Look Before You Leap
We think most people, if they are reading this, are in the process of doing what our chapter title recommends. Simply stated, visit as many kitchen showrooms as your schedule will allow. Study their displays for styles, colors and trends, as well as for completeness and quality installation work. Talk with designers/salespeople to establish their credentials, and to get a feel for the way they handle themselves and present their products.
The purpose of all this legwork is to help you decide where you would feel comfortable doing business, and with whom. Let’s face a simple fact; no matter what happens or what is or is not written down, your purchase is an act of faith between you and your salesperson. Be comfortable with that person from the beginning, so that if problems occur later, you are assured they will be handled.
Look for a firm with a history of design excellence on staff to help you properly plan your project. Look for a professional, qualified by education and experience, to research, design, plan and supervise the installation of your kitchen. Established businesses, with a showroom or showrooms, enable the homeowner to buy with confidence that the project will be serviced for years to come; many independent contractors who work without a place of business survive hand to mouth, and may not have the resources to stay in business for the long haul.
There are other resources available for you to investigate the remodeling process. Ask your neighbors and relatives for recommendations. Peruse the various shelter magazines available at most supermarkets. These publications are an excellent source of current design trends and new product developments. Even the real estate show house tours on television are a way to see what others have done in their kitchens.
Basically, we feel an informed consumer will ultimately be the happy customer that we want everyone to be. The more information you gather early in the process, the better your decisions will be down the road.
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