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Most of us purchase our kitchens from our nearest DIY store, but don’t get locked into the process of using one store to supply and fit your whole kitchen. It might be convenient but it also extremely expensive. More on this later. Use a free kitchen design service from your local DIY store but get them to experiment with a few different options, and use this free service to help resolve the practical stuff like utilities. Buy the kitchen you want from where you want, but don’t buy your taps, sink, waste, appliances or worktops from them. You’ll notice that during sale periods it is the cabinets/doors that are reduced. Everything else is full price and the mark-up can be astonishing. Plumbing items like sink, taps etc can come from your local plumbing merchant (often more than 60% cheaper), worktops (even solid wood) can come from online retailers like Screw Fix (up to 50% cheaper) and appliances can be chosen in store locally and then ordered online from more competitive shops like www.bootskitchenappliance.com (around 40% cheaper). Watch out for fitting accessories that have been added to your bill as these will also carry a high mark-up and can be sourced elsewhere for a fraction of the price. Look for things like worktop joining bolts, mitre bond adhesive and oils that may be sold at inflated prices. Ask for these to be removed from your bill.
Dismantling the old kitchen is an expense in itself, but doing this yourself could save you upwards of £100. Don’t get stuck when you get to the kitchen sink – if you spot some isolation valves on the hot and cold supply pipes, close them and you are away!
By following these simple tips you’ll be able to save up to half your total purchase costs and get your kitchen fully installed for less than half the price quoted by your DIY store. You didn’t hear it from me. Sssshhhhh. |
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