Home reburishment and a full time job -Doable?

Going4TheDream

We did it pretty much like this for a year, didnt work from home though. We lived in one room upstairs, mattress in middle off floor, clothes on clothes rails, and a made up kitchen with a fridge one end freezer the other with a work top across the two, a two ring table top hob, and microwave. We had to fill the bath from the sink with a small hose until the CH and bathroom was refitted but it was worth it. It was pretty basic living, and after work we would start working on the house and all weekend, moving our makeshift room to the next one when windows were fitted etc, we had 5 beds to choose from!

We had the whole house totally refurbished and we did the vast majority of the prep work ourselves, taking the plaster off, taking floors up, knocking walls down etc, (under the supervision of ex oH uncle who was in the trade) As we needed the tradesmen in, we took time off work so they could do their thing. We did rely on a lot of friends in the trade also so a lot of flyers done at weekends for cash etc. It was a real mess for about 6 months and i often came down to piles of bricks, no floor and wonder !!!!!! we were thinking! But once the building work, rewire, GC/DG/ plastering, fireplaces were done, we started to get on with stuff like kitchen and bathrooms, then decorating....which took another 6 odd months.

It was a massive project as the house hadnt been touched since about 1940 ish so still had water pump in the kitchen from the well.... it was a labour of love to be sure.

YoungBusinessman

Been doing this since December when bought my first place, all I can say is go for it and don't give up!! But also don't get carried away! A few hundred here and there soon adds up!!

chucknorris

bluedrop wrote: »

Does this sound like a realisitic plan? I am keen on hiring tradesmen so that I can save some money rather than hiring a builder (builder's margin plus vat will make my bill significantly higher)....

Anyone on the forum done this before along with a full time job? Any relevant advice gratefully taken.

I did it during the year out of my degree course back in 1989 to a 2 bed semi bungalow, which meant that although I was dedicated to the job, it was usually only a 9 to 5 (ish) job (very few late nights at the office). The refurbishment extent was:

Repairs:
Partial DPC injected (incl. hacking plaster off), replacing rotten wall plates on all the sleeper walls plus partial rotten floor boards and a full rewire.

New work:
Full central heating system (from nothing), new bathroom, replacement kitchen, new drive, replacement internal doors, replacement fireplace, new fitted wardrobe, 2 replacement windows, jungle to garden, floor coverings and of course full redecoration (although by this time I was totally knackered and paid someone to paint it all which was slightly strange because this was by far the easiest and least technical job. I did everything else myself (sometimes with family help) apart from the odd minor job (i.e. fitting gas fire) and joining up all the central heating pipes and commission the boiler, replastering and the concrete drive.

I wouldn't do it again, but at the time I was only 28 and (financially) my time was worth a lot less to me.

EDIT: I didn't live in the property while refurbishing it though, I lived at my parents house, I'm not sure that I could have roughed it living in the property, but it was possible I suppose, but it would have been like camping.

GeneHunt_2

Home reburishment and a full time job -Doable?

Me and my dear wife have done up 2 wrecks - the second more of a wreck than the first. I worked full time and we had two kids - so yes it's doable.
We did a lot of the decorating work ourseleves - but had electrictians, plumbers, builders etc for the rest....try and pick people you like - you might even end up having a laugh! We did.

...just stay chilled and calm...worth every penny saved.

John_Pierpoint

Also did it in my 20's but by revolving round a room at a time (in a bungalow it is easy because all the services drop down from the loft).

The only "trade" employed was to plaster and render over the amateur efforts; with a "large" mortgage, faster progress using tradesmen was not really an option.
It was meant to take 3 years and actually took 5. Then we had a couple of babies. Then I built a second extension - some people never learn.

Would we do it again ?
With a second life yes - in this life no.

The better half will tell you that the low point was a long weekend with no water supply (is phobia about using a bucket a female thing?)
In reality it was when she got bronchitis.

First one in lights the prehistoric room heater with back-boiler "free" fuelled by Dutch elm disease, in a yet to be insulated shell - is not adequate in a British winter.

Having a near miss go at killing my son with a flying "G-clamp", when building the second extension, was another nightmare moment.
Kids and building sites are not a safe mixture.