subject: Where To Start When Looking For A Kitchen Company [print this page] In the days of a recession deciding where to put any money you may have managed to save is a big decision. Many, when the pickings were richer turned to buying and selling property. But when the going gets tough and the banks will not finance such frivolous spending, what are you to do with your cash.
Some people turn to putting money in to cash isa accounts or invest heavily in stocks trying to take advantage of the down trodden market place, but others have turned to their own homes and looked to improving their properties in order to improve their current living standards for the shorter term until the market recovers, in a hope of eventually selling for a bigger profit.
So, how do you find a good kitchen company? Listed below are some important points to be aware of when discussing a proposal with a kitchen fitter or kitchen company representative.
1. Beware if they discuss cash in hand to avoid not having to pay the VAT, or insist on a lot of money upfront.
2. Ensure they give you their company name, landline contact and address so you can check they exist.
3. Make any small existing faults out to be a lot worse than they are.
4. Bad mouthing local rivals, in order to make themselves look better.
5. Offer you a very low quote, if it is too good to be true then it probably is.
6.Ensure you understand what they are saying to you and do not let them get away with fobbing you off with technical jargon so you will not ask any questions. It is your house it is important that you are happy with what is going to happen to it.
7. If they tell you that a contract is unnecessary. Some form of written agreement is a good place to start.
8. Always ask for references as if they are unhappy to provide a reference or two then alarm bells should start to ring.
9. Ensure the overall costings are agreed if they are very vague then there is too much room for disagreement and cost can spiral out of control.
10. Agree a start date and if they can start straight away then this might be an alarm bell ringing, good kitchen companies are always busy.
The best way to find a reputable company is to go by word of mouth, or by researching well first.
A good company will completely project manage your project from start to finish managing all aspects including plumbing, gas work, floors etc. The key points of good project management are achieving all goals within the constraints - these constraints being scope, time and the all-important budget. A company that is based locally to your house is always a bonus, as they are then on hand at all times to ensure all components of a build are controlled.
A lot of companies outsource parts of the build to sometimes untrusted or unqualified companies they have no history of working with, all to get the job in at the correct price, therefore sacrificing the quality of the build. If the company has all the tradesmen working under one roof then the working relationship will be better. In addition to this they will ideally be fully qualified. City and guilds is preferable, to ensure a quality and safe finish. For kitchen installations you need to ensure that the fitters have City and Guilds in Carpentry and Joinery. Most kitchen companies do not possess such qualifications and work may be sub-standard as a result.
Good companies are hard to find so do your research well and you can add value to your home as well as to your life.
