just bought my 1bed flat need some work done but where do istart?

Question

ive just bought my 1 bed flat and want alot of work done on it example new doors and frames. re plastering .new kitchen/bathroom.new radiators etc.bassically a total makeover but where do i start should i phone a few builders who will do all the work or get seperate people who deal in different areas of work that needs doing any advice greatfully appreciated.cheers.

Answer 1

Remodelers usually have others that they contract for their work. The contracter will give you a bid. If you accept it, you pay him/her and then they get the different crews in to do the job and they get paid by the contracter. Get several estimates, but make sure you compare apples with apples. I think it is harder to have it done separately, and then you have to worry about each workers liability. With a contracter, one person is responsible to you for all the work.

Answer 2

Firstly my experience is rennovating says watch property ladder and do this Mrs Beany way

When you say I want this finish and tat in chrome and that in cherry oak you must realise

everything costs money time and effort that is yours!

so be project orientated about it and say yes you want a fabulours living space that is nice and neat but that you can achieve that at the most minimal budget...

There are alot of alternatives and choice and as the saying goes it is a buyers market....

So you have to think first about project and what you would need to do everything yourself even if you plan to get the builders in.

You must have a plan because builders unless they are proactive tend to sit on thier *** even though they might fall through the floor because of weak floorboards and they still expect to get paid to sit on their asss.

Draw a plan on your area and make decisions about how best to use the flat and possibilities of rennovating or restructuring to accomoodate for say a conversion... How would a new conversion go? e.g. dont put your bathroom where a new set of staird would go?

Once you have ruled out any structuring or restructuring then you can locate the type of rooms in your flat? WOuld you like a study or a dining room??

When you have decided on the rooms ? Do you want open plan deisgn?

A new kitchen and bathroom? etc or can you reuse existing furniture.

If you strip the floor boards do you have great wood to varnish and keep bare with a few rugs? or do you need carpet?

My experience tells me if you want a very good value bathroom or kitchen go to B& Q and get your own fitters. Builder can fit too.

Also learn about colour theory and interior design. This will take you five minutes and help you put all the colours together.. Get a book from the library.

Once you have decided on the work
Create a detailed plan and logically think how the work would be done by yourself and then with others.

So for the kitchen
Pull old cuboards, sink
Waste disposal
Put into seven cuboards
Put in Belfast sink
Put in fridge etc


Decide how much time and effort this is and do this for every room in the house.

This will give you a better picture and then work on the picture until your ideas come to fruition.

When you have a good idea of what work the builders need to do then get quotes. For budgeting you are better of getting a polish builder and paying him directly as they work to an impeccable standard and you must make sure he understands the work needs to be done.

Drip feed the builders with a bit of money and tell them you wll pay at the week end. If you do before they will disappear off site and return when they need to be paid to do he work.


If you are using builders tell them you are novice and need help and they need to spell out prior to working and give you a weeks notice of what materials you need and make sure you have materials on site as you dont want builders assing around to find spare parts when you are pauying them to complete a job.

Answer 3

Look for a general contractor.. they will hire the people that will do the work and you will have one person to work with instead of a dozen. Probably get the door, frames and plastering done first.. once all that dusty work is done you can start putting in the appliances, cupboards and radiator. If the contractor does well for the first part you can have him do the cupboards and radiator, the appliances you should be able to do yourself.

Answer 4

If you have the budget, hire a contractor. It will actually work out less expensive in the long run, and you will have far more control over what goes on. Instead of half dozen people to chase around, you just have one.

Get a few, at least 3 to come and look and bid on the job. Pick the one you feel most at ease with, he may not be the cheapest.

Answer 5

Don't choose an all round builder to do the lot. He will simply farm it out and put his fee on top. Ask for a quote for each job. Start with the most disruptive work. eg Central heating and general plumbing. Make a list of jobs in order and get three estimated for each job.

Answer 6

Start at the beginning, continue to the end. Best to just hire a contractor, he will get all the sub contractors. Allow me to recommend a performance bond so that the contractor actually finishes on time.

Answer 7

Ask friends for recommendations. There are many cowboy builders out there so be careful.

Answer 8

Try to get reccomendations from local people that have had work done.

Answer 9

its gonna cost you alot!! so go slowly unless u can afford it!