Box store prices are always lower - usually.
Boutique prices may sometimes be a better value - true.

Today's topic: when to buy in bulk. I recently did a complete kitchen remodel and was working with the customer on cabinet selection. They had gone to one of the box stores and selected a style of cabinet that he and his wife thought was a great deal. He attempted to share his enthusiasm with me as he spoke of their value. This family was on a remodeling budget and I respected that and wanted to help them work within it. I had been down this road before however and politely tried to persuade them to accept a competing bid from a custom cabinet company. “Won't they be more expensive?” “Perhaps, but you have to look at the value that they bring to the table as well as the end result in quality.” They were hesitant until I reminded them that this additional quote would cost them nothing and add some added perspective when it came time to make their final selection.

The custom cabinets were indeed more money, but how much? The initial numbers didn't look so good, but then we looked a little deeper into what I had presented and what they had been “sold” at the box store. Upon further inspection, it was revealed that the cabinets from my subcontractor came as a finished price. They included the materials, labor, hardware, adjustable shelving, staining, multiple coat lacquer finish, installation and trim. The box store price however was not quite as complete. They presented a nice show at their design center with 3D print-outs and proposed hand-holding, but came up short when push came to shove. Their price included the cabinets and that was all. What they didn't seem so eager to share was the fact that this cabinet price didn't include delivery, installation, trim or even any shelving!!! “That was extra…” they said; how can you sell a cabinet without any shelves? “Glad that you and your wife have found a car on our lot to your liking Mr. Jones; will you be needing a steering wheel with that?” Our apples-to-apples price comparison was beginning to reveal much about box store value.

It was then revealed that the box store didn't have their own employees who would be doing the installation, but it was to be subcontracted out and that they would have to add money to that price as well for management costs. Wow! These “cheap cabinets” were going to cost a fortune!!!

 Finally we looked at the cabinets from a finished point of view. The box store cabinets could only be offered in standard sizes which would only make sense. My client's kitchen however was anything but standard. If we purchased the pre-made cabinets, I would be forced to cut-and-paste, customize what I was given and essentially put a square peg in a round hole. The custom cabinets were indeed custom and would be made to fit. If there was a 64 inch wall space, then the cabinet would be built 64 inches long! Wow! The box store offered a 60 inch cabinet that would have to work, as their next size was of course too big. This would mean that I would have to put a 2 inch piece of trim on either side in order to finish the cabinet and hide the gap behind it. Not to mention the fact that we were losing valuable cabinet space!!!

When all was said and done, we came to these conclusions: while the box store cabinets and pricing initially looked to be the better value, that was not truly the case. The custom cabinets turned out to be slightly more expensive, but a much better buy when it came to spending their hard-earned money.

A kitchen remodel can be a slippery slope when it comes to parting with your cash, but you have to choose wisely when it comes to cutting corners. In the end, the customer chose the custom cabinetry much to my relief. My name is going to be on any project and I was fully aware of the difference in quality that would be apparent if the less expensive cabinets were chosen.

 The end result was fantastic to say the least and my clients were ecstatic with the finished product. They gained so much by spending just a little bit more and ended up with exactly what they wanted instead of settling for what was available. They ended up with just the right hardware that they truly desired, the exact finish that they were after with regards to stain and lacquer, lazy susans in both corner units, drawers vs. cabinets doors just where they wanted them, abundant adjustable shelving, more usable space, different cabinet sizes for height and depth as their kitchen required and the list went on. These cabinets had to be built from scratch regardless, so they were able to designate exactly what they wanted. With pre-made cabinets, you get what you get.

Upon the completion of the kitchen, the clients were very satisfied and happy that they spent the additional money for their custom cabinets for the rewards far outweighed the additional cost. And while the custom cabinets did end up costing slightly more, they were a much better value when all was said and done.

The moral of the story here is the same one in most facets of life; do your homework! These sales techniques have been used for years when it comes to items such as new cars. They get you interested with a low price, but by the time you add air conditioning, power steering and so on, you have spent quite a bit more than you initially intended. This is just one example however and I don't mean to make light of the necessity of the big box stores. I have my favorites myself and find many items of use there and will continue to capitalize on their largely beneficial spending power. It just goes to show however that not all of the big store items are always going to be the best deal. I hope that this gave you a builder's perspective on the do-it-yourself philosophy as sometimes it is indeed better to hire a professional. Times are tough people; keep your pencil sharp and choose wisely!
 

I have always liked to write and have done so since a young age. I took Creative Writing in college although it did nothing for my Construction Management major. When I write I can either express my thoughts or when in this venue, share information. I get a great deal of satisfaction from that because it allows me to help others. They say that the mind is like a parachute and works best when it is open. If someone has an open mind and wants to pick my brain, I am all for it and all too happy to oblige. The same is true for me as I am always eager to learn something new. I have worked with many skilled subcontractors over the years and to this day I still ask them questions. They usually work in one trade as opposed to the many trades that I surround myself with and since they have this singular focus they are able to “build a better mousetrap”. One door maker showed me how to make a one-man door holder out of 1/8 inch plywood and a couple of 1x2’s. A plumber showed me how to use bread in a copper pipe to keep it from dripping while I soldered a pipe joint. These are just a couple of the many tips that I have gleaned over my 25 years in the construction business. In turn, I enjoy sharing any and all information with others if it will help to make their chosen task even a little bit easier.

In future posts I will talk about what’s new in the construction business, show you the latest techniques and materials as well as provide some do-it-yourself tips on projects such as garages and backyard sheds. Until then, keep your head up and your pencil sharp!