Moving In + Fitting Floors

MercilessKiller

Hi All

With the Barratt new builds I have 2 options:
1) Floors included for a gazillion of my fine british pounds
2) Do it using an external company for a fraction of the price

The problem with number 2 though is this can't be done until we have the keys. We were hoping to move in when we have the keys.

I've contacted a few people regarding fitting a floor and they all seem to say contact nearer the time as it's not built till next year, though Barratt need to know next month where I'm going to pay them to fit the floors.

I can't afford to wait 3 or 4 weeks to move in (due to paying for 2 properties), but not sure how long it would take - People seem reluctant to give me any idea of time due to it being so far away.

Could anyone give any advice please?

Thanks!

PasturesNew

You can talk to the floor people in the weeks before you exchange and get a price from them, based on them measuring it exactly between exchange and completion. The builders will be OK to give them access to measure up.

What sort of flooring? How many rooms? It won't take long.

I'd expect to be able to book them in the day after completion.

somethingcorporate

Perhaps you could put some time between exchange and completion to allow the flooring people to come and fit the floors.

We did this with our new build last year - had 3 weeks between exchange and completion agreed with the developer where we could get our decorators and floorers in to put some stuff down.

This way you only pay for 1 property but you get what you need before completion.

I would definitely get it done yourself, we bought some decent engineered wood from a local company and it is ten times better than the cheap stuff that the developer put down next door!

MercilessKiller

I did ask Barratt about this - They told me they don't allow external people in before completion due to the complexities of having lots of builders going in and out.

I'm worried this was just a selling tactics (deadline for ordering flooring is next month), so maybe if I ask a few months before completion they'll be more open to it?

Would people recommend using a company that offer flooring with fitting, or going with a reputable independant trader (for trade prices etc..)

Thanks for the advice - On the back of it, with completion due on the Friday, I'll aim to move in fully the weekend after - That should allow for time for carpet fitting and also delivery of furniture that would be needed I think!

Errata

I'm assuming you mean fitted floor coverings, not floors.
Having them fitted after you move in puts you in the same position as the umpteen thousands of people who have new replacement floor covering fitted. Fitters don't mind and are quite used to moving say a sofa and armchair or a bed and a wardrobe from one side of a room to the other whilst they're fitting.

MercilessKiller

Errata wrote: »

I'm assuming you mean fitted floor coverings, not floors.
Having them fitted after you move in puts you in the same position as the umpteen thousands of people who have new replacement floor covering fitted. Fitters don't mind and are quite used to moving say a sofa and armchair or a bed and a wardrobe from one side of a room to the other whilst they're fitting.

A sofa or a wardrobe, fair enough - I'm worried about moving a whole house worth of stuff in before it's done though..!

And yes, I mean floor coverings :rotfl:

[Deleted User]

If ordering furniture, do expect something to be delayed and make provision. We went from a tiny one bed flat to a three bed house, ordered a 3 piece suite to be delivered the day we moved in.., but were sitting on the floor for two weeks due to late delivery!

But I would imagine that saving the money you will save by buying your own floors will make up for any inconvenience. Its not hard to move furniture around unless you have a ten bedroom mansion. Buy those wheeled contraptions for moving heavy objects if you have to.

lee111s

Do it after you're moved in. You'll save a fortune and no doubt get a better quality finish.

MercilessKiller

deannatrois wrote: »

If ordering furniture, do expect something to be delayed and make provision. We went from a tiny one bed flat to a three bed house, ordered a 3 piece suite to be delivered the day we moved in.., but were sitting on the floor for two weeks due to late delivery!

But I would imagine that saving the money you will save by buying your own floors will make up for any inconvenience. Its not hard to move furniture around unless you have a ten bedroom mansion. Buy those wheeled contraptions for moving heavy objects if you have to.

Haha fantastic - We do have a few basic things already so worst case scenario is we should be ok light for a week or so.

The thing is, the floor dude I emailed for a quote gave me the high end carpets and materials to give me an idea of the max price including fitting, and it was still 50% of what Barratt's cheapest quote is! When you're talking about a saving of 4 figures, I just can't justify having them do it for the sake of not having to wait a few extra days.

The markup is insane!

Oddly for other things like the washer/dryer, the cost was actually very similar to the retail price you'd get for it at a store!

vase

Just live without flooring for a bit! Highly unlikely to take a long time though. I've had carpets fitted within a week, laminates a tad longer...

davidmcn

MercilessKiller wrote: »

I did ask Barratt about this - They told me they don't allow external people in before completion

I'm worried this was just a selling tactics (deadline for ordering flooring is next month), so maybe if I ask a few months before completion they'll be more open to it?

I doubt it, they really won't want you (and/or your contractors) in the property before completion. Gets messy if completion doesn't happen but the house contains your carpets.