New kitchen - help!

MABLE

One way to save costs is to get the units already made up and that way the fitter has to spend less time and in turn saves you some money.

no1catman

The other thing to bare in mind, is the cost of the new kitchen in relation to the property.
A new kitchen usually adds value to a house, but there is a limit to how much can be added depending on the value of the house.
For example, suppose you spend £8-10k on the kitchen, and in before and after the value is estimated to have increased by £15k, you've done well. But if you spent £20k on it - it still only goes up by £15k.
However, if you live in a 4/5 bedroomed detached, and you spent £25k you may get a £30-40k increase.

moneyistooshorttomention

no1catman wrote: »

The other thing to bare in mind, is the cost of the new kitchen in relation to the property.
A new kitchen usually adds value to a house, but there is a limit to how much can be added depending on the value of the house.
For example, suppose you spend £8-10k on the kitchen, and in before and after the value is estimated to have increased by £15k, you've done well. But if you spent £20k on it - it still only goes up by £15k.
However, if you live in a 4/5 bedroomed detached, and you spent £25k you may get a £30-40k increase.

That I can sympathise with.

Having had this house a few years now and an online estimate of value agreed to the £ with what I thought it would be personally - and that's only £23,000 more than I bought it for (and no allowance whatsoever for house price inflation). But - I've already spent over £30,000 on it - before I get my new kitchen.:(

phill99

Firstly, if you identify where you are based, somebody maybe able to suggest a builder/ fitter etc.


Secondly as someone that does this day in, ay out, I would suggest the following.


The actual cost of the kitchen units/worktops etc when compared to the total cost of the kitchen installation is relatively low. From experience, up to 30% of the total installation is the cost of cabinetry. The rest is plastering, electrics, plumbing, fitting labour etc etc. So don't get hung up on the actual kitchen cost.


Find someone that will manage all of the trades so that they are scheduled in the right order. This often confuses people and they get things done back to front and have to pay twice.


Do the job properly from the start. Get the walls plastered so that you have a nice canvass to start with. Get the electrics done. Get more sockets than you think you need as getting them done now is a lot cheaper than retro fitting.


Make yourself a lost of 'Must haves', 'need to haves' and 'nice to haves'. This will identify what is not up for compromise.


DO NOT Go for the cheapest quote for fitting. Get a good quality fitter. The good ones are booked up in advance for a reason. Even if you have to wait a while, it'll be worth it. Get references and ask to see work. Decent fitters will be happy to do this.


Make sure gas fitters and electricians are suitably qualified and can issue appropriate certificates.


Make sure that all tradesmen are insured.


Expect some additional works to your electrics to bring them up to standard. If an electrician is working on your kitchen, it will need to be up to regulations so he may have to do things that you can't see and don't understand. This needs to be budgeted for.


Don't be fooled by this weeks sale or high pressure salesmen.


Take your time and do your research.