Construction costs are currently skyrocketing

The 11% price increases are realistic. This year, the industry has also suffered. As a tip, I can say that it is worth asking for their house brand in the large furniture stores. Usually, a major kitchen manufacturer is behind it. It is difficult to compare a kitchen because unfortunately, you do not receive exact plans as part of the offer. However, the front quickly causes costs. White is not just white. The same applies to the countertop. And appliances can quickly make up 50% of the total costs. Also, the contents of the cabinets. We decided against a Le Mans cabinet, accepted a dead corner, but were able to place 120 cm drawers on the right and left and saved 1000 euros after discount. By the way, well-negotiated discounts are 40-50% off the list price. In exceptional cases, even more.

But you only get the 40-50% discount in the large furniture stores that previously demand astronomical prices and then want to give you a good feeling by mercifully offering 50%. That has nothing to do with "good negotiation." None of the great salespeople convinced me to buy with that; rather the opposite. In owner-managed kitchen studios, there were no such "show negotiations," and that was also very pleasant.

I avoid this negotiation nonsense by telling the seller from the start that the first price he gives me is also his last chance to make a sale. He must be aware that I visit several furniture stores and he only has one chance. That usually works. A much bigger problem is the comparability of furniture. The same stuff is called different names in every store. But since we only buy “brand furniture” that has the same name in every shop, this is not relevant for us.

This is what ours will look like:



The budget target was 15k, we ended up just slightly over. Owner-managed kitchen studio, we were advised by the owner. We have a good feeling. I don’t know if there are huge margins in it. We negotiated quite hard, in my feeling. In the end, a few of the appliances became display pieces. Never used, new goods warranty from the dealer, and IN STOCK!

The advisor suggested an alternative with the appliances that HE would choose. Refrigerator, oven, steam cooker, dishwasher all Miele, hood by Berbel. A good 8k more. We rejected that immediately. It was probably worth a try ;) Most of the appliances are from Siemens. Only for the dishwasher did he almost insist on Miele. That was okay with us, because we wouldn’t have gotten the BSH dishwashers cheaper from him.

The coating will be a simple one, no high-gloss stuff, that would have been another 2k more. Compared to the current state, it is definitely a huge improvement.

It is in any case a huge improvement compared to the status quo.

Oh yes. No matter what blunder we have planned... the far too small 3.5 sqm kitchen without a dishwasher we will definitely outdo by a long way

A question for the experts.
Would it make sense to hire a carpenter/joiner to build a suitable kitchen? Completely without electrical appliances. Just specify the appropriate openings and niches and then procure the electrical appliances yourself. Especially since it is said that the biggest markups are charged on the electrical appliances.

Our kitchen was planned and made by an independent kitchen builder. In the process, we sourced some of the electrical appliances and the sink ourselves. In the end, it did not turn out cheap in terms of bargains, but the difference to a high-quality branded kitchen is virtually nonexistent.

But a kitchen builder is not the same as a carpenter. For kitchen construction, you need a very high level as a craftsman. This is then reflected somewhere in the price as well.

By the way, well negotiated are 40-50% discount off the list price. In exceptional cases even more.

Where can I even get the list price? In the folder at the kitchen studio I always only saw such "points" at Nobilia, but no euro prices.