We’re so excited that our spaces in New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago are open for customers to visit in-person—and also that our virtual appointments aren’t going anywhere. It’s easier than ever to chat with a customer consultant to help move your project forward. And while we meet all of our customers wherever they’re at in their renovation journey, there are a few things you can do to prepare for your 30-minute appointment—whether IRL or virtual—to be as efficient as possible. We chatted with Briauna Rapone, a Semihandmade Sales Specialist, on how you should prep for your time spent with us. Keep reading for her tips!

Goal: See if Semihandmade and IKEA are right for you

It’s okay to start an appointment with our team to figure out if our product is right for you. If this is the kind of information you’re looking to chat over, we recommend readying dimensions, plans (if you have them!), your intended layout, and your budget to the conversation. If you’re not ready to be touching, feeling, and reviewing materials, booking a virtual appointment will do the trick.

And while our customer consultants can draw up a price quote on the spot, it does take a bit of time. Usually it’s more productive to continue the conversation, and quickly use our Cost Estimator tool to get a ballpark. A more exact quote can be sent through in a follow-up email after the fact. According to Briauna, it’s nice to continue chatting in-person and this way, clients have the time and space to mull over the actual quote on their own. 

Goal: Decide on a material

You’ve made up your mind: You want a Semihandmade (or BOXI by Semihandmade!) kitchen. Now all you have to do is decide which front or style… which really is the fun part! If you’re in this stage, bringing examples of saved photos or spaces you’re inspired by along with other samples you’re considering using to an in-person appointment will make the most of your time. This, as Briauna notes, will make sure you’re “fully taking advantage of being in person”. 

She also says, “I like to focus on the functionality and quality of the front styles since I am not a designer, but people really seek a second opinion or design advice.” If you need someone to bounce ideas off of, or are seeking confirmation your Semihandmade choices will look good in the space, our specialists will be able to provide you with the expertise of having helped so many plan their successful renovations. 

Goal: Explore your options

All of the above is great, but if you want to use our appointment as a starting point on your journey, that’s fine, too. We can answer your questions and help move you into the next phase no matter what you have ready or on-hand. 

“With or without plans, I find appointments that come prepared with questions and an idea of their design/aesthetic preferences get the most from the appointment,” says Briauna. “The showroom appointments with no preference of material/look or questions seem the least productive only because there is a ton of information we will provide but it seems overwhelming without direction.”