House refurbs - and children!

[ninbi]

We're thinking of buying a major "no heating, needs rewiring, roof needs replacing" project of a house.

Has anyone else done this and how do you manage it with children, and if you work too? Or is it impossible to spin all those plates?

What's the best way to attempt it - use an architect who brings in their own builders or find your own tradesmen?

We remodelled the interior of our current house and we just got a surveyor to draw up plans which saved us money but I wonder if we wouldn't have got some better design ideas if we'd used an architect?

Also we used builders who didn't do decorating and the gap between the two meant the "blame game" was employed by the people coming in, and the "the decorators will sort that out" was used by the trades leaving us.

If we do this it needs to be least stress but we don't have endless amounts of money to throw at this!

Does your experience tell you something different? I'm really keen to hear how different people managed it! And very keen for recommendations too!

Many thanks all!

[Ron70]

ninbi Wrote:

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> We're thinking of buying a major "no heating,

> needs rewiring, roof needs replacing" project of a

> house.

>

> Has anyone else done this and how do you manage it

> with children, and if you work too? Or is it

> impossible to spin all those plates?

>

> What's the best way to attempt it - use an

> architect who brings in their own builders or find

> your own tradesmen?

>

> We remodelled the interior of our current house

> and we just got a surveyor to draw up plans which

> saved us money but I wonder if we wouldn't have

> got some better design ideas if we'd used an

> architect?

>

> Also we used builders who didn't do decorating and

> the gap between the two meant the "blame game" was

> employed by the people coming in, and the "the

> decorators will sort that out" was used by the

> trades leaving us.

>

> If we do this it needs to be least stress but we

> don't have endless amounts of money to throw at

> this!

>

> Does your experience tell you something different?

> I'm really keen to hear how different people

> managed it! And very keen for recommendations

> too!

>

> Many thanks all!

Ninbi,

I've already responded to this point in the business section! You didn't see that?

Ron

[ninbi]

yes thanks, I PM'ed you yesterday. I'm just canvassing for as many viewpoints as poss!

[canela]

Only do this if you can handle minimum 6 months of chaos. If you are the kind of family or have the kind of kids that need things to be ordered and calm this is not for you. If you - or at least one person in the family - thrives on chaos and loves the creative side, then this is for you!

We have done this. I have gone out to work and left DH spinning all the plates. By the time I get home, all is finished for the day and he hoovered every night. Kids loved the chaos.

[LondonMix]

Move out if you can afford it!

[amydown]

We have just done a big refurb and moved out for 6 months. Have moved in and builders will be on site for another month and I'm glad we were out for the most part. I think 6months of chaos would have got me down!

[ninbi]

Thanks - we were thinking of renting somewhere for 6 months while the work's done which I'm sure the children will think is an adventure.

Although DH did suggest that we camp in the garden while the weather allows it - and I'm not sure he was joking!!

Would any of you recommend the architect or builders you worked with?

[LondonMix]

One thing besides moving out that made it less stressful for us is that while we were waiting for planning and building regs we picked out all our fixtures and fittings in extreme detail. When the work starts you won't have time. Also, things always cost ,order than you think. Having the cost of out kitchen, bathrooms, flooring, bifold doors and lighting selected helped us stay on budget when the quotes came in. We balanced it at the quote stage by reducing some of our spec for the fittings and the building work so we were comfortable.

Building is like the fog of war... Make as many decision beforehand as you can!

[Ron70]

ninbi Wrote:

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> yes thanks, I PM'ed you yesterday. I'm just

> canvassing for as many viewpoints as poss!

Apologies, I didn't see that, have sent a response!