^Every in-home measure and showroom appointment costs you designer time, drive time and a slot on the calendar that someone else could have had. Qualifying leads before that visit makes sure each one gets the right next step: a booked appointment, a follow-up plan, or a friendly referral somewhere else.

Qualifying shouldn't slow down your first response. Speed still wins the first conversation. Qualifying is what you do during that conversation.

What Qualified Means for a Kitchen Lead

In Harvard Business Review research on online leads, a lead counted as qualified once the company had a meaningful conversation with a key decision-maker. That's a good starting point for dealers. A kitchen lead is qualified when you've spoken with the people making the call and you know three things: the project fits what you do, the timing works, and the budget is in a realistic range.

Kitchen projects vary a lot, which is why this matters. According to the 2026 U.S. Houzz Kitchen Trends Study, the median major kitchen remodel costs $55,000 and the median minor remodel costs $20,000 (USD). Among major remodels, the median was $75,000 for larger kitchens and $46,000 for smaller ones. Qualifying tells you which of those projects you're looking at before your designer spends an afternoon on it.

The Five Questions

You can cover all five on a ten-minute call. Keep it conversational.

1. What are you hoping to do?

Full remodel, new cabinets in the same layout, or a refresh? Houzz found 68% of renovating homeowners replaced all of their cabinets, 27% replaced some, and 5% didn't upgrade them at all. Each of those is a different job with a different price, and you need to know which one this is before you book a designer.

2. When do you want the kitchen finished?

A homeowner who wants it done before a holiday gathering needs a different next step than one collecting ideas for next year. Ask for a target finish date, then work backward with your own lead times so the answer means something to both of you.

3. What range are you comfortable investing?

Plenty of salespeople skip this one because it feels awkward. It gets easier when you offer ranges instead of asking for a number. The 2026 U.S. Houzz & Home Study found 75% of renovating homeowners set an initial budget, and 37% ended up spending more than they planned. Most people have a number in mind. Fewer know what drives the cost of a kitchen, so walk them through it: cabinet construction, door style, countertops and layout changes.

4. Who else is making this decision?

If a spouse, partner or parent has a say, get them to the showroom visit. A design presented to one person has to be explained again at home, without you there to answer questions. Ask it plainly: "Is there anyone else who'll want to weigh in on the design?"

5. Where are you in the process?

Have they measured? Do they have drawings? Are they talking to other companies? In ArcSite's 2022 homeowner survey, 95% of homeowners said they get more than one bid. Knowing you're one of three helps you prepare for the visit and follow up on time.