Buying a second hand conservatory on ebay

Linny61 · 15 May 2013 at 11:20PM

Hi

I desperately want a conservatory but I've done a lot or research and even DIY conservatories are beyond my budget so I'm thinking of buying a second hand conservatory on ebay. My only concern is whether I will be able to find a good builder or joiner (I'm not sure which one I require) to erect the conservatory. I know that a lot of trademen are very critical of buying second hand and wouldn't be interested in the work.

Can anyone help allay my fears and do you have any idea how much it might cost?

Thanks

forgotmyname · 15 May 2013 at 11:41PM

Will you need to dismantle it? How will you transport it home?

You could end up spending more than a new one.

Save up and buy what you need or build it yourself.

If its double glazed the glass units will be heavy and the seals maybe short lived.
You may get condensation between the panes.

If your good at DIY and have a truck and some strong helpers that work on favours, food and beer then you maybe OK.

Paying builders etc could be costly. Did i mention that?

carebabe · 16 May 2013 at 12:03AM

would agree with all of above based on our own experience of buying second hand. we were able to access knowldedgeable labour at mates rates but it ended up costing a lot more then we thought. probs saved us £1800 over brand new but also put a lot of effort into it ourselves.

Money_Saving_Scot · 16 May 2013 at 12:44AM

I completely agree with everything that is said however I would go further and ask you these questions which are from Martins Money Mantra, is that do your really NEED it? Can you afford all the expenses our fellow members have noted in this thread? Because if the answer to any of these is NO! I would just wait and be patient and wait till you have enough funds in place of the value of a complete build of brand new conservatory and then ask yourself will I actually use it proactively and functionally?, Is it worth it to be honest what is your gut saying? and then is it the cheapest one meeting all your needs! if any of them is YES go for it!!! and remember if you get it places for example Homebase you will gain Nectar points meaning you might be able to get some furniture and home accessories for it free of charge, and I would also if and when you have the money in full purchase it on a rewards credit card like RBS World Points Mastercard meaning you will even more rewards to gain!!! However I wish you luck!!!

hesjane · 16 May 2013 at 1:41AM

Years ago we had a second hand conservatory (not from eBay but from a local paper).

Either take it down yourself, or make sure whoever is erecting it for you takes it down. It's a bit of a jigsaw puzzle and it's important that whoever's putting it knows how it came apart!

Watch out for any conservatories that have one wall slightly shorter than you may need....eg where it was fitted to a house with a section jutting out further than another.

If you are going to buy one get one with plans it at all possible. This will help whoever is preparing the base/wall etc. Otherwise takes loads of photos from all angles, and measurements BEFORE it's dismantled.

Be prepared to have to source and replace bits and pieces - conservatories either have small damaged areas, or bits get damaged when it's being dismantled. Check all the windows handles/locks, and the same for the doors.

Be prepared for glass damage in transport - that's not cheap to replace. Similarly if any of the double glazed panels have condensation in them or are already damaged, try and get an estimate of costs to replace them before committing to buy. Unless you have specialist glass transport facilities, similar to glazing vans, then think about how it will be transported, and how you will protect it during the journey. It's not easy moving big panels. Think about whether you would/could pay someone to transport it and if so ask re insurance if it gets damaged on the journey.

Make sure you have somewhere to store it while the base, dwarf wall (if applicable) is being prepared. It can just be stored in your garden, but I would suggest putting a tarpaulin over it to give it some protection.

Think about electricity and heating/cooling/lighting for the conservatory - it's not much use with no electric. Don't forget to add the cost of having this work done.

There are lots of other incidental costs, e.g. sealant, flashing (can't think of any more, but there will be others). Remember to cost these in.

Lots to think about, but don't necessarily be put off - it can work out to be a bargain if you are fortunate enough to get a good conservatory really cheap and have the skills to dismantle, move and install yourself (I am fortunate that family members did the work for me).

You mention getting a builder or joiner to install it for you. As you say some are critical of second hand ones - it is definitely more work than installing a new one and therefore you will have to think about the additional hours that you will be paying for. Also assuming you would get the builder/joiner to dismantle it you would have to pay for those hours as well, whereas a new one is just delivered to you and the builder costs start from the point they work on your house.

Robin_TBW · 16 May 2013 at 10:20AM

Conservatories are rubbish. Hot in the summer and cold in the winter. The complete opposite of what's comfortable! Will never understand the attraction.

onetwothree123 · 16 May 2013 at 3:48PM

How do you fit in in your car when you collect it in person?

onetwothree123 · 16 May 2013 at 3:49PM

I've a got a Fiesta , wonder if I could buy one?....or will I need some poly bags to put it in to keep the seats from getting dusty?

theonlywayisup · 16 May 2013 at 5:35PM

Onetoomany, don't assume everyone lowers themselves enough to drive a Fiesta.;)

onetwothree123 · 16 May 2013 at 6:36PM

I don't really -was just trying to think of the smallest sort of car to fit into the sentence and make it work, and then thought how I didnt want to make peeps wel jel by asking "will it fit in my aston martins boot?"