Problem
You leave for six months or a year and your home falls apart.
The cost of shipping all your stuff overseas, then shipping it home again, is less than the cost of buying new.
You take a job but your furniture arrives by sea and takes three weeks.
You find a great place to rent, from an absentee or elderly landlord or landlady, but lots of things need fixing.
You arrive happily. But your curtains don't fit, the funiture doesn't fit, and the bedding doesn't fit.
Answers
PROJECT PREPARATION
List all the things you need for a project from the DIY store and check everybody concerned to compile a checklist:
For example, no good buying paint and getting home and finding we need brushes and a mixing pan.
PRICING
Make or find a guide to budget options.
List of professionals who could do the work and estimated prices so you can find out if it's cheaper to hire somebody than DIY;
TIMING
Painting and projects
Estimated times of project - can't have windows open to dry paint if going out for the day;
Estimate time it would take to paint a room of various sizes;
LADDERS
What sort of ladder do I need to paint a ceiling or could I hire one, or re-sell it - if no room to store it.
Keep a ladder or step stool to change light bulbs.
B & Q UK
See free brochures on DIY in stores.
Watch videos.
TIP
Take your shopping list.
Take your phone to photograph products.
Note or photograph barcodes, model numbers, brands, in case you want to order on line later.
Keep measurements of windows and floors and doors in the back of your diary or a notebook.
Take with you a tape measure showing measurements in inches and centimetres.
Shopping For Bedding
When shopping for bedding, note the size of a bed, width, length, height of mattress.
Check bedding to see whether a bottom sheet is included. Some sets are duvet cover and matching pillowcase only.
HOUSEHOLD INVENTORY
Check your inventory and add the brands or product codes or all furnishing and fixings.
For example, you have a Neff oven, sink, etc.
You want to record the date of purchase and number of the helpline and end of guarntee date.
When buying, register guarantees.
Photograph and print information on side of item so when the washing machine goes wrong you know the helpline.
Also keep the orignal sizes. That is handy when when buying a replacement. You know which size for searching on line, answering questions from a salesperson on the phone, and buying another item from a sales person from a shop.
Read the instructions. For example, some washer-dryers can wash a bigger load than they can dry, because you need space to toss the wet items in the air. If you overload, the items just get tangled and stay wet and creased.
You also end up running the drying cycle longer. If the machine is supposed to last so many washes a year and you do twice that number, it might break down in two years instead of four. If you have space, it is better to have two machines stacked on top of each other, rather than a washer dryer.
If you buy two stacking machines, you also need a third item, the part which fixes them together. The two machines must be the same size. You can't have a bigger machine bouncing about and sliding off, or breaking the machine below.
Useful Websites
B & Q
diy.com
Author
Angela Lansbury
You leave for six months or a year and your home falls apart.
The cost of shipping all your stuff overseas, then shipping it home again, is less than the cost of buying new.
You take a job but your furniture arrives by sea and takes three weeks.
You find a great place to rent, from an absentee or elderly landlord or landlady, but lots of things need fixing.
You arrive happily. But your curtains don't fit, the funiture doesn't fit, and the bedding doesn't fit.
Answers
PROJECT PREPARATION
List all the things you need for a project from the DIY store and check everybody concerned to compile a checklist:
For example, no good buying paint and getting home and finding we need brushes and a mixing pan.
PRICING
Make or find a guide to budget options.
List of professionals who could do the work and estimated prices so you can find out if it's cheaper to hire somebody than DIY;
TIMING
Painting and projects
Estimated times of project - can't have windows open to dry paint if going out for the day;
Estimate time it would take to paint a room of various sizes;
LADDERS
What sort of ladder do I need to paint a ceiling or could I hire one, or re-sell it - if no room to store it.
Keep a ladder or step stool to change light bulbs.
B & Q UK
See free brochures on DIY in stores.
Watch videos.
TIP
Take your shopping list.
Take your phone to photograph products.
Note or photograph barcodes, model numbers, brands, in case you want to order on line later.
Keep measurements of windows and floors and doors in the back of your diary or a notebook.
Take with you a tape measure showing measurements in inches and centimetres.
Shopping For Bedding
When shopping for bedding, note the size of a bed, width, length, height of mattress.
Check bedding to see whether a bottom sheet is included. Some sets are duvet cover and matching pillowcase only.
HOUSEHOLD INVENTORY
Check your inventory and add the brands or product codes or all furnishing and fixings.
For example, you have a Neff oven, sink, etc.
You want to record the date of purchase and number of the helpline and end of guarntee date.
When buying, register guarantees.
Photograph and print information on side of item so when the washing machine goes wrong you know the helpline.
Also keep the orignal sizes. That is handy when when buying a replacement. You know which size for searching on line, answering questions from a salesperson on the phone, and buying another item from a sales person from a shop.
Read the instructions. For example, some washer-dryers can wash a bigger load than they can dry, because you need space to toss the wet items in the air. If you overload, the items just get tangled and stay wet and creased.
You also end up running the drying cycle longer. If the machine is supposed to last so many washes a year and you do twice that number, it might break down in two years instead of four. If you have space, it is better to have two machines stacked on top of each other, rather than a washer dryer.
If you buy two stacking machines, you also need a third item, the part which fixes them together. The two machines must be the same size. You can't have a bigger machine bouncing about and sliding off, or breaking the machine below.
Useful Websites
B & Q
diy.com
Author
Angela Lansbury
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