[5kings]

Hi all,

We have been saving and I am so tempted to save a bit more and do a reccie trip.

We are meant to be saving for a car, cheap kitchen and some new carpets (BORING!!) but Id much rather go to NZ for 3 weeks. I know some people do make the big move without a visit, but to be honest, I think my OH needs a bit more reassurance, as do the kids.

I'm thinking of May as flights are cheaper, and I know it is not the best weather etc, but I don't care about that.

Anyone got any convincing arguements I can throw at OH later, to try and convince him we don't need all the boring stuff we have been saving for??

Helen

[Andy-Dee]

I would defo do a reccie, it will keep you warm whilst waiting for the move. Also May is a lovely time of year, its their Autumn but still warm'ish and everything is just that little bit cheaper.

Go for it, PAH car - get a bike, green and all that!!!!!!!!!

[Red Devil]

Yep, definitely do a 'recce'... we did ours last April and had the most fabulous time touring both the North and South Island's.

Like Andy says, it'll keep you warm whilst applying for residency... assuming the 'recce' trip convinces you to make the move!

Good luck :nice1

[Paul]

Are the new carpets/kitchen etc going to make you house easier to sell/add value? If not then I wouldn't bother, just do a cheaper make over if you are selling the house to fund the move anyway.
if you then think the money is better spent doinga reccie or putting towards moving budget i guess is down to you!

Air NZ are offering £571 flights I believe for May so might be worth checking out if you are interested www.airnewzealand.com

[hosebergine]

Would your OH buy that car without a test drive? Get over to NZ and check it out first-hand. You'll have an amazing holiday (which can be as 'cheap' as you choose to make it) and get to see if you could move your lives over there. I'd say money well spent :-)

[Carey]

Do the reccie; took my OH 4 days before he was convinced it was OK to go ahead and is he glad now!!

[lizzyplop]

Do the recce, we went in September for our 1st visit and had some amazing weather, a tad on the cold side but we saw more sunshine and blue skies than we did on our visit during the so called summer months!!!

It will also confirm to you all that its the right move to make.

[5kings]

Are the new carpets/kitchen etc going to make you house easier to sell/add value? If not then I wouldn't bother, just do a cheaper make over if you are selling the house to fund the move anyway.
if you then think the money is better spent doinga reccie or putting towards moving budget i guess is down to you!

Air NZ are offering £571 flights I believe for May so might be worth checking out if you are interested www.airnewzealand.com


The kitchen we have is 70s and on it's last legs, so needs replacing similar prob with 70s swirly carpet up the stairs!! Can't say carpets add value, but both things would make the house more appealing I think.

Funny it's the Air NZ offer for flights that has made me really interested, but thanks for the link!

Helen

[5kings]

Thanks everyone,

Well I am convinced, OH not so. He thinks (probably true) that if we do a reccie, we might end up delaying our move, cos of the work we need to do on the house, and how long it takes us to save for things.

I am in a impatient mood, and thought the flight prices on Air NZ were so good, at around £2700 for 5 of us, we should go for it.

Well, I am driving him mad running on and on about it. Think I'll get some NZ mags/library books tomorrow, and leave them lying around as a subtle hint. Main problem is he really wants a car. We sold ours 18 months ago to pay off some debts, and have been on bikes ever since, but are starting to miss the freedom now.

Maybe I should go on my own as a cost saving exercise!!!

Helen

[lizzyplop]

I know how difficult it is to decide on what to do and when, we have changed our minds so often over the past year and are now on plan B. If you get the application process started there will be plenty of time for a reccie trip. We are planning a trip over to NZ for Feb 2010 to activate our visas and have a good look at where we want to end up living. Its giving us plenty of time to save and in the meantime hopefully sell the house!.

Have a good think about it before rushing into any booking of flights etc, and decide on what is best for you all, everyone tackles this whole move differently.

Liz

[hosebergine]

where do you live in the UK? perhaps we can help find cheap carpets and kitchens - then everyone's a winner!!!

[5kings]

where do you live in the UK? perhaps we can help find cheap carpets and kitchens - then everyone's a winner!!!

We are in Suffolk. Best price for kitchen so far is just under £800. That's including new sink, taps, worktops and units and handles, from Tesco of all places!

We are not after anything fancy, going to try Carpet Right for some quotes and we do have a friend who might be able to fit it for a couple of bottles of wine, which should save a fair bit of cash.
I'm quite good at finding bargains as we are always skint!

(EDIT: Re: kitchen, will probably get it a bit cheaper than £800 as might have less units than currently have)

[YouMeAndThree]

We are in Suffolk. Best price for kitchen so far is just under £800. That's including new sink, taps, worktops and units and handles, from Tesco of all places!

We are not after anything fancy, going to try Carpet Right for some quotes and we do have a friend who might be able to fit it for a couple of bottles of wine, which should save a fair bit of cash.
I'm quite good at finding bargains as we are always skint!

(EDIT: Re: kitchen, will probably get it a bit cheaper than £800 as might have less units than currently have)

If going to Carpet Right, check out other companies for the underlay (if needed).

[L00pback]

Hi

Just my 2p's worth (to balance the views a bit) but if its a chance to go over and check out NZ or do up the house for a sale then I'd do the house up (if your sure you want to move to NZ - otherwise do the recce). If you are after a sale then your house has to be better than all the others in your area otherwise it won't budge - unless the decor/kitchen issue is reflected in the price.

We are moving to NZ in May with no visa (just holiday one as need job offer) without doing the recce but have replaced it with lots of research. The money we saved will be going to fund the 6 months stay in which we'll get a better idea of what it is like to live there because we'll be doing it - as opposed to being on a 3 week holiday in which you might be wearing your "holiday glasses" - if you know what I mean.

We wish you all the best with whatever you choose to do and don't forget there will probably be someone on this forum thats done it already and can help...

Cheers

Alan

[Paul]

Although £800 is not a lot for a kitchen, have you considered Ebay. You may get a much nicer kitchen for less money. A bit of hard work dismantling and fitting into your space but saves the pennies. Just buy one that is bigger than your own one in case of any breakages on dismantling and make sure its local so you can see it before bidding.
If you are buying carpet consider some of the online shops as they can be a lot cheaper especially if you have someone to fit it. Again Ebay may be worth a look for (new) underlay, gripper rods etc

As far as car, what about a scooter or similar for cheap motoring (You could also put it in the container when you go for some instant motoring!). If not look for fully MOT'd old banger of reputable make (Honda or Toyota very reliable). Something that is not going to cost a lot for a year say and then you can scrap or sell for similar when you move

With all those savings maybe you can achieve both things you want! I just wouldn't recommend taking on further debt to do a reccie especially in the current climate

Best of luck

[TonnyTessa]

There might be a good reason for it, or your move to NZ is still years away... but why buy a car if you are going to have to sell it again anyway? You would probably not get the same money for it again. From what I hear cars are notoriously difficult to import (dunno for sure, I just scrapped my car on the way out).

As for a new kitchen + carpets, I have just been looking at a whole bunch of houses (here in NZ, but same principle) and to be honest most houses where the kitchen had been replaced I wished they hadn't bothered. Kitchen styles are so personal, that they tend to be either hideously bland or just plain hideous. Similar for carpets (I wouldn't want carpets anyway), although if you really have swirly 1970s one...........

I guess I am trying to say, go for the recce!!

[Jacqi B]

for the kitchen - look out for 'discontinued range' offers. We bought our entire kitchen (not sink or taps) with way more cupboards than we needed, plus under unit lights, worktops, etc for £365 from B&Q when we moved into our house a few years back. They had several on offer.