Home and garden goods: how to find what you need and buy well
Plan big purchases for the home
This section covers everything that fills a home and a plot: from a wardrobe and a sofa to a spade, paint and seeds. The general rule is: measure and calculate first, then buy. Metres, cubic metres, the size of the recess and the weight of the load affect the price more than you might think.
The second rule is about delivery. Bulky goods (furniture, building materials, big tools) can cost as much to deliver as the item itself, so compare prices with delivery included.
How to find your section
Furnishing a home? Look at furniture and home decor: lighting, textiles, rugs, decorations. Doing a renovation? Look at building and renovation and, separately, tools. For the kitchen and the household there are kitchenware, kitchen accessories and household supplies with cleaning products.
For a plot or a yard there is garden and vegetable plot, and for a cosy touch, houseplants. There are also stationery with office paper and food and drink, such as honey, meat, coffee.
What to put in your request
- What exactly — the item, material, colour, variety, breed.
- Size and volume — dimensions, area, quantity in metres, cubic metres, pieces or kilograms.
- What for — a room, kitchen, farmhouse, greenhouse, renovation, a gift.
- Quality and brand — requirements for the material, power, manufacturer.
- New or used — where that is acceptable, as with furniture or tools.
- Delivery — the city, the floor, whether there is a lift, whether you need unloading or assembly.
- Timing — when you need to receive it.
- Budget — if you want to name one.
How to compare offers
Compare like with like: size, material, what is supplied. Two sofas at a similar price can differ in filling and frame, and two sets of tools in the number of attachments and the power. Ask about the warranty and the option to return, especially for made-to-order goods.
Take the season into account. Garden tools, seeds and seedlings are better value in the off season, but in season demand is higher; building materials may get dearer before and after the rainy season. Furniture and textiles often get cheaper during sales. Ask sellers whether they have seasonal terms.
For food, pay attention to the expiry date, the storage conditions and the delivery (cooling, speed). For plants: the state of the roots and the size and age of the sapling.
A typical mistake is to buy without measuring and “with a reserve” that is not needed later. Another is not asking who unloads and carries the goods in, especially into a flat.
For electrical appliances and household chemicals, ask about the certificates and instructions; for garden goods, whether they suit your region and climate. Keep the receipt and the warranty card, and inspect large and fragile goods on delivery together with the courier, noting any damage on the delivery note.
If you are buying a lot for a renovation or a move, make a list room by room and work out a budget: it is easier to see where you can choose a simpler option without losing quality.
How it works on BlaBlaPrice
You don't need to go round shops and make calls. Create one request in your own words; you can add a photo. It is checked, and you are told what the sellers are missing. Then sellers in your region reply in the chat: what they offer, the price, the terms, the delivery. They see where their offer ranks and improve their terms to win your request.
The best-value offer is shown first, and reviews of the seller are visible alongside. Your phone number stays hidden until you choose an offer, and it is free for the buyer. More on the “How it works” page.
