Cheap quotes, a risk

Press, 22 April 1986, Page 14

Cheap quotes, a risk

People who are getting their kitchens renovated are warned by a Christchurch joinery firm to be very careful about quotes given to them, especially if the quote is remarkably cheaper than other quotes received. Mr Paul Renwick, of Paul Renwick Joinery, Ltd, said too many people were being fooled by cheap quotes, only to find at the end of the job, that for the bargain they got, they received very little in return. “People must read quotes very carefully, and get the maximum amount of specifications — get them to draw a whole list up if necessary — and compare what they get with the bottom quote, which should sum up the total cost,” said Mr Renwick. “Consumers have got to keep their eyes open and to keep asking for specifications until they get exactly what they want,” Mr Renwick said. Mr Renwick’s “pet hate” are quotes given by many companies which have a short letter about a “past discussion” with the client and at the bottom of the page a general quote is given. “These letters often

have no specifications on them giving the customer any idea of what they are getting for their money, so it is very misleading,” he said.

Paul Renwick, Ltd, has been formed for seven years and has a policy of making sure that their customers know exactly what they are paying for.

“I’d rather do it all properly at the beginning, making sure that everyone is happy, rather than getting all the hassles at the end,” Mr Renwick said.

“We don’t make any modular units. All we do is custom-made for the client’s specifications,” he said.

Because of this, clients are usually seen in their homes. Following this, after four or five working days, the client receives specifications in the mail and an overall quote.

Once the contract is sealed, a floor plan is provided for the customer, along with an isometric drawing, which gives the client a realistic view of how the whole project will look as a finished product.

“Everything from the shape of the bench, right down to the different

shelves and where each drawer handle will be is indicated on this drawing,” Mr Renwick says.

Aside from being of great help to the customer, the very detailed drawings and specifications given are also a very good safe-guard for the company.

“If some clients turn around and say they wanted something which we didn’t end up giving them, we point out to them that we were not told, and it was not in the list of specifications. So, it works both ways as an advantage,” said Mr Renwick.

Although Paul Renwick, Ltd, specialises in timber joinery, they also deal with Formica. Eighty per cent of their jobs, however, involves timber, both raw and prefinished.

“There’s an aesthetic appeal for many of our customers where wood, especially raw wood is concerned,” he said.

Where once there was a huge demand for mahogany wood, now the market is wider. People are asking for rimu, or just plain custom wood which can be painted in pastel colours, dark greens, reds and so on to suit.