Are those kitchen sales prices as good as they appear?

As we slowly emerge from lockdown a number of the national retailers are advertising their sales.’Free this…’, ‘lower price on that’, ‘free fitting’…

Whilst the headline prices they quote may look attractive they are often designed purely to draw you in before giving the unwary the whole story and final quote for the cost of that kitchen you thought would be a bargain.

Please don’t misunderstand us, we’re happy to compete with any retailer, local or national.  However, we fundamentally believe you should have the whole picture – and price – up front and not until after you’ve been enticed by figures that will, ultimately, bear no relation to the final price you’ll pay. To help you really make your mind up as to whether their kitchen offers are what they seem, here are our 9 tips for the points you need to keep in mind:

The pricing:

1. The ‘mega discounts’ being offered are usually only on the furniture and not all the other elements of having a new kitchen designed and installed e.g. the appliances, worktops, fitting costs, the other trades required such as electricians, plumbers and plasterers etc that are required on virtually every job
2. The sale prices being offered are usually on only a few of their ranges, and likely to be ones that are taking up room in their warehouses or soon to be discontinued by the manufacturer
3. Often, before they’ll even contact the installer, it’s likely you’ll have had to pay 100% of the cost upfront or contract with the fitting company separately. As a result, it will be they who decide whether any snagging or other issues are covered within the price or whether more will need to be paid to have the job completed to your satisfaction. From what we’ve learned from clients, minor issues often need referring back by the installer with the inevitable delays that that can bring.  We don’t even take the final payment until you’re entirely satisfied with the job we’ve done

The quality:

1. The quality of their furniture is often not what you might have hoped for given the investment you’re making in your home. So confident are we in the quality of our furniture that we publish the specifications we insist upon so clients can compare like-for-like with any of our competitors.
2. Their kitchens aren’t bespoke manufactured to the specifics of your room. They’re supplied off the shelf and require significant fettling – or compromises made – to make them fit properly

The service:

1. Some of the major retailers will invite you to take your measurements to them for an instant quote. Over lockdown we considered this as an option before discarding it.  Why?  Trust us, even being out a few millimetres at measurement stage can be critical – and expensive – farther down the line. Plastering alone can make a crucial difference to dimensions and if they’re not rechecked by an expert, the fitting of a worktop can become an expensive nightmare.  It’s definitely something you need doing by experts.
2. And, if you do go with some of these companies, most don’t want the hassle involved with installing your kitchen. Once you’ve paid for it they hand the job over to a third-party company who are unlikely to be an expert in fitting kitchens which will ultimately result in a poorer standard of finish.  We use the same contractors on every job.  They know us and how our kitchens fit and will have been fully briefed by the designer and our project manager
3. It’s also often the case that it’ll be you or the lead installer will have to find the other tradespeople required and be the project manager, ensuring they all arrive on the correct days at the appointed time to ensure the job is completed in a properly managed, timely fashion. With social distancing now critical, having different contractors turn up at the same time just can’t happen. We never do this; full end to end kitchen project management for installing a new kitchen is complex, which is why it’s rarely found among kitchen design companies large or small.

The safety:

1. Safety, always overlooked in the excitement of having a new kitchen installed.  Unless you’re an expert can you be sure the work’s being undertaken safely?  We check all our contractors’ certifications, insurances and ensure, via our fully qualified, employed project manager, that the risks have been fully considered and steps taken to minimise them

Inspired?

So, if we’ve inspired you, why not talk to us for an honest view on what the true cost of your new kitchen may be?  Also, sk yourself what do you need and want for it to function for you and your family? Then see the other questions you should be asking yourself and start looking for inspiration.  Advice and design ideas are found all over the Web, including Nicholas Hythe, Pinterest, Houzz and many others. And, when you’re ready, feel free to book an appointment – in person or via video conference – with us.