Need sensible advice - windows

[GorgeousLadyofWrestling]

We’ve just bought our first flat and the windows are single pane. They desperately need double glazing - they’re not only draughty but also white insecure. It’s a ground floor flat and we have children.

We had booked to have new windows and front door before the corona virus outbreak. We hired a joiner and he has bought the windows and door. He’s due to come on Monday.

Now my husband - who is self employed and panicking - is saying we should delay spending that money (£3200). I say he’s already bought the windows and will charge us for them and if we had booked him in a few weeks earlier, we’d have paid out the money already and not be thinking about it now re corona.

We can survive off my salary for a few months until things settle down. Husband is a personal trainer so we can ride this out and hopefully business picks up.

What would you do?

Sorry I can’t really advise but we’re in same boat. Just had joiner out to quote for new internal doors etc which we’ve been waiting to have done for ages but I’m wondering if we’d be better holding onto that lump sum in case the shit hits the fan!

It’s so hard, isn’t it!

If we were just getting quotes, I’d probably leave it for a while. But my joiner actually has the windows / door now so I feel like - we have to pay for those anyway so might as well have them put in?

I think given he has already bought them I'd go ahead.

If shit really gets bad you dont want a vulnerable house.

I agree with you. As you say, you’ll have to pay him for the windows so they might as well be in place in your house rather than stored in your joiner’s garage.

I would say that you are now the owner of lovely new windows and doors.

Could you put the windows on a 0% credit card for 12 months or so, and thereby keep the cash readily available?

Go ahead and get the windows done, as you say he's already bought them so a large part of the cost you will already have to pay and then you would have to store the windows (where are you going to put them if you don't have them installed) because he won't store them for you for free.

I think it's too late to pull out personally

Could you put the windows on a 0% credit card for 12 months or so, and thereby keep the cash readily available?

I don’t see how as the joiner has already bought them and OP needs to reimburse him.

AlexaAmbidextra I meant, use the credit card to pay the joiner (if he accepts card payments).

Thanks everyone. It’s actually quite reassuring that no one has screamed “no, it’s a terrible idea, don’t do it!” Joiner doesn’t take credit cards so can’t do that. Unless we’re on lockdown on Monday, looks like he’s coming!

Def get them done - a secure warm home is important. Morally, if 10 people probably pulled out of a bespoke order, self employed trades like hiM could soon find himself bankrupt.