Make sure your dream kitchen doesn’t turn into a nightmare. Always find the right kitchen installer for your project.
Look at Local, Independent Installers
Local, independent installers are usually better than large kitchen companies. Get at least three quotes to protect yourself. This will help you determine the correct price and flag any installer who is not legitimate. Get the quote in writing and make sure it includes all costs and details of the work that will be carried out. Ask if there are any hidden costs, such as waste disposal, as these can often turn out expensive.
Does the kitchen fitter you are considering specialise in a specific aspect of kitchen fitting? Are they experts in kitchen design, kitchen tiling or kitchen refurbishment? It might be best to use specialist tradesmen for some aspects of the job to find the right plumber, carpenter, tiler etc. Make a list of the skills that are needed and discuss this with any potential kitchen installers.
Check Out Reviews
Look at reviews to see how previous customers rate the kitchen installer’s work. Choose a kitchen installer with lots of positive reviews and make sure you check profile photos and any portfolio. Online reviews can easily be faked so watch out for those kitchen installers who have only 5* and 1* reviews. If genuine they should have a mix of reviews and, if they are good, they should have mainly 4* and 5* reviews. If they are local, ask for references and speak to people they have already done work for. A good kitchen installer will be able to provide you with references with no issue as they should be proud of their work.
Use Qualified Gas and Electrical Engineers
Are you having any gas or electrical work done? Make sure the installer is a Gas Safe registered engineer or a qualified electrician. Find out if the kitchen installer has insurance. All tradesmen should have public liability insurance and employee insurance if they have employees. Ask if the they use subcontractors and always make sure that every contractor is insured, experienced and trained in the job. You also need to be clear who is responsible if anything were to go wrong.
How Long Have They Been Operating?
Check to find out how long potential kitchen installers have been operating and avoid those who have recently set up. Also discount those who have closed a previous business and reopened under a different name. Experience is important and a long established business is a good sign that the work is completed to a high standard. Find out if they are familiar with building regulations. This is very important when having major work done on your kitchen. Never be afraid to ask questions. Ask about their experience with jobs similar to yours and find out how they will approach the work. Find out if they have any photos of similar work?
Another useful tip is to find out how long you will need to wait before they can take on fitting your kitchen. If they are good they will be busy. If they can do the work immediately then they likely aren’t the best choice.
Agree Payment Terms
Make sure you agree payment terms in advance of any work. It is normal for a kitchen installer to request an upfront payment to pay for materials and you can then agree on a payment schedule. Always make sure you hold back a reasonable amount until the work is complete. If the job isn’t completed to the standard you expected, you can use this as an incentive to get the work rectified and finished to an acceptable standard.
Follow Your Gut Instinct
Finally you should follow your gut instinct. You need to be able to trust your kitchen fitter and feel comfortable around them. If you aren’t sure then keep looking!
If you buy an ex display or used kitchen via Used Kitchen Hub we can recommend a kitchen fitter who will reconfigure the kitchen to fit your space. Give us a call now to discuss ☎ 0203 002 0005 or visit www.usedkitchenhub.com
