More secrets of installing an IKEA kitchen

Insider information on the IKEA design process and how IKD makes it easier

We’re back this week with another edition of Kitchen Installation Confidential. This time we’ve interviewed “Robert”, another one of our Install Connect approved IKEA kitchen installers, to tell us the secrets of installing an IKEA kitchen.

#1: Why do your customers hire you instead of IKEA?

IKEA itself is an impersonal experience. Try calling IKEA and you’ll see what I mean. It’s an automated system that puts you on hold for a long time and makes you feel like, “I can’t deal with this right now. I don’t have the energy for this nonsense.” Someone buying an IKEA kitchen doesn’t even get to talk to the person who will install their kitchen.

Most people would rather have direct contact. That’s just customer service 101. All of our kitchen installation customers can always reach an actual person who will help them.

#2: What do you wish your customers knew before they started their kitchen installation?

After 11 years in this business, I know that the customer is the most valuable resource we have.

Why is that?
They have information. My guys and I are smart but we are not telepathic in any regard. Anything our customer tells us gives us the information we need to know to do the job. Are we hanging these cabinets on sheet rock, or is it sheet rock with brick behind it? If you have a dishwasher, is it gas powered? We don’t touch gas lines. We realize some customers might not know these things prior to our arrival. Even so.

#3: What situations typically cause delays for IKEA kitchen installations?

Missing and damaged items. We always tell people before we show up for the job, check to make sure you have everything before we get there. Check the inventory, check for damages. That way they can get a head start on fixing any issues.

#4: Where should people not try to save money?

Substituting one type of cabinet for another. I doubt this will happen for IKD customers, but we’ve had people just flat-out buy the wrong cabinets. One of our customers knowingly bought wall cabinets to make a kitchen island. I had to explain that we can’t put the black plastic feet on the wall cabinets in the manner you’re thinking of. There’s no holes for them! We had to alter our methods to facilitate what he wanted and that took more time.

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#5: Do you see a lot of couples argue during the process?

I haven’t seen one yet. I’ve seen arguments for commercial installations, and residential installations for rooms other than the kitchen. But no kitchen arguments.

#6: What else is really important for a good kitchen installation?

This really has nothing to do with IKEA, but we need to make sure that the space is clear for us to work in. We don’t want to be in such tight quarters that a screw comes flying off and hits you in the face.

Even if a customer is doing their own kitchen demolition, we do an hour-long walk through. We charge for this, but it has always saved the customer money in the long run. Here’s why. We take measurements and interview the customer. We use our phones to photograph the kitchen and then draw measurement information right on the photos. When we have all that info, and look at the size cabinets they’re working with, then we can give them the real time frame of a project.

Find an independent IKEA kitchen installer like robert near you

Get access to Install Connect, our database of independent, highly qualified IKEA kitchen installers, when you purchase the IKD Design Package.