Because builders are often put into a bid situation trying to give the lowest price to get the job, cabinet costs are sometimes captured in allowances. Giving a minimum allowance for cabinets helps to fit into the right price range for a winning bid. The problem is that often, people don't do their homework to know what cabinets cost and so at the end of the job, when the money is getting tight, they end up with low end cabinets that fit within the allowance.

There are times that is useful to the homeowner who may not qualify for a higher mortgage. Builder grade may also be useful to homeowners who are remodeling and want to keep their costs to a minimum. Builder grade cabinets have a place but they are not usually top of the line or even mid-range.

The ones I have seen are fairly cheap looking. Ok for a rental or home that you don't want to invest a ton of money into.