Kitchen Reno's

How many estimates did you get...and how far in advance did you start calling people?


Just made our first appointment I need a completely different layout drawn up, cabinets to my specifications/needs and the measurements.

Did you have the 1st company do it and then take your drawing to be shopped around?

Re: Kitchen Reno's

I had 3-4 estimates. 3 out of 4 of our estimates were using stock items vs someone really designing the space. We had to pay for our drawing which could not be released to us at that price range (if we wanted it released the cost for the design was higher), but it didn't matter b/c it was applied to our package since we chose them in the end anyway. It took me almost 2 months just to get the estimates and make a decision.

Message edited 3/10/2015 11:06:28 PM.

Re: Kitchen Reno's

It's taking forever, or at least it feels like it. We are doing slightly more than the kitchen (a small extension) but we started calling people in early February. The architect drawings aren't done, then we have to get contractor bids based on the plans, then file for permits, then hope the contractor can schedule us in. I'm lucky if it's done by Christmas at this rate!

Re: Kitchen Reno's

We started the process in December. We needed a complete layout change (walls down, things moved). We have a contractor, but for the cabinets we had 3 quotes.

They each drew their own thing, two were kitchen designers who sell 'semi-custom' cabinets where it's a commercial company that they get their cabinets from, and one is an actual cabinet maker.

We went with the cabinet maker. He wasn't that much more expensive but everything is completely custom and he had the best ideas and everything is perfectly tailored to what we wanted.

We just finalized the plans last week and we're supposed to start demo at the end of May, so I'd say the cabinets will go in in the beginning of June.

ETA: Because we wanted layout change, I wanted each one to draw up their own idea, I didn't want to only have one design idea and shop it.

Message edited 3/11/2015 8:24:12 AM.

Re: Kitchen Reno's

Did you pay for each of the kitchen companies to draw up their new layout? Anyone u can recommend?