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Original poster

Buying a house without a kitchen

36 replies

sleepyhoglet · 05/12/2021 17:28

Help! We are conveyancing on a house which we love but it doesn't have a kitchen! I'm also due to give birth soon so will likely be moving in with a young baby and another child. Possibly not ideal. I wondered if anyone had experience of fitting a kitchen (wren or Howden type) and how long it takes from starting the process (getting an appointment to design the kitchen) to finish. I think we could move in around March and then I could manage for a month or two but not much longer!

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Original poster
sleepyhoglet · 05/12/2021 18:19

It's a house was want to stay in for a very long time hence accepting the compromise and there is nothing else we like

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MalbecandToast · 05/12/2021 18:24

The cost of all the fittings and materials has increased massively, wood being the worst. Wren online said for us 12.5k but then when they came out it was apparent that that was really basic worktops and no appliances etc so it was actually £18.5k. Went with someone else in the end who originally were pnly a bit more but didn't have a 12 week wait like Wren. Thsts so kind of your mum! Even if she did most of it that would make your 20k go a lot further Smile

Original poster
sleepyhoglet · 05/12/2021 18:27

My main worry is that the house is not valued at what we have offered in terms of the mortgage. Not sure what happens then. I do really want the house and will be disappointed if it doesn't work, but also need to be realistic

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Original poster
sleepyhoglet · 05/12/2021 18:29

Also, because this is the one and only time we will have a kitchen from scratch that we have chosen, we want to get it right as not feel pressured due to speed. I think I probably need to write to the vendor and explain we will be moving with a newborn baby and ask that they leave the washing machine, cooker and fridge in the annexe so at least we have something. He will be doing the inventory soon I imagine so best to mention it. Maybe I should send an Xmas card!

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HPandTheNeverEndingBedtime · 05/12/2021 18:30

Keep in mind that retailers like Howdens only sell to trades so if your dad isn't one he won't be able to buy from there.

MalbecandToast · 05/12/2021 18:30

Is it valued lower? How much lower? Sadly if you are paying say £300k but the bank say its only worth £250k they will only offer you a mortgage for tje lesser amount. You then have to renegotiate with the vendor, increase your deposit to make the difference or walk away. Its happened to me more than once Sad

Original poster
sleepyhoglet · 05/12/2021 18:32

@HPandTheNeverEndingBedtime he is a site manager for newbuild estate so I don't know if that counts or not. Seems complicated. Not sure what he would have to do in order to set up an account.

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Original poster
sleepyhoglet · 05/12/2021 18:35

The mortgage company havent don't their valuation yet as we've only just started looking at a mortgage for the actual property. We have a 65% deposit but would be loathe to put down more as need to keep back some cash for immediate house jobs (and obviously other cash is for moving costs and stamp duty). We feel we offered a bit more than we would have liked (but that's the market) but he feels like he got a bit less than he wanted! It's hard to say what will happen. We don't need to move so if it doesn't happen we will stay put but a shame to let down our buyers

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TakeYourFinalPosition · 05/12/2021 19:45

We’ve just moved; and I’m 38 weeks pregnant - I feel you. We started looking for kitchens in August - similar style room to you, I think; we’re looking for a long kitchen with an island. We visited Howdens, Wren, IKEA and somewhere else… none could do anything this year. Most were booking for Feb/March then. We moved last month and we’re looking at June or so for fitting, but the price is 55% higher than it was - they all said due to lack of materials and fitters.

I was so optimistic that we’d get it done - I’d prepare yourself a bit for the stress of moving into a house that needs a lot of work while pregnant. I thought I would be fine, but everything is expensive and in demand… it took six days to get a plumber this week; front doors are 40% more expensive, windows are more expensive, waiting times for carpenters and things are insane. We can’t even get carpet fitted in the nursery until March, despite all the “pre Christmas fitting” adverts.

Original poster
sleepyhoglet · 05/12/2021 19:57

@TakeYourFinalPosition thank you for letting me know. Gosh that's a long time Confused luckily the rest of the house is all fine as it's been renovated and the flooring, bathrooms etc are done- it's just the lack of kitchen. Hopefully my step dad will check our the plumbing/pipe work and it will be ready. Even though he lives a long way away, he is happy to come up for two weeks to fit it, but not sure if worktops might be beyond his remit.

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Original poster
sleepyhoglet · 05/12/2021 20:01

I also wondered about how you get electrics or plumbing to an island? The floor is already down so could be a massive hassle. I'm clueless as to these things

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