I'm getting estimates from a contractor to remodel my kitchen and bathroom, and he mentioned that he handles the material purchases so that he can take care of warranties for anything he works on. That makes total sense. But here's the thing: the place where I'm getting the cabinets offers some pretty big rebate discounts, and they told me I would need the original receipts to claim those. I sent the contractor a message with my cabinet selections and mentioned the need for receipts, and his reply was, "I keep the rebates and receipts since I'm buying the materials!"
Before I decide on my next steps, I have a few questions: 1) Shouldn't I be entitled to the rebates? After all, I'm paying full price for the materials, and he's pocketing the rebates on top of that, right? 2) If giving me the original receipts is a problem due to warranty reasons, should I ask for an itemized breakdown of the costs and only pay the rebate price? 3) Is it concerning that he reacted so defensively in a straightforward text about the receipts?
Thanks for your insights; I'm new to managing major renovations!
3 Answers
Honestly, if the contractor's buying the cabinets, he's technically the one entitled to the rebates, since the purchase is under his name. If this arrangement isn’t sitting well with you, you can always ask for itemized pricing. But remember, you’ve already agreed on the costs unless you decide to make changes. Whatever you do, if the cabinet situation starts to feel off, trust your gut!
Totally get why you’d be frustrated about potentially missing out on rebates. Just know that contractors often need to make a profit, and this might be one of the ways he’s managing that. If he becomes unresponsive or starts acting shady after buying the cabinets, definitely consider legal advice. Also, it wouldn’t hurt to double-check with the cabinet place to confirm he's handling the purchases as agreed!
You could just buy the cabinets yourself and keep the receipts to claim those rebates. Just keep in mind, if you do that, the contractor won’t warranty the cabinets. Personally, I like to supply certain items myself so I have control over what’s being used and it also frees up the contractor from having to lay out cash for things I can get myself.