The 5 step cabinetry purchasing process
1. Design Consultation via phone or Zoom
First question we always ask: are you working with an architect, designer or contractor? If you have employed the services of a professional, you may want to bring them with you to assist in these selections. We welcome the opportunity to work with your design professional .
For this meeting to be as effective as possible and to be able to move forward to the Estimate phase, you will need to provide us with the following items:
First question we always ask: are you working with an architect, designer or contractor? If you have employed the services of a professional, you may want to bring them with you to assist in these selections. We welcome the opportunity to work with your design professional .
For this meeting to be as effective as possible and to be able to move forward to the Estimate phase, you will need to provide us with the following items:
- Appliance specifications, if applicable or available at this time
- List of features you would like included in your cabinetry
- Any samples you may need to assist you in your selections
- Inspiration pictures
- Blueprints or sketches
2. Estimate
We provide free estimates. These estimates are very detailed and will provide you with the information you need to make a fully educated decision about your custom cabinetry requirements. We are more than happy to provide several alternate pricing scenarios. If you think you might want to upgrade to an applied mold door, upgrade the drawer box, change from slab to raised panel ends, or any other change, addition or subtraction, we will be more than happy to accommodate those change requests (this is the time to do so, not after the manufacturing process has been put into motion).
To move forward from the estimate phase of the process to the design phase, we will need :
We provide free estimates. These estimates are very detailed and will provide you with the information you need to make a fully educated decision about your custom cabinetry requirements. We are more than happy to provide several alternate pricing scenarios. If you think you might want to upgrade to an applied mold door, upgrade the drawer box, change from slab to raised panel ends, or any other change, addition or subtraction, we will be more than happy to accommodate those change requests (this is the time to do so, not after the manufacturing process has been put into motion).
To move forward from the estimate phase of the process to the design phase, we will need :
- Signed copy of the last page of your estimate
- Deposit of 50% in order to secure your place in the manufacturing process
- Appliance specifications if we have not yet received them
3. Design Review / CAD Drawings
As soon as we have received your signed estimate and the 50% deposit, we will schedule a time for the site measurements using our advanced laser measuring device to assure accuracy. During this time we will typically identify any conflicts with any plumbing, electrical or HVAC items and inform the appropriate person (site supervisor, project manager, builder, etc.). We will then produce a CAD design using and 3D drawings using our advanced design software that will allow you to see what your cabinetry will look like before we ever manufacture it.
The drawings will be emailed to you and we can review them via Zoom or in person wall by wall, room by room. We will red line the drawings with any additions, changes, or subtractions and note any discrepancies that are discovered. PLease note the drawing process includes 2 free revisions. After the 2nd we will charge an hourly rate for any changes.
If there are no discrepancies, additions, changes or subtractions we can agree on a a target delivery date for each phase of your project. Our current manufacturing lead-time ranges from 6 to 16 weeks (depending on the number and size of the current projects in progress). We will coordinate the delivery and installation with the appropriate site supervisor or the builder. We will attempt to open a line of communication between Sofo Kitchens and the site supervisor so they can notify us of any delays that may affect the delivery and installation schedule. We will also provide the site supervisor with mechanical drawings of all cabinetry involved in the project to be used to answer any questions by any of the other trades on the project.
As soon as we have received your signed estimate and the 50% deposit, we will schedule a time for the site measurements using our advanced laser measuring device to assure accuracy. During this time we will typically identify any conflicts with any plumbing, electrical or HVAC items and inform the appropriate person (site supervisor, project manager, builder, etc.). We will then produce a CAD design using and 3D drawings using our advanced design software that will allow you to see what your cabinetry will look like before we ever manufacture it.
The drawings will be emailed to you and we can review them via Zoom or in person wall by wall, room by room. We will red line the drawings with any additions, changes, or subtractions and note any discrepancies that are discovered. PLease note the drawing process includes 2 free revisions. After the 2nd we will charge an hourly rate for any changes.
If there are no discrepancies, additions, changes or subtractions we can agree on a a target delivery date for each phase of your project. Our current manufacturing lead-time ranges from 6 to 16 weeks (depending on the number and size of the current projects in progress). We will coordinate the delivery and installation with the appropriate site supervisor or the builder. We will attempt to open a line of communication between Sofo Kitchens and the site supervisor so they can notify us of any delays that may affect the delivery and installation schedule. We will also provide the site supervisor with mechanical drawings of all cabinetry involved in the project to be used to answer any questions by any of the other trades on the project.
4. Engineering and Manufacturing
At this point of the project we will visit the job-site a second time to double check our drawings against the actual field conditions. Typically if there are any errors on our part, or any other trade’s part, we will discover it while double checking all of the dimensions in each and every room. If there are any errors or discrepancies, we will notify the appropriate person immediately. The next step for us is to engineer your project, which simply means that we will review every detail of the design and check for any potential issues that may arise from the design. This includes things like making certain that the knob on a drawer on one wall of an L-shaped corner will not interfere with a drawer, door or appliance on the opposing wall. This is a painstaking and tedious process, but it is one of the most important aspects of providing custom cabinetry. Each and every project is unique, and we are not installing stock cabinets in 3″ increments that will allow the cabinet supplier to substitute a different sized cabinet if one does not fit properly. We have to get it right the first time.
Once the project has been engineered, we then begin placing orders for the materials required to produce your cabinetry. All Sofo Kitchens affiliates practice Lean Manufacturing. One aspect of this methodology means we do not stock large quantities of raw materials. Each affiliate only orders what is needed, which frees manufacturing space to be used for what it was intended to be used for (manufacturing and not storage), which also preserves precious cash flow.
The manufacturing philosophy of Sofo Kitchens is that we only use top of the line materials, finishes, and components to manufacture our cabinetry. We will not compromise on this, primarily because we have to warranty our product, but secondarily because it is just not the right thing to do.
At this point of the project we will visit the job-site a second time to double check our drawings against the actual field conditions. Typically if there are any errors on our part, or any other trade’s part, we will discover it while double checking all of the dimensions in each and every room. If there are any errors or discrepancies, we will notify the appropriate person immediately. The next step for us is to engineer your project, which simply means that we will review every detail of the design and check for any potential issues that may arise from the design. This includes things like making certain that the knob on a drawer on one wall of an L-shaped corner will not interfere with a drawer, door or appliance on the opposing wall. This is a painstaking and tedious process, but it is one of the most important aspects of providing custom cabinetry. Each and every project is unique, and we are not installing stock cabinets in 3″ increments that will allow the cabinet supplier to substitute a different sized cabinet if one does not fit properly. We have to get it right the first time.
Once the project has been engineered, we then begin placing orders for the materials required to produce your cabinetry. All Sofo Kitchens affiliates practice Lean Manufacturing. One aspect of this methodology means we do not stock large quantities of raw materials. Each affiliate only orders what is needed, which frees manufacturing space to be used for what it was intended to be used for (manufacturing and not storage), which also preserves precious cash flow.
The manufacturing philosophy of Sofo Kitchens is that we only use top of the line materials, finishes, and components to manufacture our cabinetry. We will not compromise on this, primarily because we have to warranty our product, but secondarily because it is just not the right thing to do.
5. Delivery and Installation
Once all of your cabinetry, or the first phase of your cabinetry, is completed, we will contact you to schedule the delivery.
Depending on the terms extended, you will typically need to make the second, 40% payment prior to the actual delivery. Please refer to your proposal to see if this is the case. Delivery is made by our vetted contractors, and each cabinet is blanket-wrapped to insure that your cabinetry will not get damaged while being transported from our manufacturing facility to your job-site.
This is when your vision or dream starts to become a reality. The installation process can take anywhere from a few hours to multiple days depending on the quantity of cabinets involved and the complexity of the project. This portion of the project requires extreme accuracy and highly skilled technicians to do it well. Our installers are some of the best in the industry and have the very best tools and equipment available. Our installation technicians install your cabinetry with the same skill and care that we created your cabinetry with.
We sincerely thank you for taking the time to review our process. I hope that this 5-step process has been explained in a clear and thorough manner, but if not then please do not hesitate to call or email us with any questions or concerns you might have.
Once all of your cabinetry, or the first phase of your cabinetry, is completed, we will contact you to schedule the delivery.
Depending on the terms extended, you will typically need to make the second, 40% payment prior to the actual delivery. Please refer to your proposal to see if this is the case. Delivery is made by our vetted contractors, and each cabinet is blanket-wrapped to insure that your cabinetry will not get damaged while being transported from our manufacturing facility to your job-site.
This is when your vision or dream starts to become a reality. The installation process can take anywhere from a few hours to multiple days depending on the quantity of cabinets involved and the complexity of the project. This portion of the project requires extreme accuracy and highly skilled technicians to do it well. Our installers are some of the best in the industry and have the very best tools and equipment available. Our installation technicians install your cabinetry with the same skill and care that we created your cabinetry with.
We sincerely thank you for taking the time to review our process. I hope that this 5-step process has been explained in a clear and thorough manner, but if not then please do not hesitate to call or email us with any questions or concerns you might have.
