Who would do these jobs?

[ImTheGoat]

We are moving into a house that needs the following work done. Please could I have some advice on what types of tradespeople I need to get in? I feel like its not enough work for a builder but maybe too much for a handyman. So while it would be nice to have one tradespeople handle everything I'm guessing that's probably not realtic? And any ideas of costs would also be very helpful please - the house is a 3 bedroom but small (850 Square feet)

• Add stud wall with door in it to divide living and dining rooms
• Remove kitchen cupboard and install new dishwasher in its place
• Replace ensuite door with bi-fold door
• Supply and fit fitted wardrobes in one bedroom
• Skim over artex ceilings throughout
• Paint and decorate throughout (including ceilings and stripping wallpaper before painting)
• Install 2 catflaps
• New carper throughout

Thank you!

I've just found a handyman who charges £450 for a day (8 hours) for labour only. Seems a bit excessive? We're up north. I'd rather pay by the job than the hour as I've had some hourly handymen take the piss anyway.

The stud wall needs a builder not a handyman. The ceilings need to be done by a proper plasterer or could be dreadful. I've made that mistake myself. For wardrobes, I'd use a wardrobe company to supply and fit or IKEA Pax and a carpenter.

Thanks JustWimpy, that's helpful. I feel like I'm going to struggle to get a builder to come out just for one wall and door but I'll just have to try. The same with the dishwasher if I need a plumber. DH thinks we should have bought a house that was already perfect - unfortunately there weren't any of those available in our price range 😂

There are absolutely handymen that could do all that. My dad definitely could have. He could plaster perfectly, despite never being trained. He could plumb, hang doors, lay carpet and flooring.

450 does seem expensive to me too, especially as you're up north. I guess it would depend on his quality of work and how many days he was expecting it to take?

£450 a day is crazy money. Thats an income of about £120k

I thought so too, it's ridiculous. I prefer to pay per job anyway because we once had a handyman who charged by the hour then tried to get away with sitting in his van on the phone with cups of tea for absolutely ages. I don't want to micromanage.

Decorator for your painting & decorating/wallpaper stripping- you could do the stripping yourself if you wanted to save money.

Plasterer for the ceiling skims. Actually, I would get the wallpaper off in the rooms first as they might need skimming once stripped. Old paper can hide terrible plaster.

Ensuite door/kitchen cupboard/wardrobes- a joiner.

New carpet- carpet shops provide a fitting service.

Stud wall- a joiner might be able to do this too. Again it would need skimming afterwards so another job for your plasterer.

Cat flaps- depends on what you’re fitting them in- upvc door? Wooden door? Wall? Window?

£850 per day is a lot for a handyman up north unless you’re in a really posh area.

Thank you so much @Cottipus that's great advice! Sounds like finding a good joiner will go a long way.