How to save on your home reno with Used Kitchen Exchange

Used Kitchen Exchange (www.uke.co.uk) offers pre-loved and ex-display kitchens at a fraction of the cost of new and is a fantastic way to get a designer kitchen on a budget. This is also a more eco-friendly option, as choosing an average used kitchen saves around 5000kg of carbon! UKE also offer reconditioned Quooker (the hot water taps!), which again are at a reduced cost and environmentally sound.

UKE was awarded BCorp status in 2021 and earlier this year was given the accolade of The Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Sustainability. 

With the cost of living rising and interest rates increasing homeowners may understandably be considering delaying their planned home improvements/renovations. However, with some savvy thinking there are many ways that could help save thousands of pounds.

Here’s a few ideas from Helen Lord, Founder of Used Kitchen Exchange (UKE).

Check The Label

“With all the changes in post-Brexit labelling requirements, there are many bargains to be had on appliances. So, if you’re looking to update your oven, hob, microwave, washing machine, wine cooler, or cooker hood there from leading brands such as Bosch, Miele, Siemens, and AEG, there are some great savings to be made on UKE’s website, for example a £500 saving can be made on this Miele Induction Hob.“

Reconditioned Thinking

“Reconditioned high value home products provide a great opportunity to save money and the planet. Specialist boiling water tap manufacturer Quooker is now reconditioning all its ex-display taps and selling them with a twelve-month warranty for a fraction of the price of a new one. For example, a saving of £421 can be made on their Classic Fusion Square boiling/cold water tap via UKE’s website.”

Sell It Don’t Skip It

“If you have planned, ordered, and paid for a new kitchen, don’t throw the old one in a skip just yet, as selling your used or pre-loved kitchen could earn you thousands of pounds towards a new one. If your current kitchen is useable and in working condition, you can sell it via a specialist company. It’s a savvy way to not only make money, but to save it too, as you won’t have to pay your builders to take it out or hire a skip to dispose of it.”

A Kitchen Is For Life

“We’re used to the idea of buying pre-loved items from sites such as eBay and Facebook Marketplace so why not consider buying a kitchen, bedroom, or bathroom in a similar way from a specialist home interiors platform. Preloved kitchens, bedrooms and bathrooms can offer savings of up to 80% on the original price, for example, this Martin Moore Kitchen is currently on sale at £16,999. It’s verified cost if purchased new is £80k, that’s a saving of £63k!“

Helen’s top tips for buying a pre-loved kitchen:

1. “Opt for a premium brand as the higher the original price tag, the better the build quality and materials used – cabinets should be 18mm thick or more and of solid construction. Ideally avoid flat pack designs as these are not ideal for re-use, and don’t expect to reuse laminate worktops as they’re almost impossible to reinstall.”
2.  “Painted and wood kitchens can offer a little more flexibility when buying second hand as they can be easily re-painted to create a new look. Lacquered finishes don’t have this level of flexibility so consider the longevity of your colour choice.”
3. “Buying a kitchen that is a little bigger than you need, will give you more flexibility when it comes to reconfiguration. And bear in mind that any changes to layout may mean some end panels, kick boards and decorative trims need replacing.”
4. “If you’re not buying through a specialist company, who will inspect the kitchen for you, ask to see the kitchen in person wherever possible and check for water and heat damage, plus internal wear, and tear. If buying online request lots of photos and close ups.”
5. “Removing a pre-installed kitchen is a technical job and ideally requires an experienced professional, as any shortcuts could ultimately damage your kitchen. Removing stone worktops, for example, takes a lot of knowhow and specialist tools.”

Discounts On Display

“If you’re not a fan of second hand, then ex-display products are a great option as they’ve never been used.  Like most retailers, kitchen, bedroom and bathroom showrooms regularly change their displays, selling off those that are currently installed at a greatly reduced price. For example, this ex-display wardrobe unit has been reduced from £10,500 to £3999, providing a saving of £6501.”

“The market for premium used goods for home renovations is huge and increasing all the time. You can see this trend within the retail sector already taking hold with some big brands/retailers already working on their sustainability journey. However, despite this almost 44% of  the homeowners we surveyed were unaware that selling their existing kitchen is an option.

“This is a missed opportunity for people renovating their homes, and for those looking to buy a new kitchen, purchasing pre-loved or ex-display is a game changer. Not only will they be able to make savings of between 50% and 90% on a quality premium kitchen, with the average pre-loved kitchen sale saving 5000kgs of carbon, the environmental saving is equivalent to making a family of four carbon neutral for an entire year.”

– Helen Lord