A Newsletter from Southwest Kitchen & Bath
Hi Everyone,
Bob Elkins here again with another “Kitchen Connections” newsletter. This month’s topic:
Common Myths About Kitchen and Bath Remodeling
In my years of experience and observation, there are many myths that pop up regularly in a kitchen or bath remodel:
Myth #1: “If I get three bids I will get a better price.
” If you go thru the effort to contact 3 different companies for a bid on your kitchen update, you must compare the bids “apples to apples”. Price is a an important part of the bid but is the bid price what drives the final selection of contractors for your project? ? Is that really the best way to hire a remodeling company? This misconception is that remodeling is a product and not a service. When you have your kitchen or bath home remodeled, you are receiving a service. Ask for referrals of past clients, check their licenses, see if the BBB has blessed them. All of these credentials have been established to support you.
Myth # 2-“If I take the lowest bid, am I really getting the best price”
There are many reasons for low bids including incomplete or vague scope of work, shoddy materials, poor craftsmanship, slow production, inadequate safety precautions, lack of insurance, no warranty service, and/or miscommunication about your expectation of quality. The point is that when you are looking to remodel your home “Price Shopping” and falling into the trap of the “three bid myth” is not the answer because no two companies will have the exact same level of creativity, service, quality or products. It is impossible to know based on price alone what you are actually going to receive unless everything is spelled out in infinite detail. Remodeling is not like buying a car, it represents a complete service, it is not a product.
Myth #3-“The home centers are the best place to go for the best price.”
Home centers are great for the DIY folks, or weekend warriors. When you buy from a home center, you are putting on many hats. If you have the time and you want to do the project yourself, from the design, the field measure, the ordering, coordinating the trades, managing the scope of work daily from each entity involved in the project, scheduling the deliveries and all other aspects of the project and you are not attaching a value to your time for doing these things to final cost of the project, then home centers remain a competitor to your local dealer . However, your local dealer has done hundreds of kitchens or bath remodels and can apply that expertise to your project. . …I am just sayin’…think it through. How many weekends do you want to wait for your kitchen project to get done?
Next month I will cover some more myths of the trade. I hope you have found these little tid-bits of wisdom helpful when making your choices. We are here to help in any way we can.
Check out our website www.southwestkitchen.com for a complete remodel checklist. The design team at Southwest Kitchen & Bath is here to help with any of these budget or construction questions. And remember we offer FREE in home consultations to help you prepare for projects like these. We can meet with you to do an exact quote for your layout at your convenience. Saturday and evening appointments are available.
Thanks again and happy holidays!
Bob
7780 N. Oracle Rd # 150
Tucson, AZ 85704
Phone: (520) 531-9187
Fax: (520) 531-8598
Email: info@southwestkitchen.com
www.southwestkitchen.com