Kitchens...Wren and the like

[LostArcher]

Hi
We ate umming and ahhing about whether we stay or go from our house - large family 1930s house in commuter town in SE. We deffo will be here for next two to three years but then retirement beckons and obs selling would release capital.
Lots needs doing to it decoration wise. The kitchen is okayish - ie, functional but not the glossy niceness of a more modern design with deep drawers and stuff. I put up with some inconvenience with it and having had it done when we moved in, it is now 22 years old. We also need substantial electric wiring stuff investigated and I'd like to finally fill in all the holes that mice come in.
So...i think a new kitchen but I really don't want to spend loads. We don't have a laundry room (sob) and white goods are all newish and fine. Wren, etc advertise a lot. I have a local company that have just done our bathroom and they'd do everything and just get on with it but I think will be pricier than a B&Q, Wicks, Wren type but thrn again.

Can people give me thoughts on budget to mid end kitchen companies. Having recommendations would be great. I think if we are going to do it then we need to get on with it. Husband mutters stuff about new buyers ripping it all out but then I wonder if we'd be more likely to get the asking price with a reasonable kitchen.

If you want a new kitchen, it’ll make your life easier, and you’ll be there a little while then do it. We got a kitchen fitter in at a per hour rate and used howdens. It was £27 k with appliances.

If the rest of the house is in great condition that probably makes a difference too. If it’s tired and in need of a refresh I’d spend money on that instead. Honestly your huddled is probably right. We had a house in good Nick apart from kitchen, which had been in 20 years. The new buyer would have ripped out anything we put in. New people might want to extend, reconfigure, a new kitchen isn’t going to sell the house.

Avoid Wren.

I love diykitchens.com, the quality is great.

But if you are moving, just declutter and clean and sell as is.

Why not sort the electrical issues and then repaint rooms that need it?
A new kitchen could cost more than it’ll add to the value... it’s difficult to guess a future buyers taste so if current kitchen is functional personally I’d leave it.
You could replace doors etc if the worktops and units are worth keeping? We did this in last house - had quartz worktops and a good layout, but awful kitchen doors. It looked like a new kitchen and cost around £1k (did work ourselves).

I went with Wren. And an independent fitter. Had a really good experience with both. No problems and really happy with finished kitchen.

@Thepineapplemystery What were your experiences with Wren?

We've had boring stuff done like a new roof and also a new fuse box and the whole of the outside painted, new shutters.

Seriously considering new doors, worktop and perhaps one set of cabinets replacing with deep drawers and maybe a new sink. Retile and that might do it.

[quote LostArcher]@Thepineapplemystery What were your experiences with Wren?[/quote]
Well there's a whole Facebook group dedicated to their shocking customer service!

My friend had a kitchen supplied by them, it's lovely. But 18months on and the 2 missing pieces haven't materialised despite frequent chasing and multiple promises. The delivery date was rearranged twice, meaning she had to reschedule the fitter. It's worse if you get them fitted by them.

@Thepineapplemystery Ah, thank you. I love your user name - what was the mystery of the pineapple?

I had a wren kitchen, their fitter was a shambles, sweary and lost it in the garden a few times, and then forgot to put the sealant around the hob. I had to video me pouring water around the hob, with it draining through onto the oven, and take photos of the still wrapped sealant before they would send someone else over to fix it. Just for those reasons I'd never go with them again, their units I believe are available in other shops so go with them for the design, take the design away and use someone else.

Oh and remembering, I had to redesign it anyway as they couldn't fit the washing maching and dishwasher in so I moved stuff about and they went 'oh yes, that works'.

Honestly I'd not go with them again.

Thank you @Shedmistress . Sounds very stressful so will give them a miss.

Thank you @YoungA98 !

We've been trying to find solid wood plain doors for our planned kitchen with not much luck until I read your post!