New Fitted Kitchen

Capio

I am about to order a new fitted kitchen for my home and would like any hints tips or recomendations please.

Badger_Lady

Get it from eBay!

Sorry - that's my mantra at the moment... where are you getting it from? Has it already been "designed"?

Capio

No, just started looking in the usual places like Ikea, MFI ect. Would the ebay kitchen be fitted?

Badger_Lady

I've arranged a local kitchen fitter who will collect the eBay units / appliances in his van and then fit them for me for a flat rate of £500.

With complete kitchens selling from £120, it's a bargain

Capio

Thanks very much. I will look into this.

Doozergirl

Use a kitchen designer who will give input, not just one who will stick what you say in the design. I think it's really sad that there are really skilled people out there with great ideas and half the time people end up with a repro of the existing kitchen.

When you're looking at brochures etc, don't just dismiss a kitchen because you don't like the style of it. Have a look at how those kitchens are laid out and whether that design might work in your house. It's what I'm doing right now with the Howdens brochure!

Never take the first price. Get several quotes and play them off against each other. We usually manage to save nearly half on the original quoted prices.

Buy your appliances elsewhere by using a price comparison site and never use in house fitters because it will double the cost of your kitchen for no reason.

phill99

I run a Maintenance Company and have alot of involvement with kitchen fitting. A number of things to consider:
1. I use howdens kitchens a lot and have never had a problem with the quality of their kitchens and the range. If you go in they have free design service. You just need to find a fitter - Howdens have a display of fitters cards so you can call them for details.
2. It worth finding a fitter that can arrange all other trades (plumbers, gas fitters, electricians etc ) to come in and do their bits in the correct order. Many DIYers try and project manage installation and because thay are not experienced, they get the trades in the wrong order and this ends up costing in the long run. It is worth paying a bit extra to get someone too do it for you.
3. Remember a cheap kitchen can look a million dollars when fitted by a qualty tradesman. An expensive kitchen can look like its fit for the tip if fitted by an idiot. Therefore, don't skimp on the price you pay for fitting. The good fitters are booked up for months in advance, so be prepared to wait for quality.
4. Ask friends and family about fitters and suppliers and who they recommend. See the finished product if possible.
5. Avoid B & Q. there are a number of threads on here about them and my experience is that they are a nightmare. I have one customer who had a kitchen installed by B & Q and 13 months down the line they still haven't finished. Its now with solicitiors. They charged £3300 fitting on a £2200 kitchen. I worked it out that I could fit the kitchen (including other trades), plaster it, tile it and decorate it for the ame money and still make a decent profit.
6. Don't be pressured by the big Kitchen companies.

Hope this helps.