Hi all, Thanks for your help with my recent posts, greatly appreciated. But rather than create a new thread for each individual question, I think it'll be easier this way. The Mrs and I live in London with our toddler son , that's not changing, but have bought a house and lot in Imus, Cavite. It's a new build and almost finished. We'll likely get the keys in a few weeks, though they'll be collected by a family member who's been given SPA. We've a family holiday booked for next year and the Mrs has asked me to go alone for a few weeks later this year to get the place ready/furnished. As such we've put together a list of "essentials" to hopefully get sorted. We've family that I hope can arrange water and electricity connections, though I'd love your opinion on this, if anyone has been in a similar situation. Philippines retail websites are shockingly bad, so I'd also be grateful if you could recommend retailers and/or brands that I should look for. This is our list:- [ ] Aircon x3 (2 Bedroom and living area) [ ] Beds X3 (2 double, 1 single) [ ] Washing machine [ ] Rice cooker [ ] Oven / stove [ ] Kitchen / dining utensils [ ] Plates and glassware [ ] Sofa and coffee table [ ] Dining table [ ] TV [ ] Home broadband / wifi [ ] Power adapters [ ] Gate!!!!! Just realised I missed off the fridge! Again thanks in advance
You really need to be 'feet on the ground' there to be buying that amount of stuff. I wouldn't leave it to others (and certainly wouldn't be supplying money to others to pay on my behalf. All of those items could be easily purchased by yourself when there, over period of a couple of days, and any required installation (e.g. aircon) within a few days also. Home broadband is going to require the signing of a contract by the homeowner. Services (water, electricity) ...not sure if they can be arranged by anyone other than the home owner. Needs clarifying.
Cheers Phil, The plan is for me to buy these items when I arrive later in the year, sorry if my post didn't make that clear. It's only the water and electric connections that I'm hoping can be arranged by our SPA in advance of my arrival. The Meralco website indicates it'll take a few visits from them to supply the electricity, as they need to either construct or check the "service entrance"? Is that the fuse box? Would we already have one on a new build? The Maynilad website for the water certainly says a representative of the owner can arrange supply. So hopefully that's straightforward. Meralco doesn't mention who can arrange it, just what documents are required. I'd also like to add water heater and shower to the above list! Thanks again all.
Well, it would certainly help if the services could be connected before your arrival, that's for sure. 'White goods', etc...easily sorted by yourself after arrival, but installation of such as aircon and other 'plumbed-in' devices needs to be done by proven people, known to , and recommended by your family, otherwise things can rapidly become a nightmare. Beware !
IKEA for all furniture beds and kitchen stuff and plates etc. do it online IKEA Philippines, although I suppose it matters where your house is. SM Appliance for the rest although I rate Abensons as well. Think about if you really need an oven, gas 2 burner is 1600 peso most places, don't buy a 50cm wide free standing stove they are too narrow 60cm minimum but go for all gas. I bought a stove about 7 years back and it's fecked already. TV, SM Appliance but beware cheap Sony TVs that cost less than 40000 php. Aircon still think about split system it will do multiple rooms.
Think you have to attend a "seminar" here for the electric - water is easier - as @PhilPensioner says better you sort it out later when you get here - maybe stay in a apartment/hotel whilst you get it all sorted. Sometimes family can help - sometimes, especially if they are poor, they cannot - sounds ridiculous but they won't know who installs air con or is good at tiling etc! And don't fall into the family: "I can do that trap" lol... what ever you want doing find someone who does it professionally. You might have more luck asking the neighbors who did theirs etc. ... If you're cooking UK style get a proper stove with an oven, if you're not and go down the double burner route: Pay a bit extra and get one of these, I bought one about a year ago and we use half the gas we used to - and given the gas is approx P1,000 every 45 days it's saved us a small fortune. On the same subject, also get one of these: So you don't have to find somewhere to store 6 water bottles and also save yourself money in the long run.
Thanks for your replies. We're fortunate enough to have family members and close friends in the Manila area that are educated, earning well and trustworthy. None that would be looking to do any jobs for us. Similarly my wife wouldn't dream of it. So all items and work will be done by reputable companies. I certainly like the thought of the water purifier. About 18 months ago I had a bad turn for about 24 hours and I blame those water bottles. Interesting thought about oven and thanks for making me aware of the 50/60cm issue, I guess I'll have a chat with the Mrs. But I'm thinking that they'll be occasions when I'm there without the wife and I may want an oven. I wasn't expecting IKEA to be a recommendation, thought they'd be local companies offering better quality. Anyone know a company in the area for the gate? I've found a few companies using Facebook groups, but hope someone here may have a company they've used. I may be lucky as my wife's best friend just bought a new build house a couple of miles away in a separate development, so they may be able to suggest some too. Thanks again and look forward to others opinions too.
IKEA are better than 90 percent of local companies on price and quality hence their store is packed all the time. I've bought local and IKEA and I'm happiest with IKEA. If you have loads of money there are local artisans who will produce wonderful extremely expensive furniture, if you don't IKEA gives you good stuff with long guarantees at prices normal people want to pay.
Ah sorry Imus Cavite, I didn't read properly first time, can't help with a gate as I think John says, ask the neighbours, we live a little closer to Manila in Las Pinas house is rented and gate is there from 16 years ago. The IKEA in Pasay is I believe the biggest in the world, I can believe that, we got lost and started getting desperate to escape
The hifi and the computer on the middle shelf were bought in the UK and taken over in my luggage. We've had that mirror for nearly16 years I think and the picture on the wall is about 18 years old now. The Sony TV I regret buying the processor is not fast enough and it stutters occasionally. But yeah "bloody luxury"
16 years sounds about right... one of my first tweaks was to get my wifes' off its stand and on to the wall - I don't know what happened to the stand! Sony eh... bet that cost a few bob - 55" Coocaa for us P21k on Lazada and never looked back... following a disaster with a TCL from Robinsons that lasted less than 2 years
Hi @Alexnew , I've bought and ordered some of my stuff from All Home Cavite. You can pay them online or cash on delivery, but like they've said you can get these items when you're there .So you can check the sizes and the designs. For Furniture, there's a shop called Furniture Deals - Imus.
Technically I'm unemployed over here living on savings, I've not broken ties with the UK yet that's a lot easier imagined then it is to execute.
