Costs involved with setting up your first home after you purchase the home

ontheditch2 · 29-05-2020 1:37am

As others have said, if there is contents already in the house, ask what price for them all.
When we bought recently, was ex rental.
We asked for a price for all the contents and he asked for €700. We had a limit of €1,000 max in our heads and my own thinking was, it would be a cheap investment to start us off.
Nothing was new, the beds were all used etc but we got: washing machine, dishwasher, (at about €700 for this 2 new of buying new) fridge freezer, table & chairs, chest of drawers, sofa & 2 arm chairs, TV stand, curtains and blinds in all rooms, 2 double beds and 1 single with mattresses.
We tried to move on some of the beds and furniture after a few weeks/months as we gradually upgraded stuff but couldn't give them away on donedeal, had to go to the dump with some stuff.
There is lots of free stuff available.

My advice would be made the bedroom comfortable, make the living room and kitchen comfortable. Add to the rest in your own time. Money is tight when you buy a house so anything you can put on the long finger, do, if needed

antimatterx · 29-05-2020 11:07am

Maz2016 wrote: »

Great thanks. Currently listening to the first episode on tune in

I got the recommendations on reddit a few backs and it was a pretty information listen.

lulu1 · 01-06-2020 10:55pm

I would really try and buy new from the start I know you get some good bargains second hand but for piece of mind I would try an buy new for electricial items anyway.

We bought a leather suite second hand and to be honest it looked like new The lady told us they paid over 4000euro for it and I believe her

Turns out the lady always sat on one seat of the sofa when watching tv and now when you sit on it you sink right down no one in the house will sit on it:):)
but in saying that it definately looks the part

Good luck in your new home op

DoozerT6 · 02-06-2020 2:58pm

lulu1 wrote: »

I would really try and buy new from the start I know you get some good bargains second hand but for piece of mind I would try an buy new for electricial items anyway.

We bought a leather suite second hand and to be honest it looked like new The lady told us they paid over 4000euro for it and I believe her

Turns out the lady always sat on one seat of the sofa when watching tv and now when you sit on it you sink right down no one in the house will sit on it):)
but in saying that it definately looks the part

Good luck in your new home op

You can buy a 'sofa saver', basically a foldable square made from wood and/or plastic that you put under the cushion, on the frame of the sofa, and it supports the seat. Might help with the sinkage - I actually need one myself.

Gael23 · 02-06-2020 9:24pm

Sour Lemonz wrote: »

bleach for toilets, couple pairs marigold rubber gloves, disposable cleaning cloths and sponges, toilet brush for each toilet u have, bath/shower cleaner.

Cloths/brush for washing dishes, hand soap, oven cleaner, surface antibac cleaning spray.5l bottle of distilled vinegar, weird one to throw in but mixed with salt and water it kills weeds, mixed with water cleans tough stains, good on chips

.

That sort of stuff adds up when you move in first but then you replenish as they run out gradually. If it was me I’d add a bottle of cream cleaner to that lost for tough stains and bathrooms. You could spend €50 on once off cleaning and laundry materials to start

Maz2016 · 02-06-2020 9:55pm

Gael23 wrote: »

That sort of stuff adds up when you move in first but then you replenish as they run out gradually. If it was me I’d add a bottle of cream cleaner to that lost for tough stains and bathrooms. You could spend €50 on once off cleaning and laundry materials to start

That’s true, cleaning products can be expensive. But as someone rightly pointed out, Dealz is great for these things

brisan · 11-06-2020 9:21pm

davo2001 wrote: »

Spend more than €500 on your bed and mattress, a good bed and especially a good mattress are worth there weight in gold long term.

A wise man once said
Always spend big on shoes and beds
You will spend 16 hours a day in one and 8 hours in the other
Spend big on the mattress is my advice

Maz2016 · 11-06-2020 9:43pm

brisan wrote: »

A wise man once said
Always spend big on shoes and beds
You will spend 16 hours a day in one and 8 hours in the other
Spend big on the mattress is my advice

That’s god advice. I will definitely do that. I already only buy good quality shoes so that makes sense

Bass Reeves · 11-06-2020 10:22pm

Avoid debt and credit cards while furnishing house. If you need flooring it's the actual extras that catch you. The adhesive, grout and Reims for tiling, the damp seal, underlay, trims and beading. These cost the same whether you but good quality or poorer quality products. If buying wooden floor look for AC 4 or 5 as these are harder wearing and will not mark easily.

A lot of charity shops now have a furniture section some of the furniture can be of an excellent quality. You could pick up sitting room suits, tables, chairs, etc for a few hundred euro. Check second had furniture shops for ex hotel beds the quality will be excellent you will often find odds and ends in both these places as well.

IKEA for all the smaller bits and pieces, from utensils, glasses, tableware, pots and pans to bath mats, curtains, toilet roll holders. But check around other stores as well.

If you are capable a but of DIY such as hanging curtain rails and toilet roll holders you may need some tools. Lidl do a excellent brand in Parkside a batter drill is a must for anything from hanging curtains rails to putting flat packs togeather.

Electric goods some things are a priority, you will need a washing machine, and hob, you will get away without an oven for a while if need be, a microwave, you could do without a dishwasher for a few years if need be. You may come across some bits and pieces on DD. If you decide to buy all your electric goods together got to a few electric shops and most will give you a discount for buying 4-5 items together it might only be 30-50 euro but money is money

Maz2016 · 11-06-2020 11:31pm

Bass Reeves wrote: »

Avoid debt and credit cards while furnishing house. If you need flooring it's the actual extras that catch you. The adhesive, grout and Reims for tiling, the damp seal, underlay, trims and beading. These cost the same whether you but good quality or poorer quality products. If buying wooden floor look for AC 4 or 5 as these are harder wearing and will not mark easily.

A lot of charity shops now have a furniture section some of the furniture can be of an excellent quality. You could pick up sitting room suits, tables, chairs, etc for a few hundred euro. Check second had furniture shops for ex hotel beds the quality will be excellent you will often find odds and ends in both these places as well.

IKEA for all the smaller bits and pieces, from utensils, glasses, tableware, pots and pans to bath mats, curtains, toilet roll holders. But check around other stores as well.

If you are capable a but of DIY such as hanging curtain rails and toilet roll holders you may need some tools. Lidl do a excellent brand in Parkside a batter drill is a must for anything from hanging curtains rails to putting flat packs togeather.

Electric goods some things are a priority, you will need a washing machine, and hob, you will get away without an oven for a while if need be, a microwave, you could do without a dishwasher for a few years if need be. You may come across some bits and pieces on DD. If you decide to buy all your electric goods together got to a few electric shops and most will give you a discount for buying 4-5 items together it might only be 30-50 euro but money is money

Thank you. That’s great advice. And very true on the electrical appliances. A work colleague built a house earlier on this year. Some electrical shops were not giving much off for a big order. She emailed around and a place in Tipperary gave her €100 off and a €100 one4allvoucher. So I’d definitely do this too

12-06-2020 9:30am

Depends a lot if you're buying new or an older house. We had a nice surprise after moving in finding our entire heating system needed to be replaced. If it's an older house then there's a good chance there'll be unforeseen costs.

Nijmegen · 12-06-2020 9:39am

I’ll echo strongly the “avoid debt” advice. Lots of even interest free loans to get you in and shifting new product. Easy to lump yourself with a load of new monthly outgoings that swamp you quicker than you expect. Pay for things with cash you have in your bank and make that the limiting factor on your expansion.

When I bought my first house I actually moved into a guest bedroom first as I didn’t have the money I needed for the bed I wanted. Got a decent but cheap bed and mattress and lived in that for a few weeks - and that’s all it was really, a few weeks. Got a hand me down sofa off a friends parents as they happened to be replacing it with a new suite. Got 4 years out of it before I went and replaced it, it was actually lovely to sit on but probably didn’t fit the decor of the house as it was outdated but let me tell you, free beats integrated style when you’re on a budget.

My suggestion is to go without for longer so you can afford things you really want or the quality you feel happiest with rather than buying cheaply and quick, unless it’s something essential like a fridge. So, do you need blinds and curtains on every room on day 1 or can you wait for the quality you want and do it slowly?

Good luck to you and anyone else reading this thread for advice!

Bass Reeves · 12-06-2020 9:56am

Nijmegen wrote: »

I’ll echo strongly the “avoid debt” advice. Lots of even interest free loans to get you in and shifting new product. Easy to lump yourself with a load of new monthly outgoings that swamp you quicker than you expect. Pay for things with cash you have in your bank and make that the limiting factor on your expansion.

When I bought my first house I actually moved into a guest bedroom first as I didn’t have the money I needed for the bed I wanted. Got a decent but cheap bed and mattress and lived in that for a few weeks - and that’s all it was really, a few weeks. Got a hand me down sofa off a friends parents as they happened to be replacing it with a new suite. Got 4 years out of it before I went and replaced it, it was actually lovely to sit on but probably didn’t fit the decor of the house as it was outdated but let me tell you, free beats integrated style when you’re on a budget.

My suggestion is to go without for longer so you can afford things you really want or the quality you feel happiest with rather than buying cheaply and quick, unless it’s something essential like a fridge. So, do you need blinds and curtains on every room on day 1 or can you wait for the quality you want and do it slowly?

Good luck to you and anyone else reading this thread for advice!

As well if you are willing to buy/use some cheap/free furniture and items you may come across, this allows you to spend more on items that you really do not want to be replacing in the next 4-5 years such as curtains and flooring. You to spend more on a fridge freezer if you get a tide me over telly. You could go for good quality tiles and timber flooring if you are willing to pick up cheap furniture.

SozBbz · 12-06-2020 11:16am

Seriously people are far too hung up on stuff being new. Put the word out that you're looking to furnish your place in the interim and you'll be surprised how many people in your circle are going to be looking to get rid of something free/cheaply.

I've actually gotten some great things over the years because of the nature of the industry I work in, people are always moving and selling stuff. I bought a 55 inch TV for €150 (less than 2 years old and in perfect condition when two English lads that had come over to Dublin for work were moving back to the UK and looking to offload stuff. They'd obviously paid a lot more for it new but they weren't going to be flatmates when they moved home so sold anything they'd bought jointly and I happened to be nagging at my OH to buy a bigger TV. We'd probably have spend €1000 if we'd bought new, so this just made it a now brainer.

I also got some lovely vintage/period pieces from my own parents when I moved into my current house - in this case its ideal because I got items with real sentimental value and they're beautiful antiques and really fit the house as its 115 years old so I really wanted a blend of old and new. One piece that is now in my living room originally belonged to my Dads great aunt so its been in the family for a hugely long time and is absolutely beautiful - I've no idea what its worth but I'd guess a lot. My mam never likes it but just took it into their house because its an heirloom and it ended up sitting in a room with too much furniture so she was happy for me to have it. All it cost me was about €40 to rent a small van to drive it from their house to mine.

I've also taken some prints and art work that my parents had from when they lived in London in the 70's and 80's. I love it because these pieces are real and authentic and give the place a real individual flair. I've friends who bought new builds and hired interior designers and while their homes are obviously stunning, they spend a bomb and they look a bit like hotels. Wouldnt be for me.

brisan · 19-06-2020 2:08pm

Sign up to Arnotts ,
They have a warehouse sale in Cloghran 3 or 4 times a year.
Household stuff can go up to 70% off
You may have a limited selection but some real bargains to be had

Maz2016 · 19-06-2020 8:34pm

brisan wrote: »

Sign up to Arnotts ,
They have a warehouse sale in Cloghran 3 or 4 times a year.
Household stuff can go up to 70% off
You may have a limited selection but some real bargains to be had

That’s great to know, thanks!!

jrosen · 19-06-2020 8:37pm

As ive just moved out whatever you think you will need, double it lol

Maz2016 · 19-06-2020 9:26pm

jrosen wrote: »

As ive just moved out whatever you think you will need, double it lol

Oh really? Oh

Maz2016 · 03-07-2020 11:53pm

Even though I haven’t got my new place yet, I couldn’t resist. Bought some kitchen stuff etc. Some good offers with stores reopening

Maz2016 · 04-07-2020 12:28am

Even though I haven’t got my new place yet, I couldn’t resist. Bought some kitchen stuff etc. Some good offers with stores reopening

brisan · 13-07-2020 1:10pm

DoozerT6 wrote: »

Extension cords and double adaptors! You may need these if there aren't enough power points (for your needs) in a room.

Toilet paper - on the day you move in!!

Iron and ironing board

Lightbulbs!

Hoover/sweeping brush/some type of mop/dustpan and brush.

Take people up on their offers to buy you a housewarming gift of some sort - you can get your crockery and cutlery sets that way, pots etc, small kitchen appliances, towels/bedding, that sort of thing. I would give them a general (not too expensive) price range though so as not to take advantage of their goodwill. No €600 coffee machines!! Keep an eye on sales to direct people towards those for gift purchases.

Quite honestly, you'll find out pretty quickly what you need or cannot do without.

As an Electrician I can tell you that is probably the most dangerous advice on this thread

accensi0n · 13-07-2020 1:21pm

brisan wrote: »

As an Electrician I can tell you that is probably the most dangerous advice on this thread

How bad is it?

Growing up, we had them in pretty much every room in the house. :pac:
I'm currently using multiple in a 1 bed apartment...

brisan · 13-07-2020 1:46pm

accensi0n wrote: »

How bad is it?

Growing up, we had them in pretty much every room in the house. :pac:
I'm currently using multiple in a 1 bed apartment...

OK only ok if you know what you are doing
Only takes 1 person to plug a 13 a heater into an already near full adapter or lead and a fire is waiting to happen
One tip ,if you are using an extension lead in a wind out cord always fully unwind it even if you only need 2 metres of the 10 metres
If you have to use an extension lead always buy one with its own 13a fuse
Better off getting a registered electrician to add extra sockets

ebayissues · 22-08-2020 8:19am

What to do as you approach move in date...

JJJackal · 23-08-2020 11:30am

brisan wrote: »

OK only ok if you know what you are doing
Only takes 1 person to plug a 13 a heater into an already near full adapter or lead and a fire is waiting to happen
One tip ,if you are using an extension lead in a wind out cord always fully unwind it even if you only need 2 metres of the 10 metres
If you have to use an extension lead always buy one with its own 13a fuse
Better off getting a registered electrician to add extra sockets

Surge protector is king. I find in the room where I have PC etc I never have enough plugs

into_the_wild · 13-09-2020 2:03am

Hey everyone ðŸ˜Š I'm in the process of purchasing a new home. It would be great to get your opinion on what brands you bought, for how much and from where:
Flooring
Beds
Mattresses
Blinds
Sofas
Hob
Oven
Microwave
Fridge
Dishwasher
Washing machine
Dryer

bobbyy gee · 13-09-2020 2:09am

Budget 20k

mrslancaster · 13-09-2020 3:11am

don't forget a vacuum cleaner & add a small stepladder to your list, essential when moving into a new place.

Bass Reeves · 13-09-2020 7:36am

into_the_wild wrote: »

Hey everyone ðŸ˜Š I'm in the process of purchasing a new home. It would be great to get your opinion on what brands you bought, for how much and from where:
Flooring
Beds
Mattresses
Blinds
Sofas
Hob
Oven
Microwave
Fridge
Dishwasher
Washing machine
Dryer

You should make a list of all your electrical (white goods) reguirenents, add on small electrical like toaster , hoover, electrical kettle etc, etc. Take your list to retailers that deal in these get them to list a make and model of each and price you for the whole lot

Recently I got a hob, oven and washing machine for a rental new for around 600 euro. The oven and hob came in a pack from Beko.
Electrical goods can be replaced fairly handy.

However timber floors, tiling etc are a twenty year investment so target money at things like that. As you see earlier in the thread fairly good furniture can be purchased second hand from charity shops.

Maz2016 · 13-09-2020 10:39am

into_the_wild wrote: »

Hey everyone ðŸ˜Š I'm in the process of purchasing a new home. It would be great to get your opinion on what brands you bought, for how much and from where:
Flooring
Beds
Mattresses
Blinds
Sofas
Hob
Oven
Microwave
Fridge
Dishwasher
Washing machine
Dryer

Take this list to an electrical shop and see what they will do. My brother did this. He went to one of those electronics stores (think their nationwide) They gave deals like the beko one mentioned above but also threw in small appliances for free like toaster and Murphy Richards kettle and a third item but I can’t remember the name.

Be careful where you buy, make sure it’s a common brand. I know a lady who bought a washing machine in Argos , a part went in it and had to be ordered from the U.K. took 6 weeks to arrive (Covid probably delayed it)

Gael23 · 13-09-2020 10:50am

into_the_wild wrote: »

Hey everyone &#55357;&#56842; I'm in the process of purchasing a new home. It would be great to get your opinion on what brands you bought, for how much and from where:
Flooring
Beds
Mattresses
Blinds
Sofas
Hob
Oven
Microwave
Fridge
Dishwasher
Washing machine
Dryer

This really is so variable depending on quality and specifications you want. You can spend €200 or €2000 on a mattress. Likewise you can get a standard tumble dryer for a few hundred or you can spend 2 grand on one that steams clothes so they don’t need ironing

into_the_wild · 14-09-2020 12:45am

Thanks for your responses ðŸ˜Š
I'm gonna take this list and get quotes from various stores. Any particular brands or types you'd recommend?
For eg. I read somewhere that an orthopaedic mattress is highly recommended.

brisan · 14-09-2020 5:56pm

into_the_wild wrote: »

Thanks for your responses &#55357;&#56842;
I'm gonna take this list and get quotes from various stores. Any particular brands or types you'd recommend?
For eg. I read somewhere that an orthopaedic mattress is highly recommended.

Always spend big money on shoes and mattresses
You spend 16hrs a day in one and 8 hrs a day in the other.
Do not underestimate the quality of life a good nights sleep will give you
It will have a positive effect on nearly all aspects of your life
I would look to spend at least 2 k on a good double mattress
Buy cheap and you will replace it in a year or two

into_the_wild · 15-09-2020 3:24pm

brisan wrote: »

Always spend big money on shoes and mattresses
You spend 16hrs a day in one and 8 hrs a day in the other.
Do not underestimate the quality of life a good nights sleep will give you
It will have a positive effect on nearly all aspects of your life
I would look to spend at least 2 k on a good double mattress
Buy cheap and you will replace it in a year or two

Thank you. Could you recommend what type of mattresses are considered good?
Any particular stores you'd recommend?

brisan · 15-09-2020 3:29pm

into_the_wild wrote: »

Thank you. Could you recommend what type of mattresses are considered good?
Any particular stores you'd recommend?

King Coil and Silentnight have good reviews
Personally I would not recommend a mattress that comes rolled up
Check reviews and then check retailers when you have found models that suit
Harvey Norman have regular sales as do Arnotts
I am sure there are more

givyjoe · 15-09-2020 3:37pm

Gael23 wrote: »

This really is so variable depending on quality and specifications you want. You can spend €200 or €2000 on a mattress. Likewise you can get a standard tumble dryer for a few hundred or you can spend 2 grand on one that steams clothes so they don’t need ironing

Tempting....

Sleepy · 22-09-2020 2:21pm

If your new property has a utility / laundry room remember that no-one is likely to be looking at your washing machine / dryer. You can pick up refurbished units on adverts for €100 or so that you'll get a few years out of. When we bought, I picked up a washer dryer for €50 from a chap moving out of a nearby apartment that lasted us over 3 years - pretty much the life expectancy of any of the budget priced electrical stuff you'd get from the major stores. Aside from a few notable exceptions (which you can discern from the price-tag on them e.g. Miele) most branding on electrical goods is meaningless: a lot of the "quality" brands you remember from your childhood have been bought and sold multiple times and often it's literally only the brand-name itself that's been bought, the vast majority of this stuff is made as cheaply as possible in order to be sold as cheaply as possible and designed to only last 3 to 5 years (just beyond the warranty basically). The days of a fridge or a washing machine lasting 25 years are long gone unless you're spending really top money.

Gael23 · 22-09-2020 2:42pm

Would you end up spending much on cleaning stuff, vacuums and so on?

wench · 22-09-2020 2:53pm

Gael23 wrote: »

Would you end up spending much on cleaning stuff, vaccines and so on?

I know you're looking in west Dublin, but it's not that bad!! :eek:

Gael23 · 22-09-2020 2:56pm

wench wrote: »

I know you're looking in west Dublin, but it's not that bad!! :eek:

iPhone autocorrect once againðŸ˜‚

wench · 22-09-2020 3:15pm

Gael23 wrote: »

Would you end up spending much on cleaning stuff, vacuums and so on?

Depending on how many bells and whistles you want, you could spend €500 on a vacuum.

But you can get a reasonable one for 100 - 150.

Adding some mops, buckets, cleaning products will bring you up to about €200 easily enough

Gael23 · 22-09-2020 3:26pm

wench wrote: »

Depending on how many bells and whistles you want, you could spend €500 on a vacuum.

But you can get a reasonable one for 100 - 150.

Adding some mops, buckets, cleaning products will bring you up to about €200 easily enough

€200? That seems high. They are only a few euro each mostly

SozBbz · 24-09-2020 11:44am

Gael23 wrote: »

€200? That seems high. They are only a few euro each mostly

Decent products cost money. If you don't want to be replacing mops/buckets etc regularly then you could easily spend €30ish for quality items that won't break, as well as buying all your cleaning products, could easily add up to €50.

Gael23 · 24-09-2020 2:09pm

SozBbz wrote: »

Decent products cost money. If you don't want to be replacing mops/buckets etc regularly then you could easily spend €30ish for quality items that won't break, as well as buying all your cleaning products, could easily add up to €50.

You don’t need to buy a separate cleaning product for everything though

jlm29 · 24-09-2020 4:04pm

Gael23 wrote: »

You don’t need to buy a separate cleaning product for everything though

Not just the cleaning products though - mop, bucket, rubber gloves, sweeping brush (maybe 2, I’ve a yard brush for outside), dustpan and brush, toilet brushes, cloths, it does add up quite quickly when you’re buying it all at once

freeze4real · 24-09-2020 8:50pm

What appliaces store are good for TV, Washing machine, kettles, Microwave etc? D.I.D vs Harvey Norman vs Curry?

brisan · 25-09-2020 8:52am

freeze4real wrote: »

What appliaces store are good for TV, Washing machine, kettles, Microwave etc? D.I.D vs Harvey Norman vs Curry?

All depends on budget
Miele for a washing machine
Expensive, extremely heavy but built to last
As to stores not much difference
Pick appliance you want and check each store
One item might be cheaper in DID another in Harvey Norman and another in Power city
Watch out for sales and check delivery charges ,a 20 euro saving might be wiped out by a dearer delivery charge
If you buy a few bigger appliances in the one shop you may be cheaper hiring a van for a few hours
Go car are surprisingly cheap for a van for a few hours
One tip ,if you buy a fridge or fridge freezer make sure it is standing up for 24 hrs before you plug it in to allow gases to settle

omeara1113 · 25-09-2020 8:57am

davo2001 wrote: »

Spend more than €500 on your bed and mattress, a good bed and especially a good mattress are worth there weight in gold long term.

Sorry but 500 for a mattress is asking for trouble get a decent one your back will thank youðŸ˜‡

brisan · 25-09-2020 9:24am

omeara1113 wrote: »

Sorry but 500 for a mattress is asking for trouble get a decent one your back will thank you��

As I have said before spend big money on shoes and mattresses
You spend 16hrs in one and 8hrs in the other
Be under no illusion the difference a good nights sleep can make to every aspect of your life
Work performance ,mood, relationships ,sex life are all better with regular quality sleep
I would be looking at a 2000 euro mattress minimum
That's normal retail price ,they are often on sale
I would not touch one of those roll up mattresses
How much will you spend on a sofa that you do not spend as much time in ???

iamwhoiam · 25-09-2020 9:33am

jlm29 wrote: »

Not just the cleaning products though - mop, bucket, rubber gloves, sweeping brush (maybe 2, I’ve a yard brush for outside), dustpan and brush, toilet brushes, cloths, it does add up quite quickly when you’re buying it all at once

When my daughter and family were buying a new house I bought a big washing basket .Every week while shopping I bought something .Cloths , brushes, soap, dettol, floor wipes, washing powder , shampoo, salt, sugar, toilet roll, fairy liquid, etc etc .The basket was over flowing .
I did this for months and the day they moved in I gave it to them and they said it was the best present ever !!
Maybe anyone preparing to move could do this for themselves

Costs involved with setting up your first home after you purchase the home

Comments