Going round to take measurements. Advice for DIY-challenged?

PoisonIvy

So, anyone have a checklist for how I should do this? I'm going to try to replace bathroom before moving in, and there's two alcoves in the bedroom where wardrobes will go. Kitchen replacement to come later but will need appliances in the meantime.

Also - vendor has a six-month-old baby. I was thinking of bring a toy for him. Or is that a bit smarmy?

googler

What do you want to know? I take it you know how to use a measuring tape.....

You can get the sizes of the bathroom and the alcove etc, but any plumber or bathroom fitter won't be able to quote without seeing the job, judging where the pipe runs are, etc.

I think taking toys for the children of people you don't know is too smarmy, yes.

PoisonIvy

Yes, I know how to use a measuring tape, but I wasn't sure if you need to measure things like where the pipes / taps are etc. I've heard that moving the bath to the other side of the room could be expensive if you have to re-route plumbing.

I've seen posts advising bringing flowers or similar for vendors elsewhere on this forum, particularly if the sale is going slowly.

R_P_W

I have recently done somethign similar on a property we are buying. It might be a good idea to print out a copy of the floor plan and take it with you. Measure any alcoves, chimney breasts etc and record on the floor plan. Double check size of spaces for appliances etc.

As for the bathroom you will need a quote from some plumbers and they will need to have a look before they give you a firm price. They might be able to give you an 'indicative' figure but that will almost certainly change. I would guess like to like replacement of the suite would probably cost around £2k? thats what i did mine for although i did get the whole suite from B&Q for less than 400 quid. Rearrangement of a bathroom can quickly rack up the costs.

As for taking a toy for the sellers baby, personally I find that a bit.....well...odd. This is effectively a business transaction so dont really see why anyone would take a gift or flowers? If someone brought me flowers who was buying my house i would feel a bit uncomfortable. Go round, be polite and friendly and do what you need to do and leave.

hazyjo

Probably stating the obvious, but don't order anything until you actually exchange...

I'd forget the toy too. Remember to check for plug sockets too. You might end up having to move one if you're using recesses (or having an additional one/doing without one). My last house only had one double socket in the spare bedroom. If I'd have put a wardrobe across it, I'd have been stumped.

Jx

G_M

If you are DIY challanged (and I agree - from your questions you certainly appear to be!) you will need a plumber/bathroom fitter etc to quote. And he will need to view.

Either send a contractor round, or wait till you've bought.

Flowers? Toy? Do me a favour! :eek:

PoisonIvy

Thank you, hazyjo and R P W.

G-M, you normally give some great advice on this forum, including to me, for which I am grateful. Are you aware of how condescending your reply sounds? I hope it's not intentional.

Like I said, the only reason the gift thing occurred to me is that it has been mentioned here before. I have never bought a flat before and it's been well documented that buying a place can be one of the most stressful life experiences. This stuff may be old hat to you and the other property developers here (forgive me if I've confused you with someone else) but having lived in rentals since leaving home I have never had to contemplate replacing a kitchen or a bathroom. I am asking questions to avoid making costly mistakes, and questioning advice that I've seen on these forums that seems odd. I am not a simpleton; I am simply inexperienced.

Yorkie1

G_M's reply didn't seem condescending to me at all. I've never heard of anyone suggesting a toy or flowers to a seller on here; I'm not disbelieving you OP but it's hardly a common suggestion.

Don't forget to measure from skirting board to skirting board if the furniture has to sit on the floor. Also double check that the width of the alcove is the same at the front as the rear.

PoisonIvy

Yorkie1, I'm glad I misread G_M's tone. I can't find the "flowers post" as I am on a phone, but it came up in a search I'd done on difficult vendors, which mine was (although he seems to have calmed down now).

As for the skirting board/alcove thing, that's exactly the kind of thing I mean. I probably wouldn't have thought of that, especially with the vendor hanging around waiting for me to finish. I'd probably feel uncomfortable and rush through unless I had a checklist.

G_M

Apologies if you took it that way. I do occassionally get accused of this.....

It just seemed such a very unusual and unnecessary idea that I reacted with... surprise!

Or was it describing you as DIY-challanged you took exception to? It was, after all, your own self-description.

Good luck with the purchase.

Happy-Days_3

PoisonIvy wrote: »

I've heard that moving the bath to the other side of the room could be expensive if you have to re-route plumbing.

It is most problematic if there is a tiled floor. If there is, then you can't move it without ripping out the floor first and then replacing it after. That would be pricey just to move a bath.

If it is carpet and floor boards, then it isn't quite so bad. Main issue is the waste pipe. The waste pipe can't cross joists, only run between them. It can't cross them as you would have to cut a massive chunk out of them - not a good idea. So you then have to think about how your waste pipe will get from where the plug hole is to the external wall and down the drains.

The hot and cold runs are not such a problem as you can just take a pice out of the joists for them.

Then after that, where you take the bath from needs making good. So moving a bath results in those costs of moving it, plus the costs of making good, and they won't be cheap. Move the bath and if carpet, the carpet won't fit anymore. If tiles, chances are you will need to re-tile. Plus along the wall will need re-plastering.

So yeah, can be costly if that is all you are planning to do. But if you want everything ripped out and new suite anyway, you will be incurring many of those costs anyway, so not such a step up in costs.