hook for any error. Did you hold the yardstick at the correct height? Did you use a measuring tape that sagged in the middle? Are the walls perfectly plumb (straight) and at 90-degree angles to each other?
2. What’s included in the job?
Do you have to pick up the cabinets, countertops, and other items and deliver them to your home yourself? (Some home centers want to rent you a truck at this point and act like they’re doing you a favor.) Suppose something is damaged during the delivery? Odds are you'll have to buy another one. Suppose the wrong item is delivered?
3. Who's going to tear out and dispose of the existing cabinets?
Some home centers leave that to the homeowner to figure out. Where is the nearest landfill and what do they charge for dumping waste? Can you remove the kitchen without damaging the wiring and plumbing? If you damage the drywall, can you replace it yourself?
4. Who’s going to install the kitchen?
Almost all home centers provide materials only. Installation is the customer’s lookout, and it's where most of the problems and kitchen remodeling mistakes, if any, will occur. With a home center kitchen, you have to find a separate contractor (or do it yourself), negotiate a price, hope he shows up on time, and watch his job performance. If something goes wrong, the home center won’t even want to hear about it. Even home centers that promise installation are often handing the job off to an independent contractor, not an employee, and make no promises or guarantees about the quality of the work.
5. How long is it going to take?
Many contractors fit in new jobs between existing jobs. You may find the contractor will tear out the old job on Tuesday of this week, come back to start installing on Thursday of next week, and not finish installation until several weeks from now. In the meantime, you and your family will be without a kitchen.
6. Is the price really the price?
Are all the cabinets and details on the perspective drawing actually in the material list of what you're buying? There have been cases where a home center employee added a crown molding to the drawing, and then charged extra for it after the client thought he had paid for everything. Contractors are notorious for finding extra charges after they've agreed on a price, because they know once the kitchen is torn up, you need it to be finished.
Before you decide to go with that lower price that seems so tempting, be sure to check for references and testimonials. You may find that the home center sells kitchens, but that the people they sell them to are not all that happy with the results.
What reputable company performs dependable
kitchen remodels?
If you’re looking for a dependable company that will streamline the whole kitchen remodeling process from the initial consultation to the final handshake after the job is done, Kitchen Magic is the choice for you. With a four-decade-long history in this industry and seasoned contractors ready to create the cooking space that you’ll love, our company has what it takes to make sure your cooking space has long-lasting beauty and functionality.
You can expect an initial consultation completely free of charge, a warranty that offers peace of mind, dedicated project leaders and design consultants that will be there every step of the way. We can proudly say we have numerous satisfied customers and a great number of positive testimonials are there to prove it. Call us or fill out an online form and reap the benefits of kitchen remodeling performed with utmost care and attention.
