First-time house renovation

latecomer

Hi Shimmy

Welcome to the mad house of house rennovation. hope everything goes well today, I loved our moving in day despite all the minor hiccups we had.

As others have said keep receipts and make sure you buy when you can get a good deal. We bought paint in Homebase last week as it was 3 for 2 despite not needing it for a few weeks.

If you are or know anyone over 65 you can get extra off at B&Q every wednesday (I think its wednesday but its certainly one day a week).

Screwfix are also good and you can regularly get an extra 10% off using the cashback sites.

TomsMom

latecomer wrote: »

If you are or know anyone over 65 you can get extra off at B&Q every wednesday (I think its wednesday but its certainly one day a week).

Make that 60! B & Q Over 60s Club - Diamond Card (I have one)

helping_hubby

Oh I just remembered something else...
Focus do a homemovers discount. You get 10% off (on sale items too, so they told us) for 6 months after moving in to your new home. You just take some proof (like a solicitors letter).

latecomer

We actually got a letter through the door from Homebase congratulating us on our new home and offering the 10% discount although I'm sure it was for a shorter period than 6 months. Dont know where they got our details from though, presumably someone trawling the land registry and selling the info?

Shimmyhill

Hi all, thanks for the advice - it has all been noted.

We actually got the Kitchen from Wickes as they have a 6 month refund policy My dad has a B&Q card so the pensioners day spendathons will commence soon

We now have the keys, no turning back now !!!! The madness will start tomorrow as we need to do meter readings etc before we get it all turned on - wish us luck !

latecomer

Good luck .

Dont forget to get your mail forwarded if you haven't already and keep the kettle and a couple of mugs handy as you dont want to have to search all your boxes when you need a tea break

TomsMom

Shimmyhill wrote: »

We actually got the Kitchen from Wickes as they have a 6 month refund policy

I never knew that! I had a quote from Wickes last week, the day before their 40% off offer finished and a new one was about to start in a couple of days, which would have made my quote dearer. I liked the quality of their kitchen but it was a couple of thousand dearer than B & Q and my local kitchen supplier. B & Q came in just over £3,000, local chap almost £3,500. Still doing the figures and playing with the design but wont be having the Wickes one.

we need to do meter readings etc before we get it all turned on - wish us luck !

Just to be on the safe side in case there are any disputes with the utility providers, take photos of the meter readings and if your camera can date the photo it will be useful.

latecomer

Dont forget to take readings at the old place too!

Shimmyhill

TomsMom wrote: »

I never knew that! I had a quote from Wickes last week, the day before their 40% off offer finished and a new one was about to start in a couple of days, which would have made my quote dearer. I liked the quality of their kitchen but it was a couple of thousand dearer than B & Q and my local kitchen supplier. B & Q came in just over £3,000, local chap almost £3,500. Still doing the figures and playing with the design but wont be having the Wickes one.




Just to be on the safe side in case there are any disputes with the utility providers, take photos of the meter readings and if your camera can date the photo it will be useful.

Good point about the photos, will do that !

We bought the Wickes Davenport kitchen and on the day we got it it was 70% off !!! Now it is 45% if you spend over £650 so we got an utter bargain (baring in mind this is a temp job and we are not having wall units) we also got a £300 sink for £100 !!!!! Did well on that day !

Shimmyhill

I also have started a blog, done it in iweb on the mac but only very quickly - will try to keep it updated i promise !!

http://web.me.com/shimmyhill/House/Bungalow_Project/Bungalow_Project.html