Help! Project managing house refurbishment

[ITriedAnother]

We've just bought a house that needs a new kitchen, a new bathroom, plastering and painting throughout, a couple of electrical changes and new carpets/flooring throughout. I had assumed it would just be a case of getting a builder in to manage the work but I've had three builders in to quote and all have said I should get the tradespeople in myself (I.e. organise a plasterer, an electrician, a plumber etc independently from each other). I can understand that to an extent because it's not a big job but how do you manage this for the new kitchen and new bathroom? How do you know at what stage to get each person in to do their job?

You can get a project manager

Thank you. That's what I'm after but unfortunately the project is too small for it to be of interest to anyone. There is a lot of building work round where we live so I think its just not worth their while.

I'm sure you can find someone Whereabout are you?

Will you be living in the house during the work?
We bought a house like this. It doesn't all need doing at once ? Even if we could afford to (we can't !!) it would be hell on earth to do it at the same time.

Bit odd that none of the builders are prepared to get the other trades in, maybe get some more quotes and find someone who will. I project managed renovating our last house* but even then the builder who did our extension organised most of the other trades himself. I wanted to use the same electrician as we had for some other jobs but the builder let me know when to get him in.

*it was hell on earth by the way, and I project manage for a living...

I was in a similar position as couldn't get a builder as wasn't extending.

I am in no way an expert on this but will tell you what I did.

Firstly, wasn't working at the time so was around.

Started with a plumber who moved the boiler, smart heating controls, some new rads, flushed and balanced heating system.

Got a window company to fit new windows and doors.

These two things were essential given how cold the house was so knew how much we had left to spend after this.

Got electrician to confirm re wire wasn't needed. I needed him to move a Fuseboard as this was on a stud wall we wanted to knock down.

Got a carpenter who would knock and build stud walls. We weren't doing anything structural (too complicated and would require builder/engineer/money). Electrician came back to move plug sockets/light switches while this was going on. He was local and fitted me in around his other jobs. Charged by the socket/switch.

Carpenter knew a plasterer and organised him when he was needed but I paid plasterer directly.

Carpenter fitted kitchen and told me when to get electrician / plumber / plasterer to come back.

Carpenter did floors / skirting / new doors / understair storage.

One of them recommended a tiler.

Got it all painted at then end.

It all worked out. Was a bit haphazard and I probably overspent on the electrics. I was lucky that the carpenter was so good and really decent.

Sorry I misread the OP and thought you were having building work done.

Yes it does make sense to have different trades and yes that does make it a PITA if you’ve never done it before!

Roughly, it needs to go like this:

Plumbing and electrical works first, as these often involve getting into walls and ceilings.

Then plastering

Then any second fix plumbing and electrics

Kitchen / bathroom flooring (depending on the type - we had Marmoleum and partly fitted the kitchen first)

Kitchen / bathroom fitting and wall tiling

Decorating

Other floors and carpets last

Smaller trades will know and recommend people they work with to do the other bits they need to wait on - electrics, plastering etc, but always get several, written quotes.

Also, get all your quotes in for all the jobs and find the tradespeople you like, then they will help you coordinate from there. I.e. don’t wait to find the plasterer until you need them, get them booked for the job beforehand and work with your trades to figure out a schedule.

Where are you based. My OH could pm this as this is his job.

Thank you @WinterAndRoughWeather and @Focalpoint, that's really helpful.

@grey12 and @CheshireAxe we're in the North West. The area we're in is very popular with families but most houses are three bed so a lot of people do extensions and loft conversions - therefore work like ours is not a priority.

@TiddleTaddleTat we wont be living in the house till it has a working kitchen and bathroom. We're hoping to get as much done as possible before we move in.

NW London I could find you someone :)

@grey12 Ah no, North West England