Kitting a house out...

[Puggit]

Well, we're almost there - compromis de vente all signed, mortgage approved etc...

Now we need to fill the house up with white goods. Can anyone recommend a french internet company that can deliver everything from fridge/freezers to hoovers?! We've tried Pixmania, but they aren't quite up to Currys etc...

[Stig]

Nice one - we've just signed a compromis on a place in Brittany (as a holiday home). A fair bit of work to do before we're filling with white goods though

Incidently, who did you use for banking? Am tempted by CA Britline which seems to tick the boxes as far as our requirements go?

[D__I__A__B__L__O]

Were just finalising the mortgage side on our place in South Burgundy, white goods seems an eternity away !! Will be watching this topic though for future needs.

[Puggit]

Yup - we're with CA as well. I think we're all around the same point, it's just that Mrs Puggit is pregnant and nesting so is already planning all this!

[driller]

Puggit said:

Well, we're almost there - compromis de vente all signed, mortgage approved etc...

Now we need to fill the house up with white goods. Can anyone recommend a french internet company that can deliver everything from fridge/freezers to hoovers?! We've tried Pixmania, but they aren't quite up to Currys etc...

Carrefour, Auchan or if you want to pay a bit more for better service, Darty. Planet Saturn and conforama are another two with reasonable prices.

[D__I__A__B__L__O]

'nesting' never heard that term associated with a woman before !!!

We went CA too, just seemed easiest as its the only bank within a 25 mile radius !!

[Puggit]

Do all the big super/hypermarkets do online retail with delivery?

[driller]

Puggit this is a site owned by Carrefour where you can buy electromenager online: http://www.boostore.com/carrefour/Catalog/electrom...

Also Darty and conforama sell online. All deliver.

Here's the Auchan version: http://www.auchan.fr/vad/index.jsp?pays=France&amp...

HTH.

[Puggit]

Thanks everyone!

Spent all morning in Ikea (Wembley) sussing out what's cheaper here compared to Ikea (Nantes)!

[neil-f]

Puggit said:

Well, we're almost there - compromis de vente all signed, mortgage approved etc...

Now we need to fill the house up with white goods. Can anyone recommend a french internet company that can deliver everything from fridge/freezers to hoovers?! We've tried Pixmania, but they aren't quite up to Currys etc...

We took white goods over as some are very expensive in France compared to UK it just means that we will not be able to use the warranty if any breakdown.
Paint is cheaper in UK we took out Dulux emulsions and gloss paint as well as Sikkens for the shutters. But I guess as you have a new arrival on the way you wont have the time to mess around.
Hope the rest of the process goes smoothly for you.

Neil

[Stig]

It's odd about the paint isn't it? It costs a fortune in France!

Be aware that for some white goods (like washing machines/dishwashers), you may be better off with French versions as the mains pressure is a lot higher than it is in the UK.

Edited by Stig on Tuesday 25th September 16:00

[neil-f]

Yes and they do not seem to sell white gloss paint either even although you can buy Dulux it does not seem to be the same in the tin as we get here!

I should have said that our washing machine was bought in France as it has a full drain facility(still need to tip it up and drain the pipes) as we need to shut down and drain the water when not in residence during the winter as we are in the Alps it can be VERY cold. It was very expensive and basic compared to UK.

[andyps]

Puggit said:

Thanks everyone!

Spent all morning in Ikea (Wembley) sussing out what's cheaper here compared to Ikea (Nantes)!

From past experience you have to cherry pick to get the cheapest as there is no consistency of Ikea pricing internationally. Quicker to go to their website and look for the prices of the products you want than to trail round two stores though!

[Puggit]

andyps said:

Puggit said:

Thanks everyone!

Spent all morning in Ikea (Wembley) sussing out what's cheaper here compared to Ikea (Nantes)!

From past experience you have to cherry pick to get the cheapest as there is no consistency of Ikea pricing internationally. Quicker to go to their website and look for the prices of the products you want than to trail round two stores though!

Very true - we weren't really in there to price check. Rather to examine the goods we'd eyed up on tinterweb.

We're now in to our 7 day period - this drags on forever (and you thought buying a house in England was bad!!)

[Puggit]

2 reasons to update this thread...

We hired a van for €100 from SuperU and visited Ikea in Nantes (2 hours away!). We filled up the LWB tranny with 7 carts worth of goods at approx €3000.

The lady selling the house left her fridge, oven, microwave and dishwasher - fantastic. All relatively new (the dishwasher had been used once!!).

So just looking for a washing machine, which we can buy at the local Leclerc.

---

As for Britline - a word of warning. Britline are based in Basse-Normandie, and using CA outside of Basse-Normandie for anything but withdrawing cash can be difficult (including Haute-Normandie!).

Luckily for us, the route down to Sarthe passes through Basse-Normandie. On our way down I paid in €1200 cash in the town of Sees. It still hasn't arrived, 8 calendar days later. I've chased up and expect a response tomorrow...

Edited by Puggit on Thursday 15th November 16:54