Home extensions

[ZARDOZ]

Would you really want a builder who isn't good enough to get work locally?

Many IT contractors work away from home.
Would you really want a contractor who isn't good enough to get work locally?

[Halo Jones]

Do you know any firm who could project manage extensive renovations with a turn-key solution (e.g. demolishing supporting walls, complete gutting and renovation of kitchen and dining space, brand new windows, garden landscaping etc) ? In the Surrey area?

Sorry,

I don’t deal with small builders – on the commercial projects I do it will be split into separate trades (ground/walls/roof/fit out/finishes) & then I appoint the trades individually & those packages tend to be £50k for the smallest one.

A suggestion would be to look at houses in your area and see who has had an extension & ask the residents who they used & would they give them a reference?

[eek]

Many IT contractors work away from home.
Would you really want a contractor who isn't good enough to get work locally?

Yep because I'm a specialist with specialist skills. Your typical builder is a replaceable commodity, a good contractor has a knowledge set that you can't get on the general labour market.

[sasguru]

I wouldn't mind a Northern contractor but how would I know they are any good.?
The ones I contacted had done stuff locally that looked v. good.

Anyway it's a real headache - I was going to try to do this piece-meal but its too stressful. I want someone to take over and do things according to an agreed design, we move out and move back when its all done.

[ZARDOZ]

Yep because I'm a specialist with specialist skills. Your typical builder is a replaceable commodity, a good contractor has a knowledge set that you can't get on the general labour market.

Sounds like you are confusing Builder with Labourer. Without getting into the usual autistic semantics discussion, there are plenty of good builders north of Watford who are prepared to get "on their bike" for work. The building trade is prety nomadic anyway. You can get a good job at probably 60% of the cost of SE builder. It doesn't mean thet are crap.
If you don't believe it, that's fine by me. Was just a tip for the OP.

[sasguru]

Sounds like you are confusing Builder with Labourer. Without getting into the usual autistic semantics discussion, there are plenty of good builders north of Watford who are prepared to get "on their bike" for work. The building trade is prety nomadic anyway. You can get a good job at probably 60% of the cost of SE builder. It doesn't mean thet are crap.
If you don't believe it, that's find by me. Was just a tip for the OP.

Where are you based and any specific recommendations?

[Antman]

Anyway it's a real headache - I was going to try to do this piece-meal but its too stressful. I want someone to take over and do things according to an agreed design, we move out and move back when its all done.

Get a PM in who does this for a living. I paid an interior designer to do my flat in Madrid when I lived there and they charged 10% of the build and it was well worth it.

[sasguru]

Get a PM in who does this for a living. I paid an interior designer to do my flat in Madrid when I lived there and they charged 10% of the build and it was well worth it.

Would love to - where to find a good one?

[Bunk]

Brickies Earning £100k As 'Brawn Drain' Hits | Orange UK

[eek]

Sounds like you are confusing Builder with Labourer. Without getting into the usual autistic semantics discussion, there are plenty of good builders north of Watford who are prepared to get "on their bike" for work. The building trade is prety nomadic anyway. You can get a good job at probably 60% of the cost of SE builder. It doesn't mean thet are crap.
If you don't believe it, that's fine by me. Was just a tip for the OP.

I live up north. The good builders around me have massive waiting lists and are very picky about the customers they take on. The ones who have to work away are not people I would use.

As you say people have different experiences.....