Various home improvements on a 'Project house' - how best to manage?

Blooo

We recently moved in to a house that needs some work, which we fully expected. We're going to have a full rewire, a new hot water tank heat pump, a wall knocked through to make the kitchen and diner one room and new windows.

We have gotten quotes from each of the trades that can do this sort of work, and it's suddenly dawned on us how bad things could be, which is fine if not for too long, but different companies starting and finishing at different times could mean weeks or months with things unfinished. I just wondered what others have done with the houses they bought and did up? Is it best to get each individual trade to do each part of the work, or is it better to get one company to manage the whole thing for you?

droopsnoot

I'd say it depends on how good you are at project management, and how easily you'll be available to contact when a decision needs to be made.

There's a reason that the Grand Designs "episode bingo" card contains "Managing my own project".

Plasticman

In a similar situation I employed a small builder. Yes, it probably cost me a bit more but I didn't have to deal with the situation where the electrician didn't quite do what the plumber needed, the plumber didn't quite do what the electrician needed etc. 

LV_426

I'd be handing off management of this to someone else. If you have a day job yourself, it could be a tricky thing to do.

FreeBear

Blooo said: We recently moved in to a house that needs some work, which we fully expected. We're going to have a full rewire, a new hot water tank heat pump, a wall knocked through to make the kitchen and diner one room and new windows.

Plumbing and electrics need to be done with cooperation between both trades - Saves having to lift floorboards twice and/or ending up with sockets blocked by pipework. But I would start with the knocking down of the wall as this will define the area where pipes/cables can not go. Hold fire on making good the plaster though....

Get the windows & doors replaced. There is a good chance that the fitters will make a mess of the plaster inside. Get the electrics & plumbing done as far as "first fix", then get the plasterer(s) in to make good all the damage that has been caused. One the plaster has started to dry, finish off the electrics, plumbing, tiling, and start on fitting out the kitchen/bathroom.

But.... Before starting any of the above, look at insulating the external walls. Putting up 50-75mm of Celotex type boards on the inside will make a huge difference to the heating bills. If you are having a plasterer in to make good after the electrician has made a mess, insulating isn't going to add a huge amount to your renovation costs. I spent ~£500 on materials to insulate my walls, and should see a significant saving on heating. With bills the way they are at the moment, pay-back could be as little as two years.