Home renovation costs

DeepBreakfast

We have exchanged contracts on a 3-bed semi and after completion in another couple of weeks we'll be putting in an application for planning permission to build a kitchen extension and new downstairs WC.

The house also needs a complete rewire and new upstairs bathroom. Will it save us any money to get the rewire and new bathroom done separately before the other building work starts, or should we get quotes to have it all done at the same time?

This is our first major renovation project so I'm trying to get as much info as possible. I've been reading lots of books out of the library but can't find the answer to this particular question!

BlueC

Are you moving in before work starts? Work is always easier to carry out when a property is unoccupied. Whether it will save you money is another thing.

When planning works you're doing the right thing to consider which order to do things in - e.g. there is no point in plastering and then doing a rewire!

Not sure in this case how or whether doing them together or separately will make any difference.

DeepBreakfast

We're moving in after the work starts. What I'm trying to figure out is whether hiring an electrician to do the rewire ourselves is cheaper than getting a contractor to organise all the work for the house – if he's hiring an electrician as a subcontractor, is that going to work out more than us hiring an electrician directly ourselves?

martinsurrey

DeepBreakfast wrote: »

We're moving in after the work starts. What I'm trying to figure out is whether hiring an electrician to do the rewire ourselves is cheaper than getting a contractor to organise all the work for the house – if he's hiring an electrician as a subcontractor, is that going to work out more than us hiring an electrician directly ourselves?

if everything goes to plan, it would be cheaper to get your own sparky in to do the rewire.

BUT

what happens if the builder is ready for the first fix electrics but your sparky cant make it for 3 days, the builder is going to charge you for the delay.

Same if your builder is 3 days late, and the sparky is booked for the week after.

If you know what your doing (and have time to give yourself some flex room), get them all in yourself, if not, get a main contractor.

BlueC

DeepBreakfast wrote: »

What I'm trying to figure out is whether hiring an electrician to do the rewire ourselves is cheaper than getting a contractor to organise all the work for the house

Yes, hiring any trade yourself is going to be substantially cheaper than getting a contractor to bring their own trades in. Be aware it takes a lot of time and energy and patience to manage it all yourself, but the money savings can be really significant.

jackyann

For work this major, I would go and wander around the "Home building & renovation" website and maybe get a magazine. If you actually have enough time, even go to one of their shows.
If you are going to project manage yourself, you need:
spare time
the ability to deal with queries during the working day, fairly quickly (keeping workers waiting = cost)
time to pop in, look at the work, tidy up etc.
either rudimentary knowledge, or the ability to absorb detail quickly

You can save a lot, but also it may cost you if you drop the ball!
Good luck