Three top tips for getting the best deal on a fitted kitchen
Buying a fitted kitchen is a big decision. Get it right, and you’ll have a quality kitchen that’s been properly fitted, with minimal disruption, and will last for many years. Get it wrong, and you could end up with a low quality kitchen that’s poorly fitted, takes ages to complete and starts to look tired after just a few years.
So, what steps can you take to ensure you get it right when buying a fitted kitchen?
Avoid the high street chains and trade only suppliers for a fitted kitchen
It might seem that the high street chains are the obvious way to go. After all, they’re convenient and familiar presences. Another apparently easy way is to buy a kitchen via your builder from one of the trade-only suppliers.
The problem is that, however convenient it might be, you won’t get a good value fitted kitchen from either of these routes. All you’ll be doing is paying over the odds for a low quality kitchen that’s unlikely to last much longer than about 5/6 years.
So, for example, their units will be constructed from low-quality, low density chipboard. The problem with low density chipboard is it bows under the weight of the worktops. The first signs of bowing is usually seen on the backs of the units. Once the backs start to bow, it isn’t usually long before they come away completely, exposing the wall & any pipework behind.
Also, their kitchens usually come with low quality wrapped doors. The problem with wrapped doors is they peel.
Below are some pictures of peeling wrapped doors.
Buy from a good value Independent kitchen showroom
The alternative is to find a good value Independent kitchen showroom. The best value independent kitchen showrooms will offer you a fitted kitchen that costs similar to the chains and trade only suppliers, but is higher quality and will last longer. So, rather than lasting about 5 or 6 years, their kitchens should last at least 15-20 years.
So, their units will be constructed from high-quality, high density chipboard. High density chipboard will support the weight of the heaviest worktops & will never bow. Plus, their kitchens will come with high quality lacquered doors. Lacquered doors will never peel like wrapped doors will.
Have it fitted by experts and not by builders
Price wise, a good value independent kitchen showroom will charge similar to what a builder charges for fitting. However, there’s lots of advantages of using the showroom to install your kitchen rather than a builder.
Your local builder is probably very good at his job. If you want an extension or a partition wall, he may well produce superb results. However, it’s very unlikely he’ll fit a kitchen as well as what the installers of a kitchen showroom will.
Also, when you use a builder to fit a kitchen, rather than the showroom you bought the kitchen from, the risk of problems arising are much higher. These problems usually delay completion of the kitchen and can be both stressful and costly to resolve.
How do you find the best value Independent kitchen showrooms in your area?
Kitchens sold by Independent kitchen showrooms vary in terms of price and quality. Therefore, finding the best value showrooms could take a very long time.
However, there is a quick way of finding them and that is to contact us and we will tell you who they are.
Our service is free.
Our free service recommends the best value kitchen suppliers in your area.
Their kitchens cost similar to the chains and trade only suppliers, but are higher quality and will last longer.
Showrooms offer free, no-obligation quotes and are within 30 minutes drive.
Read what our customers say about our service below:
“The kitchen your guys came up with is far more competitive than anything I have had quoted so far and the quality is in a different league”
Samantha Michaels, Watford, Herts
“Lloyd was able to point me to local independent kitchen retailers offering greater quality and value compared to the high street chains”
Mohammed Hashi, Northolt, Middx
“Kitchenfindr recommended a showroom who were much better value than most of the other showrooms I’d previously looked at”
Hannah Malone, Esher, Surrey
“If you’re looking for a good value kitchen supplier, these are the people to speak to first!”
Natalie D R, Stanmore, Middx