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Following on from our ever-popular article 'Ex-Display Kitchens: A Buyers Guide', today we're going to delve further into the increasingly popular trend of buying ex-display kitchens, and what extra costs you might encounter doing so.
Ex-display kitchens, often touted as a budget-friendly way to achieve a high-end kitchen, can seem like a dream come true. These kitchens, typically used in showrooms to display the latest trends and designs, are sold at a fraction of their original price once they are no longer needed.
While the allure of a designer kitchen at a discount is hard to resist, many homeowners find that the final cost of installing an ex-display kitchen can be much higher than anticipated. Here’s why.
The first and largest challenge with any ex-display kitchen is making it fit into your space. Showroom displays are designed to maximize the available bay space and visual appeal, not to fit the exact dimensions of your home.
As a result, significant customization is often required to adapt the kitchen units, countertops, and appliances to your layout. Customization might involve:
1. Cutting and resizing cabinets: Professional carpenters may need to modify cabinet sizes to fit awkward corners or unique kitchen layouts.
2. Adjusting countertops: Countertops might need to be cut to size or joined seamlessly, which can be labour-intensive and costly.
3. Matching finishes: Finding matching finishes or additional units that blend seamlessly with the ex-display setup can be both difficult and expensive.
4. Additional units: Sometimes when customisation is not possible, remedial items from the original supplier will be needed to complete the installation properly.
Installing an ex-display kitchen is not as straightforward as a bespoke design either. The process involves:
1. Reassembling/modifying units for proper workflow: Showroom kitchens are often installed to be viewed, not used, meaning the workflow of the space may not be right for you. Disassembling and reassembling/modifying these units in your home can be tricky and may require professional expertise, and will never be as effective as a kitchen that's been designed specifically for your home.
2. Professional fitting: Unlike a newly-made kitchen that's been tailored to your space and comes with clear instructions, ex-display kitchens often lack detailed assembly guides, necessitating the hiring of skilled fitters.
Even though ex-display kitchens have never been used for cooking, they can still suffer from wear and tear. Being on display means they’ve been exposed to frequent handling by customers, which can result in:
1. Scratches and dents: Cabinets, countertops, and appliances might have minor imperfections that need repair.
2. Missing parts: Small components like hinges, screws, or handles might be missing, necessitating replacements that can be hard to source and expensive. It's also possible that the range you've purchased may since have been discontinued, making remedial items impossible to source.
Your existing plumbing and electrical systems will likely not align with the layout of an ex-display kitchen. Costly adjustments to rectify this might include:
1. Repositioning plumbing: Sinks and dishwashers need to be connected to water lines, which may not be in the right place for your ex-display units. Stopcock/water valve position may also be an issue, as you'll need to ensure access to this.
2. Electrical rewiring: Ovens, microwaves, and other appliances require specific electrical setups, and rewiring can be costly and disruptive.
3. Additional fuses may be necessary for certain appliances with a heavy electrical load.
4. If your kitchen has a boiler, then this will most likely have to be moved to a more compatible location, which can be very cost-heavy and disruptive.
As we touched on earlier, often ex-display kitchens will come without all the necessary components to fit your space properly, leading to additional purchases such as:
1. Extra units: You might need to buy additional cabinets or shelving to complete the kitchen.
2. New appliances: Appliances in the display might not fit your needs or be included, requiring new purchases.
Finally, the cost of transporting an ex-display kitchen from the showroom to your home can add up. These units are often bulky and heavy, requiring specialized moving services to avoid damage during transit.
If your ex-display kitchen also happens to be a flat-pack model (unlike our rigid built German units), then it's possible that disassembling/reassembling them for transport will cause the strength of the units to be permanently compromised. If you've ever tried to disassemble/reassemble a flatpack wardrobe for instance, you'll know what this is like!
While the initial price tag of an ex-display kitchen might seem like a steal, the cumulative costs of customization, installation, repairs, and additional purchases can add up quickly.
To avoid surprises, it’s crucial to budget for these potential expenses and consult with professionals before committing to an ex-display kitchen.
By understanding the true cost implications, you can make a more informed decision and ensure that your dream kitchen doesn’t turn into a financial nightmare.
Its often the case that a good independent kitchen supplier can design something to suit your budget and needs that is brand new (and not ex-display or second hand model) at a very similar cost. It's therefore important to do your homework and approach an official retailer for a comparative quotation on the kitchen range you're considering, before committing to purchasing an ex-display from a brokerage.
If this is you and you would like a free, no obligation quotation on one of our Nobilia or Schüller kitchens, please get in touch today and see just how many of the advertised ex-display offers online we can beat!
