If you were to come to us and ask what you should be looking for in a cabinet provider, we may seem a bit biased when we tell you to look no further than Brakur Custom Cabinetry, Inc. - so that’s why we not only give you questions to ask your remodeler and things to look for when choosing a professional, but we also urge you to take the word of previous clients.

Helpful hints

Today’s technology has made it easier for homeowners to look into remodeling professionals before ever even setting foot in the door.  At the same time, it has made it more difficult for unreliable or unprofessional dealers and contractors to pull the wool over your eyes – and that’s a good thing. 

If you’re looking for reviews, you may be able to find testimonials directly on the website of the professional, but also on sites such as yelp, Houzz (if it the company is remodeling or design related) the Better Business Bureau or Angie’s List.  Social media can also be a helpful tool to find out more about companies these days – they may have reviews on their company facebook page, or you could potentially even find something helpful on Twitter.  There’s virtually nowhere to hide in today’s business review world, and Word of Mouth travels further than ever before.

Savvy researcher

With so many avenues for finding information, things can get confusing.  We have a few tips when looking at reviews – and this goes not only for remodeling, but for any service you’re looking into (hair salons, restaurants, etc.)

Look around – Instead of relying solely on one website or one source for your information, look at everything that is available.  Everyone has their own preferred avenue for reviewing.  But, also be aware that one person may post on several sites, so don’t count those reviews more than they’re worth (you can usually tell when they’re by the same reviewer).

Be somewhat skeptical – Some websites allow anyone to make a review, so be somewhat wary of what you read.  Look for details related to the specific experience the reviewer had, and use your own judgment as to whether or not it is legit.  Also, if there are negative reviews, read the reasons listed (if it was a truly negative experience, they WILL list the reasons) and decide for yourself if they’re worthwhile.  A negative review could be left for something entirely out of the professional’s hands, and the reviewer could actually be the one at fault.  Anything is possible, so it is best to be cautious. 

Look for follow-up – Some sites allow the reviewed company to respond – and if you see a response, they’re usually worth reading.  See how the company followed up with positive and negative reviews.  Do they handle the situation in a professional, mature manor, or do they slander the reviewer?  

Dig deeper – If you’re truly considering a company, but some reviews are deterring you from feeling confident, reach out to the company and let them know.  They probably have a perfectly good explanation for the negative reviews (expired warranties, client indecision, etc.).  They may also be able to ease your mind by letting you talk with references and answering any questions you have about your project.

Online reviews can be a great staring point, but it’s always a good idea to research further and ultimately make your own decisions. Your project and experience could end up being completely different than those of past reviewers, but you’ll never know unless you have a conversation!