What Do Americans Worry About When Buying Cabinets?
According to a recent discussion on “Ask the Cabinetmaker”—a community of more than 37,000 homeowners, designers, installers, and cabinet manufacturers—the top concern isn’t cost or lead time, but something more fundamental: professionalism.
Forum participants pointed out that poor communication, missed updates, unclear or absent scheduling, and a lack of transparency were the most common pain points in their projects. While many in the industry might assume price or delivery timelines are homeowners’ biggest concerns, this conversation shows otherwise.
“Genuine customer care still matters most,” noted Corbin Clay, administrator of the group and a 40 Under 40 honoree. “Sometimes, the loudest signals from real buyers are the most important.”
This finding echoes years of consumer satisfaction surveys in the remodeling and construction industries: trust and communication often outweigh technical execution.
Several respondents mentioned contractors and installers failing to arrive on scheduled dates, leaving projects unfinished and living spaces disrupted during remodels. A cabinet designer added that communication must be two-way; they often had to repeatedly ask homeowners for precise specifications—such as plumbing, appliance locations, flooring, and dimensions—before production could begin, which led to delays and dissatisfaction.
For contractors, designers, and manufacturers, the lesson is simple but profound: clear communication, reliable scheduling, and transparency are the qualities customers value most. As remodelers continue to face supply chain pressures and rising costs, the data suggest the greatest opportunity for differentiation may not lie in pricing or speed, but in professionalism.
In short, when it comes to kitchen and bathroom remodeling projects, customers usually worry about delays, cost overruns, or product issues—but above all, they worry about whether the professionals they hire will truly deliver with care and transparency.
