New Kitchen

janeke

We are at the early stages of building an extension and putting in a new kitchen to a rental property (reasonably smart). This might be a stupid question but is there an easy way of comparing prices for trade suppliers - I`ve got brochures but no prices? We`d like to have a rough idea of which is best value before choosing. We are especially looking at Howdens, Benchmarx and possibly diykitchens.com. Our builder will probably supply the fitter. We haven`t even chosen a builder yet so I might be getting a bit ahead of myself!

Any thoughts on the different brands would also be appreciated

Jane

Hoploz

These companies sell to trade accounts rather than general public, so the builder will give the discount. A lot of these places have kitchen planners who come out and measure, and they will give you a price. I think I had to tell them the name of my builder and they used the relevant discount. So I think you might need to find a builder first. Think I got a quote from Howdens without telling them a builders name though I didn't buy from them in the end.

Hoploz

Bear in mind also that if you buy from some Internet retailer your builder may not be keen! There are always discrepancies in measurements when the kitchen is fitted and you are likely to need to change units or end panels for different sizes etc, or there are handles or hinges missing, so it's best to go with someone local who can deliver straightaway when you need a quick change, rather than reordering bits online and waiting a week for delivery!

madeinireland_2

I don't buy this idea that it's a bad thing to buy online. I agree the builder might not be keen but is that because you are effectively removing the opportunity for him to generate a mark up on the actual kitchen.

Why can't you just order early and check what is delivered carefully before the builder starts?

Also a few handles missing won't be the end of the world - they can always come back a bit later to sort.

When I got a quote from benchmark it was £11k but was £7k from Diy-kitchens - I can put up with a fair amount of hassle for that saving.

DRP

Our Magnet kitchen had essential pieces missing (side panels that were in the design, but not included on the inventory), which took weeks to sort out.

So these kind of issues can happen to any company, not just the internet-based ones...

gwynlas

Magnet have a trade counter which you access as a BTL landlord,

janeke

Thanks very much everyone. That certainly is a very tempting saving from diy-kitchens. I think we will have to wait until we get a builder and see how amenable he is to dealing with them.
Jane

Hoploz

I completely agree! in fact I run an Internet mail order company! (not kitchens!)

It's just even when you measure carefully, unless the builder himself is running the show there will always be the sucking in between the teeth every time something isn't A1, and whether or not YOU are willing to put up with the extra hassle, getting him to leave the job for a week while you wait for another bit to come in, and getting him to come back again when it does, is inevitably going to cause friction at best, and a higher labour charge at worst.

Kitchens are notorious for errors due to all the little extras you end up needing, which the untrained eye doesn't realise when ordering from someone far away. The customer is the non-professional link between two people (builder and kitchen company) who both say they know best - and in my view it's not a good idea unless you rally know what you're doing.

I think it's best to order from a trade place locally, which the builder has a working relationship with, so between them they can iron out the inevitable dinks in proceedings.

Only my opinion

rosie383

What about Ikea kitchens? We are in the same position as the OP but are seriously considering getting a kitchen from Ikea and doing some of the fitting ourselves. We got most of our new furniture from there and it is so sturdy and easy to put together compared to other flat pack. The value for money also seems really good.
Any thoughts from anyone who has actually fitted one?

janeke

rosie383 wrote: »

What about Ikea kitchens? We are in the same position as the OP but are seriously considering getting a kitchen from Ikea and doing some of the fitting ourselves. We got most of our new furniture from there and it is so sturdy and easy to put together compared to other flat pack. The value for money also seems really good.
Any thoughts from anyone who has actually fitted one?

I have heard that Ikea cabinets don`t have a void - so it is harder to accommodate services (but I might not know what I am talking about!)

System

yes, the ikea cabinets go the full depth to the wall so you end up trying to run services between the floor and the bottom of the cabinets (or having to think more about where your plumbing is located that with another kitchen)
the bonus is you get deeper cupboards.
It's not really "harder" to accommodate services, it's just different, and lots of fitters don't like different!