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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To just pay this...?

63 replies

LadyShirazz · 12/03/2016 18:19

Sorry if AIBU isn't quite the right place for this - but hoping for some quick input from the interior decor experts on here please!

Soooo just had a lovely chap from Sharpes come in to assess our tiny, cramped "spare" bedroom (which - for various reasons - serves as mine and OH's main / only bedroom, but is very small and desperately lacking in storage).

He quoted us £3,908 to replace the one single corner wardrobe we currently have (for the both of us!), and put in a beautiful floor to ceiling, 3-door fitted sliding door wardrobe (with proper storage worked in) across the far wall, as well as matching bedside tables and headboard - price includes fitting, furniture, delivery, removal of materials etc.

Maybe I'm being naive, but actually that was rather less than I was expecting to pay for the work we'd like done. We've not "actively" shopped around as yet, as we needed someone like this to first come in, measure up, and give an idea as to what's do-able or not - but had guesstimated in my mind at about £5k up. OH (who has a better grasp on matters DIY than me) was also pleasantly surprised at the quoted price...

Posted on moneysavingexpert as well, but hoping for a quicker response (and possible flaming?) on here...

As that seems a pretty fair price to me - AIBU to just go with this quote, or a complete and utter tool...?

Thanks!!!

OP posts:
Original poster
LadyShirazz · 12/03/2016 18:21

Or rather, am I AIBU to think this is a fair price, or just a bit of a mug...?

OP posts:
AlisonWunderland · 12/03/2016 18:23

Sounds dear to me!

honeyroar · 12/03/2016 18:26

Sounds expensive to me for a fitted wardrobe in a small room, but I have no experience of having one. I'd always want to compare a couple of prices through.

In reality though, if you're happy with the quote and previous examples of his work, and you'd budgeted that much then go for it.

Sprongpicnic · 12/03/2016 18:26

It's a bit pricey. Get a carpenter in to quote and see how that compares.

BikeRunSki · 12/03/2016 18:28

I was quoted £1400 for 2.5 m of built in wardrobes, so all that for £4K doesn't sound too bad.

liinyo · 12/03/2016 18:28

I would give them a ring early next week to say you love the design, but it is a bit out of your price range, is there anything they could;do suggest to bring the cost down a bit. If they then drop the price you are ahead of the game. If not, call them back later and say you have decided to go ahead anyway

In my experience there is always room for negotiation on deals with big, national companies.

We had Sharps fit a bedroom in our last house and although it was expensive it was totally worth it.

LaurieFairyCake · 12/03/2016 18:33

It depends what it's made of - plastic coated mdf? Yuk

Solid wood = yum

monkeysox · 12/03/2016 18:37

Shop around. For everything

Original poster
LadyShirazz · 12/03/2016 18:38

This is the design - it's paneled glass.

To just pay this...?
OP posts:
RudeElf · 12/03/2016 18:41

I would say your room isnt as tiny as you think if thats the quote and furniture that is going in it! Grin

Original poster
LadyShirazz · 12/03/2016 18:41

Which maybe does make it a little different from just plain pine wood - sorry, should have put that at the start!

Room is so tiny, that need to lighten it up.

OP posts:
Original poster
LadyShirazz · 12/03/2016 18:44

It's about 9 1/2 ft by 9ft

OP posts:
ineedamoreadultieradult · 12/03/2016 18:48

Will there be room for a bed and walking about with a big wardrobe in? I think beds are 5 ft 4 wide and about 6 ft long and the wardrobe will be about 2 ft deep? Seems expensive but if you like it and are happy to spend it then go for it.

Original poster
LadyShirazz · 12/03/2016 18:53

We'd get as compact a bed as possible, and yes measurements would tally - this is the reason we're going for sliding doors, or otherwise it wouldn't work.

And sliding doors more expensive, unfortunately... :(

Please feel free to recommend alternate suppliers, if anyone has had a positive and better value experience...

OP posts:
ineedamoreadultieradult · 12/03/2016 18:58

There is a company called imaginatively 'The Sliding Door Wardrobe Company' but I'm not sure if they are national or just the North East. They are supposed to be good though.

RVPisnomore · 12/03/2016 18:58

I would say that is very expensive, and you would better served to get an independent carpenter in to quote for you. My experience of s
sharps has told be to avoid at all costs. I had a quote for a walk in wardrobe with storage and an overspill dressing room. They wanted £9k but would do it for £6k if I signed there and then. I refused and got anothe quote from a joiner and I am getting exactly what I want with better materials for less than £5k.

3littlefrogs · 12/03/2016 18:59

Where do you live?
I have just had some fitted wardrobes and cupboards done by a small company (2 young men) and they are fantastic.

If you are in the right area I will pm you.

3littlefrogs · 12/03/2016 19:02

Sliding doors do add about 6 inches to the depth of your wardrobe because of the mechanism.

IME going with a "bedroom company" or a "kitchen company" always adds to the cost and reduces the quality.

I would go with a local carpenter and get references.

Sallyingforth · 12/03/2016 19:02

That's a lot of furniture to fit in such a small room.

QuiteLikely5 · 12/03/2016 19:06

Buy cheap buy twice.

I love sharps, quality is great, you get what you pay for.

That is a v small room btw!!

SilverBirchWithout · 12/03/2016 19:06

Having a look at the costings of IKEA pax system wardrobes (with sliding doors) which we did ourselves.
It will give you a baseline figure for the cheapest wardrobe systems out there and reassure you than you are not paying over the odds.

Ours cost about £1200 but we had to do it all ourselves and I think your quote is not too bad.

Original poster
LadyShirazz · 12/03/2016 19:06

Thanks all - yes, this is the maximum we can squeeze in definitely!

We're in the Essex / Herts area.

We could go local / smaller scale, but then you don't have the same guarantee they are not cowboys - this is money we've saved and saved hard; we need a call back line and a warranty, should things not go to plan...

OP posts:
Jux · 12/03/2016 19:07

It sounds like the room would be a bit cramped. Draw it out on the floor and walk about, bend to get to the bottom of the wardrobe, open the drawers etc. See if it works irl, rather than just on their plan.

Milliways · 12/03/2016 19:08

We have just had 2 large odd shaped sloped ceiling bedrooms refitted. Sharps and Hammonds both wanted over £10k, as did a carpenter. Betta Living came down to £6500 so def worth shopping around. (They quoted nearly £8k and we haggled)

SouthWestmom · 12/03/2016 19:10

Well we did the whole shop around and pay for a good local firm and paid £4K for three floor to ceiling shelves/wardrobes in the dining room - one is for coats and bags and has hanging space and the other for shoes