DIY Kitchens supply and fit?

[QuantumWeatherButterfly]

Has anyone had a DIY Kitchen, and had their fitter manage the ordering/supply?

We were on the verge of signing a contract for a v lovely but v expensive German kitchen, but then life happened and now we really can’t afford it. So, we’re looking at how we can get something of good quality for a better price, and I am very keen on DIY Kitchens, having seen excellent feedback.

We’ve found a great fitter and DH is super-keen to have him manage the whole thing for us (which he will). DH says that if we do the ordering (wherever we do it from), it’ll be up to us to sort out any mistakes/missing bits, which will be 1) a hassle and 2) slow everything down, and because we’re not experts, we’re 100% guaranteed to screw something up with the order. However, that probably means Howdens, and I’m not keen on the quality of their doors, or that decent quality hinges are extra.

Could we get the fitter to do the order for us from DIY Kitchens, or is that just weird? Or is there something else we could do to make sure we don’t make any mistakes with the ordering?

Who is designing the kitchen? The best bet is to get some sort of a drawing and schedule of items on paper, which you can both check to make sure nothing is missed out, then it doesn't matter who places the order. He could even sit next to you whilst you enter it all into the website. There's no reason the fitter can't contact them about anything missing as long as he has the order number, it must happen all the time.

Thanks, @NotMeNoNo - at the moment, I am designing it, trying to piece together what I can remember from the lovely and expensive German one we had designed. But I don't doubt that the fitter and/or Howdens planner will need to help me fill in the blanks.

We are going to order from DIY too very soon and my builder is going to order it for me.

Get a concept planner to design it for you or a sales person if you don't want to pay for a design. Then send DIY the plans and listing . They will quote and order it from those plans .

Seems sensible to me, that the fitter contacts & orders the kitchen he will be fitting maybe get him to sit down with you & devise the plan together, he must have some ideas on what does/doesn’t work as he is a professional, I’m sure DIY must be used to dealing with contractors/designers etc.