Buying carpets shouldn't be this complicated! Help!

[comtessa]

Am choosing carpets ahead of move to our first (owned) house. Need carpets for stairs and landing, and also for two bedrooms.
Happily I'm not paying for the carpets, as house is being refurbished and we agreed to pay almost the asking price on condition that house is finished to our spec when contracts are exchanged. (Person selling house is a developer).

Here's my dilemma. The developer has done fantastic work on the house, everything the surveyor pointed out to him he is completing to a good standard. I want to have a good carpet that will last, but don't want him to be paying over the odds. Do I want wool, wool-blend, twist.... help!
How much is a reasonable amount per square metre?

Thanks for any advice!

I'd suggest you go along to a local carpet retailer and have a look at the different styles and ask them for advice on wear etc.

We have a wool type (I think ) in our living room and I think they are hardier than your usual carpets.

Thanks sparkle1977. Went to B&Q yesterday and they were halfway less than useless, will try more specialist place.

We got our carpet from a local carpet shop (not carpetright as they were rude to us). The owner was great - he let us take samples home and when we told him our budget and what we wanted, he suggested loads of things for us.

We went for wool as it's supposed to be more easily cleaned and hard wearing.

this tells you about types

We paid around £30 a square metre. It feels lovely and should hopefully last.

You'll want more hard wearing carpet for the hallways. Carpet in the bedroom is more about warm and how it feels on your feet. Wherever you go should be able to help you out. I used to take my shoes and socks off and walk on the samples to get a feel!!

Thanks all, this is really helpful. I tried a local retailer yesterday evening but they weren't so good either. Sigh. Onwards!

I always thought wool was better quality, more expensive but harder to clean? And polypropelene easier to clean and harder wearing? You're right - it is confusing! No wonder we have laminate everywhere!

Where do you live?

I did a little bit of research online and ordered some samples from some companies. That gave me a bit of a heads up when I went into a shop as I could say what I liked - as there is so much choice!

I live in Nottingham. The two places I've been to so far (B&Q and local place, United Carpets) have both said they don't do samples, which seems ridiculous and means I won't be buying from either of them.
Thanks for the suggestion Igglebuff, hopefully work will be quiet today so I can do some sneaky research.

Try this website to find somewhere near you. I'd steer well clear of any chain stores TBH!

You can also get samples from most of the manufacturers direct.

Took me a while to find it - this website was useful

Igglybuff (sorry for wrong name last posting) are you sure you're not Sarah Beeny in disguise or similar...? Thank you so much for these websites, will trawl my way through.

comtessa if only. I do like Beeny! I'm just a bit of a geek when it comes to these sort of things

The websites were ace, thanks Igglybuff, and I've now found two recommended places in Nottingham which I'm going to go look at next week.
Thanks again xx

You're welcome!

Might it be easier to ask the developer what his budget is if he's a decent chap? That way a good carpet shop can give you the best quality for the money available. It would be awful if you chose everything and he said your choices were too expensive...

The people in John Lewis are good at advice.
Will tell you what quality you need according to use.

Agree with Indaba - John Lewis are brilliant. Have always bought my carpets from them and their prices are very competitive.

More great advice, thanks. And JL are open later than the carpet shops, will check with them too. Thanks all.