Choose cabinet maker with care, research
Cabinets can have a large impact on the style of your kitchen, and they are one of the first things you see when you walk into the room.
The Better Business Bureau of Greater Houston and South Texas offers the following tips for choosing a cabinet maker:
Do your research. There are a number of retailers that provide cabinets such as, building supply stores, kitchen and bath retailers, and home improvement stores. You may also prefer the option of designing and purchasing your cabinets from a custom cabinet business. Get quotes from a variety of sources to compare quality and price. Be sure to ask the business up front if it provides installation. Try to find a business that will install the cabinets, otherwise it could increase the cost and may cause issues with the cabinet’s measurements.
Ask for recommendations. Ask friends, family members or a reputable contractor to suggest reliable cabinet makers. Check out the businesses you are considering with BBBHouston.org to read reviews and the business’ complaint history.
Request a written estimate. Once you have compiled a list of business, it’s time to request a written estimate from at least three of the cabinet makers. The written estimate should include a detailed description of the cabinets you are purchasing, along with the cost of the cabinets and installation.
Check credentials .Be sure to ask the cabinet maker what they will do to assure the quality of the cabinets. The cabinet maker should be appropriately insured in case of an accident on the job. Request the cabinet maker to provide a list of references you may contact. Speak to a few of the references to ask about their experience with the cabinet maker. If possible, check out the cabinets in person to inspect the quality and see how they have held up over time.
Leave the measurements to the experts. Measurements are a crucial component of creating and installing cabinets. For this reason, it’s best to let the cabinet makers do all the measurements because being off by just an inch could lead to problems. Letting the business take the measurements will also ensure you will not be responsible for any dimensions that are off.
Read the written agreement carefully. The written contract should include start and completion dates, specific cabinet materials being used, detailed description of the finished product, costs, payment schedule, and the procedure for changing a detail in the contract. Be sure to ask if the cabinets will come with a warranty or guarantee, and be sure the details are included in the agreement.
Leah Napoliello is senior director of Investigative Services with the BBB of Greater Houston and South Texas. Send questions to Leah Napoliello, Better Business Bureau, 1333 West Loop South, Suite 1200, Houston, TX 77027, or e-mail lnapoliello@bbbhou.org. Include your mailing address and phone number.