Full Refurb advice

[Swrigh]

Hi

I am starting the process of talking to contractors about taking on a return project. It’s a 4 bed detached being completely renovated too to bottom including, opening up kitchen into living area, adding two bathrooms and a garage conversion and exterior remodel. There is no extension. I have a plan dream up, now getting people in to quote.

Does anyone have experience of using single contractor/design company to do all the work. How did you approach this. What were your learnings? If you could go back, what would you differently? Any tips of keeping costs down?

Thanks

No experience on single contractors however it will cost more but if they’re any good it’ll be worth it to remove many of the day to day designs that crop up, also Plan plan and then plan some more, nothing worse than getting to the end and wishing you had done something differently, and make sure when the decision is made at the outset you stick with it, it’s the extras that cost if you keep adding them in and making changes and why people fall out with builders, make sure you do staged payments on agreed completion items, never put money up front, a builder who can’t cover initial stage payments should be avoided, depending if you have the time and how flexible your contractor is setup a trade account with their preferred builders merchants so you order and pay for all the materials that’ll save you 30% on top, and you own them if the builder goes bust, again depends on how hands on you want to be but no point paying builders to strip the place for a full remodel, it’s great stress relief, just don’t take out anything your unsure of like a supporting wall, know your limitations. Make sure you know your timescales, you don’t want a 50k kitchen sitting in a building site for a month because you ordered it to soon equally you don’t want your team leaving site because there’s a 6 week lead time, I speak from experience on that one

@user1471528245

Thanks, taking note here.

I flip houses and echo the plan plan plan advice. I also run things by a pro concept planner (Karen at OnePlan) who I found recommend on here and on Houzz. Used her for my own house too.
Set yourself a budget and do your best not to deviate from it. Although right now prices are rising much faster for wood and other basics so my budgets are being squeezed. Good Builders /plumbers /sparkies etc are all booked up at least six months or more ahead, so don't expect to get anyone booked in this year.
If you have time to project manage yourself it needs to be considered as a full time job. Don't think you can work efficiently on this as well as your own job. So a design and build company could be worth its weight if you are busy working.