January is a key time for homeowners to invest in their home as they take advantage of the substantial discounts offered in the sales and this year promises to offer some great deals as the high street battles it out for customers.
The leading kitchen, bathroom and bedroom trade Association the KBSA is urging consumers not to be seduced by ‘too good to be true’ cut price deals but to chose a reputable retailer that can offer a professional service , quality products and a guarantee that their money is protected.
“Recent research from the government backed TrustMark association has shown that rogue traders are an annual £1.5 billion problem for homeowners - a huge £2.8m every week,” says KBSA CEO Graham Ball.
“Millions of pounds are being wasted and hundreds of consumers are frustrated by below standard service from retailers who provide poor quality workmanship and don’t deliver what they said they would. The KBSA has been a champion of best practice and professional standards since its inception and it remains at the heart of the KBSA retailer’s offer.”
KBSA members are carefully vetted before admission and must have traded for at least two years and be financially viable to be considered for membership. Retailers who are good enough to become members of the KBSA follow an OFT Approved Code of Practice and are subject to strict monitoring to ensure continued professional customer service – by offering excellence in design, planning and installation.
In addition, the recently introduced ConsumerCare Plus (CCP) is a comprehensive insurance protection, which covers the deposit, advance payments, work in progress and includes an insurance backed guarantee. KBSA retailers that offer CCP are also TrustMark registered, offering additional peace of mind. The Government backed TrustMark logo has been awarded to some 14,000 firms in the home improvement industry across the UK.
The KBSA offers the following top five tips to avoid disaster when investing in home improvements this New Year:
1. Visit a company that has a showroom so you can inspect the quality of the product and the standard of installation.
2. Choose a retail member with a track record of good installations and ask to speak to some past customers and even visit them in their homes if possible.
3. Be careful about paying in full for your kitchen in advance. You should not pay a deposit of more than 25% and it is likely that you will be required to make an interim payment, ask for a written payment schedule which includes the timings of any interim payment and final retention.
4. Make sure you have a written quotation that covers every aspect of the job, including fitting, flooring and any structural alterations you may have discussed.
5. Don’t sign anything unless you are prepared to honour your side of the contract. Some terms and conditions have expensive cancellation clauses. If in doubt contact the KBSA.
To find your nearest member visit www.kbsa.org.uk or call 01623 818808.
Enquiries: Downing Dunmore PR
Telephone: 01384 878777 Fax: 01384 872104 Email: info@ddpr.biz
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