Should I choose based on the portfolio?

It is the least informative thing you will look at. Photographs show finished surfaces in good light; they cannot show you the carcass material, the drawer joinery, the hardware, or whether the job finished on time. Ask about construction instead.

How important are reviews?

Useful, with caveats. Look for reviews that describe the process rather than just the result — how communication went, whether problems were handled, whether the schedule held. And check whether you can verify them independently rather than taking a website’s word for it.

Is the most expensive quote the best?

No, and neither is the cheapest. The useful exercise is making the quotes comparable by asking every trade the same specification questions. Once you know what each is actually offering, the price differences usually make sense.

Guides

How to Choose a Carpenter

Updated July 25, 20262 min read

The short answer

A portfolio tells you what a trade photographs well, not how they build. The more useful signals are whether they produce drawings before quoting, whether they can describe their carcass and hardware specification without hesitating, and whether they tell you about the constraints of your space before you sign anything.

What actually distinguishes trades

They draw before they quote: A trade who quotes a built-in without measuring and drawing it is quoting an imagined object. You will both discover later that you imagined different things.
They can specify without hesitating: Ask what the carcass is and what the drawer boxes are. A good cabinetmaker answers immediately and in detail. Hesitation means they buy whatever is cheapest that week.
They raise problems early: Out-of-square walls, a screen height that will be uncomfortable, a duct that cannot move. A trade who mentions these at the measure is one who has thought about your specific space.
They talk you out of things: The most reliable positive signal there is. Someone who agrees with every idea you have is selling, not advising.
They explain the sequence: When they need access, what happens before and after them, what other trades are involved. It shows they have run projects rather than just built objects.
They put the warranty in writing: Term, coverage, claims process. A simple written answer to a simple question.

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Warning signs

A quote that is a single number with no specification.
Reluctance to produce drawings before you commit.
Pressure to decide today, or a discount that expires.
A very large deposit before any material is ordered.
Cash-only pricing — consider what else is being skipped.
No written warranty, or vagueness about its term.
Suggesting you skip a permit that is genuinely required.
Agreeing enthusiastically with every idea, including the bad ones.

Answers

Frequently asked questions

Should I choose based on the portfolio?: It is the least informative thing you will look at. Photographs show finished surfaces in good light; they cannot show you the carcass material, the drawer joinery, the hardware, or whether the job finished on time. Ask about construction instead.
How important are reviews?: Useful, with caveats. Look for reviews that describe the process rather than just the result — how communication went, whether problems were handled, whether the schedule held. And check whether you can verify them independently rather than taking a website’s word for it.
Is the most expensive quote the best?: No, and neither is the cheapest. The useful exercise is making the quotes comparable by asking every trade the same specification questions. Once you know what each is actually offering, the price differences usually make sense.

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