NEW HOME

azka

Moving into brand new home soon. got to get carpets and curtains sorted out first. any tips for furnishing house cheaply would be much appreciated

mitsubzt

Hi

Eight weeks ago I bought a 3 bed flat, ripped everything out, doors,skirtings,stops,kitchen,bathroom,wiring,plumbing, sockets etc ( I think you get the pic, everything out bar the walls and windows )
Anyway first of all look at who you know that works in a builders merchant,paint store,diy store etc or if a friend knows someone who works at these places then get them to go along with you.
I did this and saved 30% on everthing I bought there through people I knew or people my friends/family knew.
second thing to do is to spend 1 day on the Internet looking for things you want then find the cheapest price for them compared against the 30% off ( above )
Then You order everything and claim as much compensation as you can from companies because of products damaged,non-delivery,etc ( it worked for me )
then you once again ask friends/family to do install things on the cheap ( case of beer or £20 etc ) or if you feel like you could do the jobs yourself then do them.
I only had to pay for a joiner £700 ( whole house ) and sparkie £250 ( did most of it myself ) everything else was done by family, friends or by myself.

eg, tiles for bathroom £667.23 got them for £411.47

Total cost to upgrade flat £6750 should have been around £13500 mark

Remember If you don't ask for discount you won't get it !!!
Don't be shy just ask !

hope this helps.

Nile

Hello azka

If the house has just been built and doesn't have a gas fire or cooker included/already installed, remember when you order these items to tell your supplier to use the house plot number (not street and house number) on the invoice and you'll get them VAT free.

We moved into a brand new house (10 years ago) so I remember how expensive it was but also very exciting too.

One thing we did was to get a locksmith to check all the window and door locks to maximise security. We fixed a chain and the Locksmith fitted a spy hole viewer in the front door, ideal if the man of the house works night shifts and wifey has to answer the door to callers after dark.

We put a light and light switch pull cord in the loft, it's proved invaluable when we store/retrieve items from the loft.

We also got a plumber to fit an outside tap, invaluable for filling buckets when washing the car or filling a watering can for the garden plants. We never use a garden hose because it'd cost a bloody fortune......new houses have a water meter fitted so you pay for every drop!

Hope these tips help. Good luck in your new home.

Elephant_Girl

Hi azka, One very important thing to bear in mind is that you take your time getting things. Curtains are a must straight off but secondhand or borrowed ones might do until you are sure of the colour scheme in each room. It might be better to do any decorating before laying carpets and good underlay is worth buying, especially when using inexpencive carpets.
Not so sure about 'claiming compensation' from companies though, unless the claim is truthful of course.
Good luck with the move, I moved just over a year ago and it is exciting and worth while if you have to wait while you plan out how to furnish the rooms.

scheming_gypsy

Azka - if you find anywhere cheap online for stuff then tell me as well... i move in about a month..

vansboy

Make sure you've got the Homemovers 10% discount card from Focus - you'll need it!! It's free & valid 6 months.
Also Homebase Spend n Save card - you get vouchers & offers depending on how much you spend.Don't forget that they have 10% discount days, every month - 6 weeks.

We did our house - extension & re-vamp & found most of our spending went to...

Ikea- for kitchen units & sofas & some lighting & blinds

B&Q- our only purchase there was for the special order white laminate flooring

Focus- paint & lighting & surprise surprise, both bathroom suites from them.They had extra discounts on offer & all your taps were in cluded - lots charge extra.The underlay for laminate floor was cheapest here.

Wickes - all the heavy materials from here, cement & stuff.

Homebase - bits n pieces, like Focus - clearence lines in furniture, worth watching out for. A kingsize pine bed for £45 less 10%day less 10% spend n save card less 1.5% Thomas Cook credit card - can't be bad!!

Plumbcentre - our plumber introduced us, as it's mainly trade customers - they let us have same discounts & price matched whenever we found cheaper - proffessional knoledge too!

Have fun!!

VB

plumb1_2

Hi

Eight weeks ago I bought a 3 bed flat, ripped everything out, doors,skirtings,stops,kitchen,bathroom,wiring,plumbing, sockets etc ( I think you get the pic, everything out bar the walls and windows )
Anyway first of all look at who you know that works in a builders merchant,paint store,diy store etc or if a friend knows someone who works at these places then get them to go along with you.
I did this and saved 30% on everthing I bought there through people I knew or people my friends/family knew.
second thing to do is to spend 1 day on the Internet looking for things you want then find the cheapest price for them compared against the 30% off ( above )
Then You order everything and claim as much compensation as you can from companies because of products damaged,non-delivery,etc ( it worked for me )
then you once again ask friends/family to do install things on the cheap ( case of beer or £20 etc ) or if you feel like you could do the jobs yourself then do them.
I only had to pay for a joiner £700 ( whole house ) and sparkie £250 ( did most of it myself ) everything else was done by family, friends or by myself.

eg, tiles for bathroom £667.23 got them for £411.47

Total cost to upgrade flat £6750 should have been around £13500 mark

Remember If you don't ask for discount you won't get it !!!
Don't be shy just ask !

hope this helps.

Dont think I,d like to be your friend ;)will all the claiming you do.