House refurbishment in stages, job prioritising help needed

noah1234 · 19 June 2017 at 5:41AM

Hi,

We got our house recently which is in a poor condition, I have a structural home buyers report with photos of all the work that needs to be done and I'm looking for advice on how to get them done in stages slowly while living at the property as I have not got enough cash to refurbish the house all at the same time.

I'm hoping to get all the work done to high standards by specialist builders becuase I have no faith in me as nearly all my past DIY jobs were rubbish!!

Who can help me with this? Who do I go to for advise and for the work? We are in Birmingham.

Thank you.

Furts · 19 June 2017 at 6:33AM

Since it will be a long term job, you need some professional advice to guide you on priorities, programme and sequence. This professional may know contractors, and should be able to vet contractors and draw up specifications and inspect your works. They will also know about Planning and Buildings Regulations.

Try searching locally for a Chartered Building Surveyor or a Clerk Of Works

moneyistooshorttomention · 19 June 2017 at 7:37AM

Are you searching for a home-owner view on this or professionals view on this?

Personally - as a home-owner;

- the roof has to come first (ie if it needs any work on it).

- Followed by the electrics and the central heating system - so that you are warm and the electrics are safe and you're not forever trying to use a power point where none exists.

- followed by the kitchen and main/solo bathroom - so that you can eat and clean yourself (swopping the windows in them at the same time - if they need swopping)

Then the house "functions" and you can "camp out" in it basically. Though some of us had to "camp out" in ours before any of that was done - but at least it takes the "camping out" up to another level.

- Next - the sitting room and then any dining room - so you're okay for visitors coming round.

- Then your own bedroom - so you have a "retreat" from the rest of the chaos

- Then other rooms

- Then anything that needs doing of gutter/fascia boards/downpipes.

- Then main area of house (hall/stairs/etc).

- Then the outside of house

- Then the garden finally.

Well - that's been my own order of priorities on a house that I regarded as barely liveable in to start with if it helps.

NB; If there are any boundary issues - needing fence/wall/whatever done to "make it quite clear" where the boundaries lie then that's another consideration altogether. I had that - and would probably put that after your own bedroom in priority (where the house is at least pretty liveable in by that stage). But, hopefully, your house won't have those issues one way or another.

Annie1960 · 19 June 2017 at 12:21PM

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/get-more-help/finding-a-trustworthy-trader/

Here is advice on finding traders.

Doozergirl · 19 June 2017 at 5:45PM

What is actually on your list from the survey?

teneighty · 19 June 2017 at 6:10PM

Annie1960 wrote: »

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/get-more-help/finding-a-trustworthy-trader/

Here is advice on finding traders.

Well citizens Advice have massively gone down in my estimation, the first point on their list...

"find a trader through word of mouth if you can or from a recommendation through a website that rates traders"

Word of mouth is all well and good but you should still do the usual checks, people pass on recommendations for some really rubbish builders. As for the lead generating websites, don't get me started on how rubbish they are and are a happy hunting ground for cowboys.

In answer to OP's question it is difficult to condense it down to a simple sentence so I will just say prioritise work that may well lead to further deterioration if left, so like a leaking roof or a leaking pipe.

Secondly try to work out how works may overlap. So don't start with redecoration and new carpets if there is a full re-wire on the cards or new ceilings etc. In fact never start with redecoration and carpets ever, that was a poor example but hopefully you get the gist.

noah1234 · 19 June 2017 at 10:49PM

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

Are you searching for a home-owner view on this or professionals view on this?

Personally - as a home-owner;

- the roof has to come first (ie if it needs any work on it).

- Followed by the electrics and the central heating system - so that you are warm and the electrics are safe and you're not forever trying to use a power point where none exists.

- followed by the kitchen and main/solo bathroom - so that you can eat and clean yourself (swopping the windows in them at the same time - if they need swopping)

Then the house "functions" and you can "camp out" in it basically. Though some of us had to "camp out" in ours before any of that was done - but at least it takes the "camping out" up to another level.

- Next - the sitting room and then any dining room - so you're okay for visitors coming round.

- Then your own bedroom - so you have a "retreat" from the rest of the chaos

- Then other rooms

- Then anything that needs doing of gutter/fascia boards/downpipes.

- Then main area of house (hall/stairs/etc).

- Then the outside of house

- Then the garden finally.

Well - that's been my own order of priorities on a house that I regarded as barely liveable in to start with if it helps.

NB; If there are any boundary issues - needing fence/wall/whatever done to "make it quite clear" where the boundaries lie then that's another consideration altogether. I had that - and would probably put that after your own bedroom in priority (where the house is at least pretty liveable in by that stage). But, hopefully, your house won't have those issues one way or another.

Thank you so much for your answer! This is exactly what I have been looking for.

I think the way you have listed the priority is very sensible and makes sense and covers nearly all the problems that the house has.

In the report 2 more problems are listed, suspected ground floor timber decay and rot and suspected problem with the "below ground drainage.

I assume these problems come first before or immediately after the roof.

Doozergirl · 20 June 2017 at 12:18PM

Your below ground drainage is a matter of having a CCTV survey to start with. You could literally do that tomorrow.

House refurbishment in stages, job prioritising help needed

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