Furniture advice for FTB

george4064

I have exchanged on my first flat (London based) and I'm moving in end of this month. As a FTB I need to buy all furniture etc for my flat, however I'm trying to think what the best way is, logistically, to acquire furniture and get it to my flat.


I will get the keys on a Friday afternoon, so if I am to get furniture delivered directly to my new flat so I'll either have to:


1. Arrange with the couriers so that they are delivered on that Friday afternoon or on the weekend. This seems very difficult and I'm worried that they'll try to deliver it on the Friday morning when I don't yet have the keys and they'll charge me for a redelivery.


2. Buy some of the furniture (mainly bed, mattress and bedside tables) and get it delivered to my current house where I'm renting, and then on completion day I hire a van and drive it over to my new flat?


Any thoughts/comments/advice much appreciated, I really don't want to end up moving in without any furniture!

HampshireH

Have it delivered after you have the keys.

Assuming you still have your rental you can sleep there over the weekend whilat you have it delivered and assembled.

What if you dont get the keys till late on the friday. I wouldnt risk a delivery on completion date just in case.

If you are giving up the rental same day as completion thats cutting it fine but a makeshift bed for 1 night won't do any harm.

Bossypants

Having done it both ways, I've found having it delivered to your current place and moved across all together MUCH less hassle than trying to co-ordinate deliveries for completion day (which is always a lot more hectic than you expect anyway). Also remember that completions do go wrong, even though the date is legally binding: you might not get the keys till 4:55, your vendor might breach the contract and fail to complete and/or move out, etc. Much more manageable to have one moving van you have control over to worry about, rather than multiple deliveries turning up on their own schedules.

Good luck, it'll be stressful but worth it!

george4064

HampshireH wrote: »

Have it delivered after you have the keys.

Assuming you still have your rental you can sleep there over the weekend whilat you have it delivered and assembled.

What if you dont get the keys till late on the friday. I wouldnt risk a delivery on completion date just in case.

If you are giving up the rental same day as completion thats cutting it fine but a makeshift bed for 1 night won't do any harm.

I've got a 6 day overlap between my completion date and when I have to move out of my rental, so I've given myself a bit of a cushion in case something does go wrong with the completion. (fingers crossed though!)

george4064

Bossypants wrote: »

Having done it both ways, I've found having it delivered to your current place and moved across all together MUCH less hassle than trying to co-ordinate deliveries for completion day (which is always a lot more hectic than you expect anyway). Also remember that completions do go wrong, even though the date is legally binding: you might not get the keys till 4:55, your vendor might breach the contract and fail to complete and/or move out, etc. Much more manageable to have one moving van you have control over to worry about, rather than multiple deliveries turning up on their own schedules.

Good luck, it'll be stressful but worth it!

That's along the lines of what I'm thinking, will allow me to plan much better and get things done quicker/smoother at my new place.


Just worried that I don't have an awful lot of space at my current rented place, but at least enough room for a bed, mattress and bedside tables.


Thanks for the advice.

allypally26

I brought a lot of stuff from ikea (btw they do 12 months interest free credit in store) got the lot delivered on a Saturday for no extra cost £25. I had ordered 2 beds, two chests of drawers, a tv stand, a bench, steps, a dressing table, a bookcase, a kitchen table and 4 chairs.

Best thing I ever did only issue was getting rid of the packaging afterwards.

danlewi2

What floor is the flat on? does it have a lift - having it delivered saves your back - carrying it up the stairs.

G_M

All you need is a bed.Or just a matress.


Once you have got the keys, go to the nearest auction and pick up everything from furniture to white goods to cooking utensils and artwork etc for absolute peanuts. £100 the lot?


eg
https://peacockauction.co.uk/

sal_III

I wouldn't risk delivery on completion day. Since you have 6 days overlap with your rental, just order the deliveries to the new flat either over the weekend or next Monday and save yourself the trouble and expense of storing/moving stuff from old place to new.

I know you are eager to live in the new place but, sleeping in your old rented accommodation for a night or two isn't going to kill you.

I would avoid buying expensive furniture other than a bed and chairs, until you get a feel for the place and what would be the best layout in each room. You don't need it fully furnished on day one.

george4064

danlewi2 wrote: »

What floor is the flat on? does it have a lift - having it delivered saves your back - carrying it up the stairs.

2nd floor flat, no lift.

TBagpuss

I'd have it delivered to your new flat after completion. If you want to sleep there straight away, borrow or buy an airbed for the first day or so.