Howden's Chilcombe kitchen quote approx 11K

[KitchenRefurb101]

Quote for 11k (including VAT) for a Howden kitchen. I realize that it's part of their luxury range, but still think this is a bit steep.

Any ideas what a reasonable price would be? TIA

This is what everyone is saying. These reno costs are extortionate.

Think I'd redesign and have a free standing American fridge freezer rather than pay well over £1200 for a unit to put a normal size one in!

I think if you send your quote to diy kitchens they will give you a quote on a similar kitchen.

FWIW I had quotes of £22k, £12k and all sorts of prices down to what I paid for my DIY Kitchen, quartz worktops, upstands, sink, taps and all big appliances for just under £5k

Have used them a couple of times since.

Definitely get a quote from
elsewhere - we did this recently with a Howdens kitchen & they then knocked £5k off their original quote! Which begs the question....how big is their margin if they are able to do this....

My builder did the negotiating with Howden. But then he was a big customer of theirs.
Have you got the fitters in place?

Is that with or without the 'discount' from their stupidly high prices?

One of the reasons I wouldn't use Howdens is that it's impossible to find out how much it is without knowing who your fitter is going to be, how much discount they get and how much of it they pass onto you. Plus when I tried to use their planning service it was bloody awful.

I'd agree with having a standard fridge freezer for an easy 10% off the quote and comparing prices with other similar places like DIY Kitchens and Ikea.

Do a DIY quote for an equivalent IKEA kitchen for a basic idea of costs and compare to this. Seems expensive for cabinets. Is this without ‘builder’s discount’?

This quote is from my builder

Quote from DIY kitchens Norton range, is 5k, and my builder is saying that these are sub par to Howden Chilcombe and "very flimsy"

Sadly, this is the quote from my fitter. Feel like I'm being ripped off

Thats’s because your builder can’t put his extra charge on DIY kitchens. When I did my Reno I didn’t even get a price from Howden’s as I hate their business model

That’s because your builder has put a few K on the price. You get the kitchen YOU want from the supplier you want to use, not the one your builder wants…

We have a DIY kitchen and it’s certainly not flimsy! In fact I’d describe it as solid

I have had 3 DIY kitchens and whilst I hated their delivery process their kitchens are good quality and not flimsy at all. My Mum has just had a Magnet kitchen at the same time I had a DIY one fitted and there is literally no difference in fact DIY comes assembled so even better. Your builder is on commission Howden's and will get a cut of your precious money so ignore him!

It’s expensive for only one tall uni and one set of drawers, cupboards are cheap. Sending over to DIY-kitchens and look at the Helmsley range.

Of the 11k, I'm sure he's making 3-4k, plus he's charging 4k fitting charge

I paid £11K for a Howden’s kitchen a few years ago, but it was solid wood doors and included all appliances. I thought it was decent value! It’s still in perfect condition too.

These are all tall wall units (900mm), because of high ceilings, Would I be better of changing to standard units (720mm) to bring the price down? Or maybe look at Halesworth or Chelford

11k cabinets only - I'm sourcing the appliances separately as Howden prices were more than Currys/JL for like for like models

Howdens are dreadful for pricing, as PP say go elsewhere

but I’d also buy a cutlery tray for 1.50 from Asda and save 30, and a Belfast sink on eBay.
no handles either!

They’re really not! I have a Linwood from DIY Kitchens, which is very similar to a Norton (solid wood) apart from the grooves on the doors. They’re lovely solid kitchens. Either your fitter is making money on the kitchen if you buy it from Howdens, or he hasn’t fitted a DIY Kitchens one before and doesn’t fancy it.

Ours is lovely, and is wearing very well 3 years in. Howdens wanted to charge us about £14k for our units 3 years ago (kitchen and utility). We paid £9.5k from DIY.

Definitely get the extra tall units, too!

I also have DIY Norton, fitted 5 years ago.
My fitter usually fitted Howdens and at first was a bit grumpy it was "different" (not because of the pricing, he was a labour only subby from my main guy and had no skin in the pricing/discount game).
By the end he was singing its praises and saying how much more substantial it was compared to Howdens, easier to fit, and that he'd be recommending DIY going forward.

We have the Norton and it's solid wood and incredibly sturdy. Maybe get a couple.of samples from DIY and make your own mind up?

£4k for fitting and £11k for that plan is far more than you should be paying. Your builder just wants his commission.

I would find a new fitter. He's taking the piss. Of course he will tell you other kitchens are flimsy, flimsy on extra money for him.
We have an ikea kitchen (had one on our old house too) and its brilliant. My brother has had his for about 15 years, it's still fantastic. Ours cost, to buy 3 years ago, less than 3k. Appliances separate. And we have 3 units that are super tall due to victorian house. Husband is a jpiner, so he put it in.
I'd find a fitter that is happy to fit any kitchen and pick the kitchen you want.

This... he is taking the P* Not quite sure what to do though as he's doing a full refurb, and currently on the bathrooms.

So good to know. I'll have to push back, and maybe complete the rest of the flat and leave the kitchen out for now