Order of reno works and cost saving tips!

[Renovation2021]

About to start to big project (extension, new walls, full reno) and are in the last stages in selecting our builder. Everything is ball park at the moment, with detailed quotes from our final three coming in the next week. I have also asked them for a 'schedule of works' ie what, when and whom.

All quotes are slightly higher than we planned for (apparently materials are A LOT higher at the moment?) so we are looking for areas we can DIY, ie decorating will now be with us, saves £8.5k!

Few questions that googling can't see to answer (may be user error though!):

• Schedule of works template: can anyone share or point me in the direction of what we can expect to receive from our builder for a 3/4 month piece of work please?
• We know the high-level order of work but does this mean things like rewire and new boiler cannot be done until all structural work is complete?
• Any suggestions on what we can do / source ourselves to reduce costs (currently we will gut rooms, decorate and DH will tile the downstairs loo) - we are mid-level capabilities.

This is the order of work we are assuming (until we get the builders' view!):

Strip out and removal
Structural work – floors, ceilings, walls
First fix work – plumbing, heating wiring
Plastering, flooring
Second fix work – plumbing, heating, wiring
Bathroom, kitchen fit-out
Decoration

... hopeful bump

Not an answer, but hoping someone comes along with wisdom as we are about to select a builder for a similar job!

Interested in this also. Sorry no answer from me either.

@mintich and @Onmyleft... glad it’s not just me looking for a bit of guidance! Fingers crossed a wise MNer will come along soon!

Is your builder a limited company? If so, have you checked their accounts on Companies House? If not, please do and if they're in sh*tloads of debt - avoid.

Also, please don't make any large payments upfront.
Pay in stages - dependent on work being complete. Schedule of works will help with that.
No weekly payments either. Would avoid Cash in hand in case it goes tits up.

Not an expert but based on my own recent experience I think this is the order it should be:
Strip out and removal
Structural work – floors, ceilings, walls
First fix work – plumbing, heating wiring
Plastering, flooring
Bathroom, Kitchen fit
Second fix work – plumbing, heating, wiring
Decoration

I didn't get a schedule of works with my builder but something reasonable should be like this: (made up the figures but just so you get the gist)
Strip out and removal - 2/3 weeks
First fix - 2 weeks
Plastering and flooring - 1 week
Bathroom + kitchen fit - 3 weeks
Second fix - Half a week
Decoration - 2 weeks

Also, for work on this scale please ask to see a project that the builder has recently completed.

I hired someone awash with 5* reviews for much smaller jobs and my experience with them was an absolute nightmare. Wish I'd seen a more recent job similar to mine to use as a basis for whether I proceeded...

@themummyway some brilliant guidance, thank you! Of the 5 in the running all but one is either personally known to family or have done similar work for friends / family. It’s such a bloody minefield, and such a lot of money!!