Want to Buy Old Pub (Extensive Renovation Needed)

marcg

Father in law as a PM is a very good idea IMHO. Often PM's have project managment qualifications but don't actually know how to build! Possible family/business conflicts of course, but I'd definitely choose an experienced builder over a paperwork PM for this job.

Trollfever

Cashflow forecasts could make interesting reading.

PasturesNew

When you start work you don't add value, you decrease value.

There was a programme on the telly that would take somebody buying a wreck, get them doing the work, they'd get it valued near the end, then at the end.

When it was still a work in progress it was usually worth less than they'd paid. Work in progress means that the next bloke along (if it were repossessed) probably has to strip it back again as they have no idea how good your work was, or if you cut any corners.

GDB2222

I'm still staggered at the idea of a building that has had 3 inches of water in it for the last 2 years. Is that right?

Surely, you'll never dry it out properly, and if you do (contradicting myself there!), all the wood and plaster upstairs will have become very damp. Won't the wood warp in all directions when it eventually dries? I am therefore wondering about the relevance of the upstairs kitchen if you actually have to strip out all the first floor timbers, etc. You need a really, really big contingency reserve!

marcg

Yep, wood and plaster will be pretty much shot. However, a lot of dehumidifiers on for a very long time will dry the place out. There will be lots of shrinkage cracking.

I think the OP is fully aware of all this though - the plan implied is for a full gut-out and refurb from shell. The interest in the upstairs kitchen would appear to be for the technicality of the place being habitable and therefore mortgagable in the interim. The OP already stated they would live elsewhere during the works.