Doing work before/after moving in

ss2020jd

For the least disruption I was really hoping to get some jobs done like remove old carpet, restore floors before the furniture (beds wardrobes etc) is in the room, and also add stud wall, plumbing etc from adjacent bathroom for small shower room before we move in. 

I’ve booked in for some quotes but I realise as time gets closer it will be tricky as a lot of trades are already booked up until next year. Plus I keep hearing about massive increases in cost of materials and difficulty getting supplies. 

I don’t want to wait ages to move in once I’ve got the keys either (currently renting but will overlap with completion), so wondering how much is feasible to do at a later date after everything is already moved in. With the floors, I’ve been told the rooms need to be empty, but surely some people must decide to change their floors while living there so must just dismantle furniture and put it back after work is done. 

I am also supposed to be taking it easy for the next month or so due to health issues and not sure if I could take the stress of rushing to meet a deadline of having all work done before moving in and the inevitable delays that that could bring. 

Any experience or advice gratefully received.

Gavin83

Move the furniture to a different room while you’re working on that one. Rinse and repeat.

ss2020jd

Thanks yes will have to find someone who is happy to do that (easier said than done!) as the beds and wardrobes are big old wooden ones that would not be easy to move without taking apart and a metal frame bed too. 

YBR

It's traditional to get friends/family to help with taking stuff apart and moving it round. "Pay" them in Beer & pizza (or similar).

ss2020jd

YBR said:

It's traditional to get friends/family to help with taking stuff apart and moving it round. "Pay" them in Beer & pizza (or similar).

Ha yes that happened in days gone by but unfortunately we’re all getting too old to be able to safely do that! The youngsters of the family wouldn’t know where to start haha. 

Flugelhorn

I got all the floors done before moving in (carpet and hard flooring) - but I wasn't restoring them which takes time. Any chance of getting the rooms done ealry where the heavy furniture eg beds and wardrobes are going to be located ?

ss2020jd

Flugelhorn said:

I got all the floors done before moving in (carpet and hard flooring) - but I wasn't restoring them which takes time. Any chance of getting the rooms done ealry where the heavy furniture eg beds and wardrobes are going to be located ?

Thanks I’m beginning to think perhaps laying new flooring might be a better option if I could find availability somewhere and start with the main bedroom at least. 

The furniture is in storage with the movers but they’ll deliver everything and put it back together so ideally will need it done before that. 

FreeBear

Moving "stuff" from one room to another is very, very draining, especially if you have a lot of it. That is just one of many things that is slowing down my "renovation".

ss2020jd

FreeBear said:

Moving "stuff" from one room to another is very, very draining, especially if you have a lot of it. That is just one of many things that is slowing down my "renovation".

Thanks for that. I can imagine it must be.
It’s a bit of a juggling act from what I can tell. 

csgohan4

get a handy man if you can't do it yourself or with friends/relative. No other way round it.

One of the reasons we got flooring polished and redone before we moved in after completion. 

Windofchange

Could you get a temporary solution like a camp bed to sleep on for a month or two, therefore leaving all your furniture dismantled? I can’t imagine a tradesman would be adverse to taking apart a bed or two to be honest as part of the job. It’s a half hour task at most alongside moving it somewhere. Otherwise as has been suggested, I’m sure you can hire a handyman to come do it.