09
May
Selecting Cabinetry for your home in Cranberry Township
One of the biggest and hardest choices customers make is selecting the right cabinet for their home. There are several things to consider when selecting the right cabinet for your kitchen or bathroom remodel so I have outlines the top 5 in my mind that customers should consider:
- The budget question. How long are you going to stay in your home? A good quality cabinet will last at least 15-20 years. I have seen some come back after 35 years and finally need another kitchen. So if you are going to stay in your home more than 5 years, a good quality cabinet is what I would choose. Keep in mind, a good kitchen builds equity in your home as well as enjoying it. Unlike a new car which drastically decreases in value in the first 5 years. If you want another benchmark, a kitchen should represent 10%-15% of the value of a home. Example, if your home is valued at $300,000 the kitchen, appliances & countertops should be valued at $30,000-$45,000.
- Who are you buying them from? You should know & feel comfortable with who you are buying your kitchen from so that when the unexpected happens you have someone to turn to. There is a big difference in buying from a Home Center and a private dealer. Consider most designers at home centers only have 1-3 yrs. experience and they do no project manage your job. At a home center you will be dealing with 3-5 people who manage your job, unlike a private dealer who usually sees you through the entire project.
- Listen to your designer. An experienced designer will direct you to cabinetry within your budget and have all the features you need and like. There are a lot of different brands and quality of cabinets out there and your designer knows the in/ outs of them by dealing with them every day. To help aid your designer start cutting out photos or colors of the things you have seen in magazines as well as making a list of things most important to you in your kitchen. For example if you have a special kind of an appliance that you must have then write down the dimension, make and model number.
- Do not get caught up in the promotions/ads running. Take your time with the process and enjoy the new creation of your kitchen or bathroom! If you a slightly over budget then your designer may be able to find a way to meet your goals without having to wait for another “promotion”
- Make sure you understand what you are buying. If your designer can not explain the differences in construction of cabinetry, then you may not have a qualified designer. Look at the finishes, borrow them, and take them home to see them under your light in the day/night to see if they are right for your home. You may also want to find the piece of granite/quartz/corian that coordinates before you buy. See what other people a saying about the cabinetry. Ask for references of past customers when in doubt.
