We received a lot of great feedback on our blog “Considerations for a New Construction Home” and it sparked another idea that I wanted to write on. So, we are following that blog post with the tools to choose the right vendors for your new construction home.
Building a new home is a daunting undertaking, not for the faint of heart. Once the construction is “dried in,” it seems to take a long time to get to completion. What causes all that heartache and tension at the end of the project? A lot of times, it comes down to the final selection of vendors for appliances, paint, fixtures, cabinetry, lighting, and landscaping.
Your builder may have a preferred list of vendors for these items, and may get some great pricing from them, but it is important to shop around and ensure you’re not leaving money on the table that could be used to buy that new rug you really want!
This is where my team can really be useful to you. When you work with us, we can team up with your builder to find the right vendors based on several key factors.
- What you want
- Product availability
- Pricing
- Vendor reputation
- Customer reviews and referrals
So, what do you want? If you are a chef and want top-quality appliances in your kitchen, the number of vendors that we would recommend is narrowed. Conversely, if your most used kitchen appliance is a microwave, then we have a lot of options for appliances that are great products and will be easier on your checking account. For all our chefs out there, take a quick look at our blog “Key Considerations for Appliances for Kitchen Remodel.”
We take what you want into every aspect of how we recommend design elements in your home. In our blog “Designer Elements for Homes with Pets,” we detailed a lot of great features that don’t add a big price increase to your new home, but will provide great spaces for you to care for your pets. The real value in working with a designer is finding the right products and features that suit your lifestyle.
In today’s market, product availability is the next consideration when selecting a vendor. The supply chain is still in recovery mode from the pandemic and turmoil around the world. Micro-chip shortages now affect everything from refrigerators to light switches. When working with our clients, we set expectations on the timelines involved in securing their desired items. Some appliance lead times are now a year in advance. Some custom window sets can take up to six months to be delivered.
The result is clients have had to make some tough decisions on waiting for a particular product or looking at other brands of comparable value and quality. The good news is that Pamela Hope Designs can help you navigate those decisions and provide you with all your options. If you are ready to make a purchase today, and want it delivered tomorrow, you may find you have limited choices. But, in working with my team, we can set the schedule for when we need to make purchases, knowing the lead time involved in getting those items into your home.
Third on our list of considerations is pricing. Once the supply chain loosens up, then pricing will move back into the number two spot. Your builder may be getting some great deals on fixtures and lighting, but when working with our team, you can rest assured, we are going to compare notes with your builder to be sure we are finding the best price for all your design elements. This is a kind of comparison shopping that allows us use years in the business and leverage relationships with our partners to find the best product at the best price to suit your needs.
The next item on our list is vendor reputation and customer service. We recommend our clients research vendors by reading customer reviews of their products and checking referrals provided by the vendor. You can tell a lot about a brand and reseller by how they handle those customer service issues online. Visiting their social media accounts also provides a window into their customer service. Also, we suggest you ask friends and family who have recently remodeled. If they were really happy with their vendors and purchases, that’s a great sign that you might be too.
Getting feedback on different products from vendors is also important and presents you with the opportunity to hear the good and bad of different brands. While most of my appliance reps sell a wide variety of appliances, they have some strong opinions on the brands that are best for our clients. Learning the insider information from those who know it best is a great way to set your expectations correctly going into the project.
Finally, we recommend our clients research vendors by reading customer reviews of their products and checking referrals provided by the vendor. You can tell a lot about a brand and reseller by how they handle those customer service issues online. Visiting their social media accounts also provides a window into their customer service.
Getting referrals from vendors is also important and presents you with the opportunity to hear the good and bad of working with a vendor. It is a great way to set your expectations correctly going into the project.
If you are starting a new build or remodel, we would love to meet with you to help you get started on the right track to a successful project. We can help you define what you want, outline product availability, crunch the pricing and make sure you are working with the right people to get your project done on time and within budget. Contact us today.
