DIY / Home Improvement

What to Look for When Getting Custom Cabinets

Getting a new set of custom kitchen cabinets is exciting. New cabinets can drastically change your kitchen aesthetics, which is actually one of the top reasons for getting a cabinet overhaul.

However, before you contract with a local installer, you need to make sure you’re hiring the right company. No matter what cabinet style you’re looking for, your installer should be able to get the job done quickly and professionally.

To avoid getting stuck with an installation team that isn’t professional or experienced, here are some signs to help you choose the right company.

1. Look for long warranties

Your kitchen cabinets should last for decades, provided they aren’t destroyed in a natural disaster. A professional installation company should be able to back up their work with a long warranty.

For instance, K.C. Custom Cabinets offers a 10-year warranty on all of their projects. They’ve also earned “Best of Houzz” awards for five years in a row, which brings up the next point.

2. Pay attention to the company’s customer service

Pay close attention to how a company’s customer service department operates. Whether you’re connecting online or over the phone, you should be treated with respect and get your questions answered promptly.

Great customer service is a sign of professionalism. It means the company cares about all the small details. For instance, your customer service rep should be eager to answer your questions and direct you to the right department. If you have any lingering questions, they should take your name and number to call you back – and follow through.

If you speak with a company that doesn’t call you back and doesn’t offer to return your call with more information, they’re probably not someone you want to contract.

3. Identify awards earned, if any

Kitchen cabinet installers aren’t just handed awards – they must be earned. Find out if your installers have won any awards and then see what those awards mean. Check for local awards as well as internet awards.

Awards don’t guarantee you’ll get the best service, but when combined with other factors, they can support a good company’s reputation.

4. Are past customers satisfied?

Customer satisfaction is perhaps the most important thing to look for in your contractor. Whether a company performs all kinds of renovations or specializes in kitchen cabinets, make sure their past customers are satisfied.

Cruise by all of the usual review sites like Google My Business, Yelp, Facebook Business pages, and Trustpilot, and look for happy customers. If you see any negative reviews, read them thoroughly to understand each problem. For instance, did the company damage the walls, doors, and ceiling? Did the company fail to install level cabinets?

Not all bad reviews are a company’s fault. Many people leave bad reviews over their own mistakes, communication errors, misunderstandings, and honest mistakes. Other people leave bad reviews when they just don’t prefer the product or service, even though there’s nothing wrong.

While you’re browsing the reviews for potential cabinet installers, look for company interactions with customers. Does the company respond to complaints? Do they resolve customer issues? Sometimes companies don’t respond publicly, but they do contact customers behind the scenes. However, great companies will respond publicly and offer to make things right.

5. Are the prices reasonable?

When getting your kitchen cabinets installed, you want to contract with an installer who charges reasonable fees, but doesn’t offer enormous discounts. At first, it might sound crazy to avoid installers who offer enormous discounts. However, you always get what you pay for.

Professional cabinet installers are worth standard industry rates. You can certainly find professionals who offer small discounts, but be wary of those who offer discounts that seem too good to be true.

6. What is their BBB rating?

In addition to checking review sites like Yelp and Trustpilot, you also need to check their Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating. Checking out a company’s BBB rating will give you access to complaints consumers have filed against the company.

Complaints filed with the BBB hold a bit more weight than complaints posted to Facebook or Yelp. BBB complaints must be substantiated to some degree, as the platform requests specific information and isn’t just a free-for-all complaint form.

If a company has a number of satisfied customers and a high BBB rating, they’ll probably be a better selection than competitors with low ratings.

With due diligence, you’ll find the right kitchen cabinet installer for the job

Instead of rushing to complete your project, take time to research your installer options. Do your due diligence and investigate each potential installer before hiring someone. Make sure you know who you’re hiring and the kind of work you can expect.

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