An opportunity - or a financial disaster waiting to happen?

[Craig]

Worth remebering that an architect and a QS are very different creatures.

Architects can be a great help but generally know little about how much stuff costs to do. Its an oddity of the way our surveying industry works.

I agree that a QS can be a good thing - especially as they will know local contractors.

 

[skier-hughes]

the roof

Speaking as one retired gentleman to another, I agree that roofing work is for younger chaps!

And for those of us who can only make it half way up a ladder, it's best left to the wife

 

[middi]

The sure way to save money is to determine what has to be done, the easy way to arrive at this point is for you to draw on your own knowledge with the assistance of a conservation archirect for initial guidance.

Once you have determined the shedule of works, you have to prepare the ground for the tradesman to come in and utelise their skill only where you cannot cope.

Admittedly you have to manage the project yourself, find your own tradesman and make them understand you will do as much as possible to save yourself money. Also the job will take longer and your other half will be forever reminding you that the place is in a mess and is taking too long.

You will learn as you go along, as long as you are willing to seek advise ( as you are doing).

At each stage of the work shedule have a clear idea as to what you want to achieve and roll up you sleeves.

As to the roof, it is up to you if you want to assist in any way at all, if some scaffolding has to go up, (you can organise this yourself) so that roofers, plasterers, windows etc.. can be done by tradesman whilst you can prepare the ground for them.

In other words, if you have 100 grand, that has to be enough for what you want to achieve and it is only you that can make that happen.

If you go to the costa of something or other and leave architects and tradesman to get on with it , it will costa a lot.

 

[Flyfisher]

I'm beginning to realise that the estimates so far are wide-ranging because I don't have a detailed schedule of works. I guess it's one thing to say 'the roof needs doing' but I appreciate that can mean all sorts of things, which naturally makes it hard to estimate the cost. I'm working on a more detailed plan of action.

I like the idea of fixing a budget figure and working within that, although it obviously has to be a realistic figure in the first place.

the job will take longer and your other half will be forever reminding you that the place is in a mess and is taking too long.

The one big asset on my side is that my darling wife is more messy than me and quite tolerant when it comes to living in chaos, so that's one problem I'm not worrying about too much :wink:

 

[middi]

Well, that's all sorted out then.

If it is not going to break your marriage, there is nothing to loose.

Go for it. There is nothing more satisfying in keeping busy than building or restoring your own home, after all you must have reasons for not buying something ready to occupy and just put the telly on.

 

[Nigel]

Flyfisher

Tolerant wife is a good thing. We lived without a kitchen for 9 months, eating nothing but microave meals. My tip for keeping the peace is hot water at all times. My wife's tipping point came the day the plumber suggested he would isconnect the hot water. After suitable threats the plumber came up with a workaround.

We're nearly finished now (you are never finished with an old house) and it has been a fantastically satisfying experience.

Cheers

Nigel

 

[Flyfisher]

Yes, plenty of hot water and a decent shower and I think we'll be OK