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How is that Kitchen Remodel With Lowes Coming Along?

By
Real Estate Agent with Elizabeth Anne Weintraub, Broker DRE #00697006

Yes, I get asked how is that kitchen remodel with Lowes coming along almost every week from friends . . .  and strangers to boot. Problem is there has been no activity since the first week in December. Lowes had to come to a screeching halt with crown molding hanging midair because some of the Shenandoah cabinets arrived damaged and other parts of the order did not arrive at all. The clerks at Lowes who were overseeing the job were filling in for another who was out on maternity leave, so there was not not much management.

Lousy systems in place, and I am a systems-type person so I recognize the deficiency in corporations.

The countertop install was far more stressful over all than anything, and that was not Lowe's job. That was the job of some guy I found online who works out of a storage unit in Kona, and his referral construction company who does the work but had gone to Maui. Literally. The head of that construction company, which I won't name because they are a small-time operation doing the best they can, which is either hit or miss depending on who they send. I got the leftover crew who hasn't worked on quartz for 13 years, he said. The competent fabricator went to Maui on a job, so I got shortchanged.

That company was responsible for hooking up the sinks (all three of which were installed backward), cutting and prefabbing the quartz, which they managed to also screw up by cutting in half the long piece. The seams were not to my liking, and they ended up with way too many seams in the backspslash, too, not to mention they installed the kitchen faucets too far back and they barely operate over the sink itself, and they cut the wrong hole in the quartz for one of the bathroom sinks. They somehow managed to get the job done, even though quartz guy, David, was short on his quartz estimate and I had to fork out another grand for second shipment.

Floor installers did not make me any happier. They laid the floor three times, always cutting some piece wrong, at one point dragging the refrigerator over the planks and scratching it. Why don't people take pride in their work? I have gaps under the cabinets in the kitchen because I wasn't willing to go through a 4th floor install.

You can read more about the situation with Lowes in my personal blog today at this link: Update on Lowes Kona Kitchen Remodel.

P.S. Just to be clear, that photo is NOT a picture of my kitchen. It is only for illustration purposes.

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Elizabeth Weintraub is co-partner of Weintraub & Wallace Team of Top Producing Realtors, an author, home buying expert at The Balance, a Land Park resident, and a veteran real estate agent who specializes in older, classic homes in Land Park, Curtis Park, Midtown, Carmichael and East Sacramento, as well as tract homes in Elk Grove, Natomas, Roseville and Lincoln. Call Elizabeth Weintraub at 916.233.6759. Put our combined 80 years of real estate experience to work for you. Broker-Associate at RE/MAX Gold. DRE License # 00697006.

Photo: Unless otherwise noted in this blog, the photo is copyrighted by Big Stock Photo and used with permission.The views expressed herein are Weintraub's personal views and do not reflect the views of RE/MAX Gold. Disclaimer: If this post contains a listing, information is deemed reliable as of the date it was written. After that date, the listing may be sold, listed by another brokerage, canceled, pending or taken temporarily off the market, and the price could change without notice; it could blow up, explode or vanish. To find out the present status of any listing, please go to elizabethweintraub.com.

Comments(14)

Ben DeHaven
Haven Realty & Investments - Lakeland, FL
Proudly serving Winter Haven & Lakeland, Florida

Yikes. Makes my head hurt. I can imagine its hard to find good help on an island in the middle of the ocean!

Feb 07, 2019 11:01 AM
Nicholas Crane
Woodland Companies - Cadott, WI
Managing & Appraising Forest Land

Aren't Remodels fun!  This sounds like half of the remodels I have had to deal with. A good General Contractor or Project Manager can save many head aches.  I hope things go better, from here on out. 

Feb 07, 2019 11:26 AM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Nothing worth having is ever easy, is it?  I'm sure this will get worked out.  Hopefully the replacement cabinets will match what you have.  Are the new ones the lowers or uppers in your kitchen?

Feb 07, 2019 02:34 PM
Endre Barath, Jr.
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties - Beverly Hills, CA
Realtor - Los Angeles Home Sales 310.486.1002

Elizabeth I purposely did not ask because I know it was not going to be a "good answer" we have purchased 75 % of the products for our bathroom remodel... but need I say more... we are on hold:))Endre

Feb 07, 2019 11:02 PM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Elizabeth, this kitchen remodel is sounding like a complete nightmare!   I remember doing my kitchen, and never had as much trouble.  Good luck my friend.

Feb 08, 2019 06:10 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Hi Elizabeth- I am so thankful that Larry is a retired builder. When we did have work done he either knew the trades well or if something did happen, I let him handle it. Can't wait to see your finished kitchen. I'm sure you can't either. 

Feb 08, 2019 03:50 PM
Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

Interestingly enough, there were two homes across the street from me that burned over six months ago.  The home that burned entirely, has now been completely rebuilt and the owner has moved in.  However, the house next to it was only half burned, and has struggled with delay after delay.  It is the same construction company for both.  But, it is the kitchen in the second house that has created much of the delay.

Feb 09, 2019 10:45 AM
Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Broker
Elizabeth Anne Weintraub, Broker - Sacramento, CA
Put 40 years of experience to work for you

Ben DeHaven It makes my head hurt, too, just to watch it. I'd like to think it is somebody else's house, but it's not.

Feb 09, 2019 10:53 AM
Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Broker
Elizabeth Anne Weintraub, Broker - Sacramento, CA
Put 40 years of experience to work for you

Nicholas Crane The guys I hired for the quartz counters were experienced and well recommended, but then the contractor took off for a job on Maui and sent me inexperienced guys. When I discovered this fact, they were already halfway finished with their halfass job.

Feb 09, 2019 10:55 AM
Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Broker
Elizabeth Anne Weintraub, Broker - Sacramento, CA
Put 40 years of experience to work for you

Chris Ann Cleland The replacement cabinets are for the uppers, which meant the could not install the crown molding.

Of the 4 replacements that arrived yesterday, one was broken in 3 places. And along with a cabinet I did not order but will now go in my garage. Did not surprise me. They were not packed well. Why go through all the work to produce a product that is likely to get smashed in shipping through lousy packing materials?

Feb 09, 2019 10:57 AM
Chris Ann Cleland

So very frustrating that they are cheaping out on shipping and packing it to not get damaged.

Feb 09, 2019 03:52 PM
Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Broker
Elizabeth Anne Weintraub, Broker - Sacramento, CA
Put 40 years of experience to work for you

Endre Barath, Jr. That is a good part of the battle right there. Having all of your supplies, down to nails, on hand. When I remodeled my last kitchen, from gutting to finish, it took me 2 weeks and all supplies were in my garage. This one has been going on since August.

Feb 09, 2019 10:59 AM
Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Broker
Elizabeth Anne Weintraub, Broker - Sacramento, CA
Put 40 years of experience to work for you

Joan Cox When I look at the whole picture of this remodeling job, it has been a nightmare, now that you mention it. Good thing I have the where-with-all to deal with such disasters. It would drive a sane person insane.

Feb 09, 2019 11:00 AM
Joan Cox

Since when are you not sane?   Any remodel needs way more patience than normal! 

Feb 09, 2019 12:21 PM
Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Broker
Elizabeth Anne Weintraub, Broker - Sacramento, CA
Put 40 years of experience to work for you

Kathy Streib I spent 10 years of my life buying homes, fixing them up and selling them. There are few jobs I can't do with my own two hands. Which just makes all of it worse, I think.

Feb 09, 2019 11:01 AM
Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Broker
Elizabeth Anne Weintraub, Broker - Sacramento, CA
Put 40 years of experience to work for you

Myrl Jeffcoat Well, if the second house isn't finished due to the kitchen, maybe it's because they bought their cabinets through Lowes?

Feb 09, 2019 11:02 AM