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What is the best, and the worst, money you have spent on your home?

(136 Posts)
Nortsat Wed 17-Jun-20 11:02:35

Best - having paving done in the garden. My partner wanted it all lawned but then didn’t cut the grass regularly.
I had decorative paving laid, with deep borders and beds. I love the garden, even when it’s a bit dishevelled, it’s still a pleasure to both of us.

Worst - the alarm system, which doesn’t accommodate three cats leaping around the house, whilst we are out. ???

NotSpaghetti Wed 17-Jun-20 10:33:53

Best job - the "new" roof. We put beautiful reclaimed tiles on and old chimney pots in keeping with the house and also Victorian fancy ridges. Lovely!
Safe and sound and looking great!

Regret... not finding the money for ALL the old chimneys to have new (old) pots. I sometimes notice in the winter when the trees are bare that two more pots would have made a lot of difference.

Froglady Wed 17-Jun-20 10:33:41

A settee I bought several years ago now. I rented the flat furnished and have gradually changed things as time has gone on. The settee supplied was a 2 seater one and no good for relaxing on, so as soon as I could I replaced it with a 3 seater and which is far more comfortable.

shysal Wed 17-Jun-20 10:30:06

The back of my house is south facing. I didn't want a conservatory as for half the year they are too hot or too cold. I love to sit outside but cannot tolerate the heat like I used to. I therefore had an awning fitted, which I love. Money well spent.

I sometimes curse my ceramic kitchen floor tiles because anything that is dropped will definitely break.

Pantglas2 Wed 17-Jun-20 10:26:02

I’m with all you conservatory folks! DH built ours so double bargain and the most used room as it doubles as a dining room off the kitchen as well.

Haven’t made any huge mistakes as I’m painstaking on research before spending a large amount of dosh but I’ve wasted lots of money on smaller gadgets I thought I needed which promptly lived in a dark cupboard!

Callistemon Wed 17-Jun-20 10:23:11

A good buy

Callistemon Wed 17-Jun-20 10:22:45

Thermostats on all the radiators were not that expensive but a hood buy.

Teacheranne Wed 17-Jun-20 10:18:35

My best purchase was definitely a new boiler even though the previous one was not that old and also a positive air exchange unit at the same time. I knew when I bought the house that the boiler was not big enough for the number of radiators and I had the electric fire removed so I could fit my furniture in. So I suffered with a number of damp problems for the first few winters in the bedrooms and hall. Also I struggled to get the lounge temperature to a comfortable level to relax in at night, visitors used to complain about the cold!

Since the boiler, togetger with an extra radiator, was fitted, I have been snug and warm with no trace of damp, greatly reduced condensation on the windows and a lovely fresh smell around the house. I think the positive air exchanger helped as well.

Worst purchase having new gutters and fascias fitted the year before a had a new roof, the gutters did not fit the new roof exactly which prevented the roofer from doing a neat job.

Callistemon Wed 17-Jun-20 10:13:49

The best:
the conservatory
and the utility room (30 years ago)

I was thinking of having fitted wardrobes fitted, perhaps not.

The worst: the ceramic kitchen floor which was all we could afford and it chips easily. It will need hacking up.

grannysue05 Wed 17-Jun-20 10:06:08

Just like you annsixty we fitted a conservatory onto our rather small new house twenty years ago.
Its a blessing as we spend all day in it and only go into the sitting room in the evening for TV etc.
It overlooks our pretty garden which we love looking at.
Twenty years ago it was 'the thing' to fit wardrobes and we had them in all the bedrooms. Wasteful and mostly useless extra space.

annsixty Wed 17-Jun-20 09:52:52

This question occurred to me when I came to bed last night and looked once more on my fitted wardrobes.
They were fitted by Sharps and was quite definitely the worst money we ever spent.
They turned out to be poor quality and bulky.
Their saving grace is the amount of things I can store/ shove into them.
The best? Most definitely the conservatory, 20 years old now and worth every penny.
My GD is using the dining room as her “ work from home” office and I live in the conservatory all day.
I can’t get out at all as I am temporarily disabled.
Do you have favourite or otherwise purchases?