£29K Quote , was expecting less,should I manage this myself?

Hello,
We are looking to undertake and extension/garage conversion on our detached bungalow.
We've got the drawing got consent from planning and even had the drawings passed by Building regs, however...
We've only got one quote for all the work so far and it is about 10k more than we were expecting.
It is a small bungalow, (1 bed) but we are doing quite a lot, converting the garage, removing external skins of walls to give more space, creating a new room, knocking down walls, you get the idea.
I am not an idiot an I work from home so I feel I would be up to the task of project managing it all, as I am under the impression that I should be able to save a whole heap of money.
The trouble is I know very little about the building trade and building works in general.
I don't even know how many different type of tradespeople I would need to employ!
What I need if I'm to have any chance of pulling this off is a starting point.
Some kind of structure and checklist to work to, a dummies guide to managing building work if you like.
It is not as if I am building a new house, we are simply knocking through one wall in the front room into a new side extension/garage conversion, and another in the kitchen to make that room bigger. Then moving the kitchen to the new extension.
I should add that the £29k I've been quoted doesn't include the kitchen at all and that is going to be another £5k!
I know I'll need a Groundwork done first then the garage roof dismantled, and a bricklayer to do the new walls, from there on I am lost.

Any advice appreciated. I dont have the desire to do much DIY on this myself, but at todays prices I might just have to.

Trying not to be rude but ......

How do you arrive at your estimated figure?

How can you expect to manage the project when you don't know the sequence of trades or even which trades you need?

Are you ready to deal with building control and answering all of those questions that arise during the course of a build - most trades don't react well to a project manager who can't answer the question when asked.

Good project managers aren't cheap - but they are worth it and save you money over the life of the project.

For the planned works you don't really need a project manager - you need a good general builder who has accss to all the necessary trades as and when required.

I suspect that you'd be better off getting at least two more quotes and then selecting the one that you are satisfied with.

Try personal recommendations as a start point

Would you fix your car if you didn't know what you were doing? Or rewire your house? If you haven't a clue - then just get a couple more quotes as in the long run you'll end up with a disaster on your hands. £29k isn't that high.

Hi and thanks,

How can you expect to manage the project when you don't know the sequence of trades or even which trades you need? - This was my exact point, I cant- I have to learn or cant do this.

How do you arrive at your estimated figure? My freind is a plumber who works has been involved in building projects in the past, he advised us on cost, also the architect (Who also did building work until recently) gave us a ballpark figure of £17k, I appreciate that these figures mean nothing as they are not quotes but the material cost cannot be that high and £30k for 8 weeks work at most is a lot.


We have tried personal recommendations, the trouble is we have literally been trying for 6 months now and as yet we only have 1 quote, Builders just seem not interested or just lie and never come back to us. All the good builders near me seem "made men" with huge houses who aren't really interested unless you are talking about new houses.

I have a plumber lined up and also an electrician, I have not even asked for price with these trades included, so £29k is without a kitchen or plumbing or electrics. I would not try and fix a major problem on my car no, but would I fit new parts like wipers, wheels or filters? or course. But I'm not talking about taking on any physical labour myself.
You have to see it to appreciate that it really isn't that big a job. I mean you are talking a garage and a half of new living space with a roof on.

If I could actually get a couple more quotes from builders that I new I could trust then I would accept the prices, I cant seem to get them though!

What is the square meterage of your extension?
What does £29k get you?
I take it the builder gave you a detailed comprehensive quote showing where the money was being spent.
If not make sure you have one before you start.
Pete

It is about 23m squared.
It is well under the 70m cubed for planning.

His quote details what the work is that will be undertaken and the spec etc, but it doesn't include a breakdown telling me how much the groundwork, brickwork, or even materials and labour are etc.
Should I expect a quote that breaks down everything into sections?
I really want to know how you get to such a figure, that way I might be able to understand it.
Anyhow, chasing up anther builder today, see how I go.

A rough guide to building costs is approx £1500 per square meter to a basic level finish.
Yes you should receive a detailed quote.
I am a plumber and when I quote for say a bathroom I detail a price for each appliance installed along with a price for removing the existing suite and disposing of.
I would not get much work just giving a price full stop.
It works both ways the customer knows what is included in the price and likewise if they vary or change the spec the quote also changes to cover.
Pete

Project Management is a specialist job. it requires skill, experience, wide knowledge, hard work, and a natural aptitude.

The pay is good, but a good PM is well worth it. Some are better than others. When you've seen a few overrun on time and cost, with poor quality, nothing usable and no end in sight, you'll understand why.

If you were up to doing the job yourself, you would be out there earning pots of money already. there are a lot of vacancies round Stratford at the moment...

Mate don't be silly.
I'm a professional gambler, I prefer sitting indoors doing a few hours "work" than going out all day sitting in traffic. I make £40k plus PA.
Just because I know F all about building doesn't mean that I cannot learn or that I do not have the aptitude.
I don't expect to be able to do as good a job as someone with experience, I'm just trying to gauge whats involved. I've found a much more helpful resource at the National Self Build and renovation centre, where they teach you how to DIY not just say "oh well you cant do it because you don't understand building".

Blimey I couldn't build computers until I took one apart.
Jeees.

You sound like a professional idiot to me. You go for it mate.

NIKOBELIC said:

Blimey I couldn't build computers until I took one apart.
Jeees.

Click to expand...

That's true. But I doubt you had to live in your computer whilst you put it back together.

Say it as it is, Joe, don't mince your words, or owt .

i think you are forgetting one important thing, building work is hard work.

get used to it - fast.

NIKOBELIC said:

Mate don't be silly.
I'm a professional gambler ....

Click to expand...

..... so what are the odds of you managing this and completing it to budget?