Best bargains for doer upper?

[user1497879763]

I was made redundant last year and my husband and I have bought a small buy to let property, which is in need of total modernisation. Does anyone have any advice on how to do this for as cheaply as possible while maintaining a decent standard? Any hot tips for ex-display white goods, bathroom suites, boilers, kitchen units etc, especially in the Yorkshire/north east/Cheshire areas? Thanks so much for any tips!

Bump

John Pue auctions sell all of that sort of thing (and more!). They have a chesterfield showroom, possibly something further north too...

eBay / Facebook marketplace

Boiler - buy the boiler, flue, control panel etc yourself on eg plumbnation (£1200) and then get a registered fitter to fit (£400) - save yourself the British Gas markup.

White goods: ring your local John Lewis and ask them what they have ex display. Usually they have a fair bit and it's much cheaper.

Carpets: www.designer-carpet.co.uk - look at remnants, you can save hundreds.

All walls in pure brilliant white

Thanks for all your pointers so far, Mams! I’ll look into them al!

www.bidspotter.co.uk/en-gb

Just make sure you read about all the extra charges, delivery costs, tax, things like that.

If the kitchen cabinet carcasses are ok, you can just replace the doors. We did this a few years ago and the kitchen looked like new afterwards.

I recall a DIY program a few years back saying that certain things are MUCH cheaper to buy in France. It might have been taps or plumbing supplies? You might find somewhere online.

Not in Yorkshire, but a place near us sells ex-display, reconditioned and 2nd hand fridges, freezers, washing machines etc. Sometimes they only have a small scratch, but are significantly cheaper.

Great, whereabouts are you? Good idea on new fronts but this kitchen is a absolute write-off!

Diykitchens.com - same quality as Wren/Howdens etc, much cheaper.

Does anyone have any advice on how to do this for as cheaply as possible while maintaining a decent standard?
Don't forget that time is money. You want this done as quickly as possible so you can start letting it. No point scrabbling about to save £50 on fittings if it means that you miss out on £500 of rent.

You can never make good the money that is lost on a void.

Totally agree. Our kitchen is from DIY Kitchens. Would wholly recommend to anyone! Luckily we live quite near their lovely showroom.

That’s true. I have a lot to learn!

Elekdirect on eBay (+ I think they have a showroom up north somewhere) sell white good damaged in transit but brand new, with all the warranties.

I was going to say diy kitchens too! Their showroom is amazing, I couldn’t believe the free cake!

They did mess us around with delivery ALOT and we had paid the £250 for the premium delivery service. However the kitchen is so good and was so cheap that I would use them again. We used them for a renovation project.

White goods - there are some clearance and end of line websites you can get some good bargains from but it can be a bit hit and miss as to what’s available. We ended up getting all ours from AO.com in the end. I sorted things by price but then read endless reviews to get something cheap but good. They often have deals on too so if you spend over a certain amount you get a certain % off. If you ring them they’re very good at knocking off delivery etc for a big order.

Things like bathroom suites - I shop around and buy everything separately myself and then get someone to fit it. I look for good brands but on eBay it clearance websites that may be a model from a previous year, or a showroom ex display item.

Boiler - get a few quotes, it’s good timing to get a boiler put in in the summer as it’s always more in the winter when their busy and people are desperate.

We used tile mountain for all our tiles for bathrooms, they’re super cheap and really good.

Paint - for renovations we get Johnson’s to colour match the farrow and ball colours, they’re good. Buy the one that can be rubbed down if it gets dirty. Actually for our big renovation last year I just did the washable white everywhere as it can be easily wiped but also touched up if needed.

Carpets - go to a few carpet shops and see what end of roll bargains they have.

Exdisplay kitchens on eBay.

Thanks so much. Lots of good tips there. Sounds like you’re a seasoned pro at renovations!

Not heard of these. Will check them out, thanks!

If the house is early 1940's or older, George Clarke channel 4 show are looking for either whole houses or single period rooms that you are doing up. You don't have to do it up in the period style though, could be modern, country, period whatever.

They won't pay for it, but provide expert advice and can apparently get discounts on a lot of the fixtures, fittings, whole kitchens etc. I've applied and sent some pics, but who knows if we are picked. Worth completing their form and seeing though.

amazingproductions.co.uk/take-part/