First time renters

SiRob

Hi all,

Me and my girlfriend are expecting to move into a rented apartment for a year before buying in 2014.

We both currently live with parents and have not had a flat of our own before.

I taken a lot of advice from this forum about bills/info etc and it's great.

However, not seen much regarding things to buy.

The flat is unfurnished and comes with white goods only.

The question is, what stuff do we need. I'm sure there must be something I have overlooked.

Tips and suggestions are much appreciated even if they aren't relevant. (Obvious things like bed/sofa are accounted for already).

Thanks in advance

dimbo61

Beg and borrow everything you can from family and friends.
Have a look on freecycle, charity shops like british heart foundation, look on ebay for cheap items
You need the everyday stuff like Pots & Pans try local supermarkets.
Slow cooker!!! microwave ( 800W + 20L)
IKEA is a very good for many items but consider that when you move out you have to transport the stuff.
I like the mirror PAX wardrobes but they are very big to transport.
Sofa/beds are not that comfortable to sit on or sleep on so pick carefully !!!
If you buy a Chest of drawers look at 5 drawers and not 3.
Do not buy anything that you can not take with you when you leave.
Do not improve the flat IE new carpets, painting, garden plants etc

Yorkie1

I agree with Dimbo. Don't go mad spending on stuff for the flat - it may not go into, or with, the house when you eventually buy.

When I moved into my first unfurnished flat, I already had things like cooking equipment (pans, scales etc) and bookshelves. But friends said to prioritise something to sleep on, and something to sit on when you watch TV. Everything else can follow in due course.

newsgroup_monkey

Having owned for many years, I'm now about to move into my 3rd rented property (hopefully to own again by next year).....

The one thing I've learned is with the exception of the essentials (a chest of drawers, beds and a sofa), don't spend too much if you intend to move more than once.

Get a table that folds down - not every dining area has the same space.
Consider wardrobes - my current place has fitted wardrobes in all 3 rooms. New place has none. We have one wardrobe as it stands.

Freecycle. And that works both ways give-and-receive. Most importantly with Freecycle, when placing a "Wanted" ad, be honest. Explain that you're renting for the first time. When placing an "Offered" ad, ignore the first email. It's either someone who boot-sales as a second job or it's automated. And don't forget, it's your choice who you offer to. Ask them to justify why they want something. For instance, I offered some roof bars last week. The first person who replied asked me if it wasn't too far as he didn't drive.

Freecycle's rules don't say you have to use something yourself and not seel it, in fact they seem to almost recommend that. My personal feelings are that people shouldn't profit from Freecycle.

jamie11

There's nothing wrong with buying things from boot sales, items are usually cheap so if they don't fit the next place you can dispose of them with no regrets. Be very wary of anything electrical though.

R_P_W

You want people to list out what things you will need to live in your flat?? Surely you have some idea of what the essentials would be?

Jesnon

It really depends on how many bedrooms you have and the size of the flat! Everyone here has given you some good sites to get started on cheaper furniture - though if you want to 'spread out' costs, you could buy more expensive furniture and just move it with you (as long as it's stable enough that you can take it apart / easily transport it).

If you're anything like me and my partner you'll soon discover you have a crap load of stuff when all your possessions are combined!!If either of you have been to Uni too then you might have bits and pieces of useful things from that? For example, I brought two wardrobes and a big set of drawers that I'd had to myself (and they were full!) whilst living with my family... So I then had to cram all of my clothes into ONE of the wardrobes and only three of the drawers =P

The big problem with flats and apartments is that, especially in new builds, the actual inbuilt storage is very small (actually non-existent in my flat!) so you kind of have to be a bit inventive with storage!

Are you planning on getting a two / three bed? (I'd advise yes!) - if so is it more important to get a study type room or a spare room for family and friends? We have a second bedroom but the room was quite small, so we just use it as a study / place to dump stuff that doesn't fit anywhere else!

An idea of all the furniture etc we have:

Lounge kitchen diner: big sofa, coffee table, TV Stand, sideboard, 4 seater dining table and chairs then you're obvious kitchen utensils bins, toaster, kettle, microwave and all your pots and pans etc

Study: big book case, two DVD shelves, two sets of small drawers for stuff like towels and bedsheets, desk, computer chair, big sideboard which we use to store excess kitchen items (our kitchen is small and storage basically non-existent). We were also planning on getting a small filing drawer for all of our paperwork etc - currently we have a little crappy plastic set of drawers we use for the same purpose!

Bedroom: bed, beside tables, chest of drawers, two wardrobes

Hall: cheap but nice looking wardrobe from IKEA to store our hoover, ironing board, and with a little shoe rack (you probably won't need this if your apartment actually has cupboards... but ours doesn't!)

One thing I would say is that if you've got a second room / third room you want for guests, then that's all well and good and I'm sure you can get a cheap bed (it won't be used that much so it doesn't matter that much, obviously invest in your bed though!). BUT if like us you only have space for a study, I'd really recommend getting (I can't link as I'm new) but an airbed with a built in pump (they usually also have a little bag you can store them in) - they are actually really comfy and convenient and so so useful! And save space if you don't always want a guest bed that won't be used all the time.

Kitchen stuff is normally the best to stock up on - pots and pans, glasses, wine glasses, plates, bowls, good knives, cutlery (Tesco were doing a good deal a while ago with getting vouchers for cheaper good quality cutlery), utensils, chopping boards, electric mixer, grater etc etc

The good thing with kitchen stuff is as long as you have the essentials they're really easy to build up on as and when needed!

Good luck in your first flat together!

HappyMJ

The big exepnse items are the fridge, the washing machine and the cooker so if you can get them included, free or very cheap second hand you'll save a lot.

A bed is also expensive so shop around for the best quality at the lowest price. I wouldn't go for the cheapest though. The one I purchased had a tear in the fabric on the divan base so it came with a 75% discount.

Almost everything else you'll find that someone has a few spare to give you.