Buying a "fixer upper" and I just wanted to run some figures by you?

dander

Definitely agree with the people that say your timeframe is too short. I don't think it's a good idea to be overlapping your trades if you can avoid it. For instance if your plumber is fitting a whole new heating system, there will be boards up and general chaos all over the house - if window fitters are trying to work at the same time, they'll be trying to carry windows upstairs, while avoiding gaps in floorboards, finding a plumber fitting a radiator under the very window they are trying to remove etc - everyone will find their job more difficult and takes longer and consequently charge you more.

Also, I agree with the above, in my experience with big jobs, the tradepeople tell you when they will be able to fit you in, rather than you picking a day. I recently had my heating refitted and I had a six week wait from the time I agreed a price to the day work started - and when I had windows done, it was a nightmare trying to pin the firm down to a date to start. However, I found windows suprisingly non-disruptive to have done. They didn't damage any decoration and it was pretty quickly done.

I've had a heating system replaced, changing a back boiler to combi and all radiators changed - that took three and a bit days- I would guess an entirely new system would be similar. Windows - about the same number as yours including bay, but no doors took 3 days (my overall cost for windows was £8k - but for a conservation styled window). Cloakroom fitted, moving all plumbing took 2 days - that didn't include tiles. Hope those timescales help.

Curlywurli

shirlgirl2004 wrote: »

Hi Donna

I too live in Essex and I can tell you the recesion hasn't hit our area . This means you will have to wait for the trades to be available. I had a quote from a reasonable priced elcetrician today to fit a light and switch and the quote was £650 (no making good required) because earthing is required for the gas and water as well as the testing. Even simple jobs have red tape making them cost more than you think. To plaster a small porch and it plaster board is £650 too.

Good luck and ofer what you thinks it's worth and no more.

I'm Essex too, but even I think those prices are very high. This year I had a plasterer do my living room and dining area- walls and ceilings for £480. We did have a guy quote £680, but there was no way we would pay that. We had an electrician fit two outside security lights for £150. It's taken us a while but we have found some good reasonable tradesmen.