Why do contractors bill exorbitant prices for brand-new cabinets?

The contractor prices in Sacramento, California are excessively exorbitant for installing twelve new kitchen cabinets—more than $20,000! I estimated the raw material costs for prebuilt hardwood cabinets, which included hardwood, doors, and hardware, to be between $5,000 and $5,000. All I need is for someone to remove the existing cabinets and replace them.

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You have two options for installing the cabinets: hire someone at a lower cost than the going rate, or find someone on your own and get ready to be very upset if things go wrong.

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Thus, I recently built cabinets in my kitchen myself. Labor is so plentiful for a reason. For the countertop installation to go smoothly, you have to be extremely exact while getting them plumb and level. Either do it yourself or pay a professional $20,000 to do it well.

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Does that price cover installation alone, or does it also include the cabinets? That’s a “I don’t want your job” fee if it’s merely an install. If both are included, that is a really good price for a high-quality cabinet. Plywood boxes, solid wood face frames, dovetail drawer boxes, soft-close concealed hinges, soft-close undermount drawer glides, and factory finishes (not on site) are all indicative of quality.

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@Jordan One quoted me $28,000 for cabinets, which covers both the cabinets and labor.

I was quoted forty thousand by another. I believe I can learn how to do it on my own.

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@Gordon The only irrational thing about this situation, to be honest, is your expectation that you can pay a professional something like what it would cost to purchase the materials and do it yourself. You’re comparing apples to oranges in terms of costs. Because it ultimately saves you time and money, expertise is something that professionals bring to the table yet are usually underappreciated. They’re just too pricey for you, not that they’re too costly.

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@Jordan With the exception of the very wealthy, most people can afford to pay this much for a fundamental item at these exorbitant prices.

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Try it out for yourself. You have a great chance to make a lot of money if you are skilled.

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@Keller It seems like fun, and my local woodcrafter gives classes on cabinet making that I should attempt! I don’t have to tamper with the plumbing or electricity or alter the layout—all I have to do is take out and replace the cabinets.

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Please remember that while some contractors demand exorbitant prices because they can get away with it (and perform subpar work), others deliver fantastic work that is well worth the money. In the end, you’re paying for their expertise and experience. My boss has a design showroom and is a contractor. His craftsmanship is flawless! Honestly, I think he ought to be charging more. However, he maintains a competitive price. Examine BBB ratings and reviews. You can use it to pick out con artists. Edit: We need to maintain our competitiveness with the Chicago market even though I live in the Midwest.

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@Kristen That’s true, but there comes a point at which charging too much is just sheer greed. Really, all I need is new doors and drawers and minimal demolition work to remove a cabinet to make place for a bigger range.

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@Gordon Are you going to get new cabinets? If so, is it feasible for you to search for someone who specializes in cabinet installation while handling the demo yourself? It will greatly save you.

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@Kristen No, just reface with fresh drawers and doors—cabinets would be far more expensive. To make room for a bigger range, I merely need to take out two tiny cabinets.

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The short answer is that they’ll get away with it. They will keep charging as long as customers are prepared to pay the exorbitant amount.

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@Michael this! I watch my neighbors pay a $150/month gardener to mow their little lawns, which only require five minutes a week. I saved that money by cutting mine with an inexpensive mower that I bought.

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That installation fee is very astounding, coming from someone who has spent the last few days touring the most upscale kitchen establishments in my region of the United Kingdom. Four or five times as much as you would pay here, if not more, considering that this is merely cabinetry fitting rather than true manufacturing

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@Nidal Yes, I looked up the cost of high-end cabinets online that are made of hardwood, have plywood boxes, hardware, and cost $7k in total. What does labor cost more than $20,000 mean?