Wholesale buying and promotions: how to plan your material orders

Buying materials "in batches as needed" is the most common way to overpay: two trips for 20 bags of adhesive cost more than one pallet, and the renovation takes longer.

Rules for wholesale purchases

• Plan in stages, not days — buy everything needed for the plastering stage at once.
• Compare prices including delivery — cheaper material 40 km away stops being cheaper.
• Negotiate large orders — for orders over £600–£1,000 you can get a 5–10% discount.
• Check clearance lines — end-of-line tiles can be 30–50% cheaper (buy a 10% reserve!).
• Agree on returns with the supplier — unused packages can sometimes be returned with an invoice.

When a promotion is a trap

• Damaged or damp packaging (mineral wool, plasterboard).
• Products without a CE declaration.
• A "super deal" on materials not included in your project design.

Who should do the buying — you or the contractor?

Contractors often get better prices at suppliers, but if you buy yourself, you have 100% control over quality. On LocalTrader, you declare who is responsible for buying materials in your order — contractors will factor this into their quote.