Just introducing myself. Hope to pick up killer tips like:

- Hire a Project Manager or not? (if so, on what terms)

- What can be legitimately manipulated to claim back VAT (bit like what you describe your profession as on car insurance!)

- Pros and cons of having one contractor or separate demolition gang and build gang

 

Good to be on here.

Welcome! There are a few of us here who demolished and re-built. Tons of advise in relevant sections of the Forum on all your key query points.

 

Personally:

- hire a PM if you don't have time to manage the project or visit the site daily. But find someone who you can trust absolutely and watch them like a hawk. Still visit the site daily.

- what problems do you envisage with VAT claim back? For a knock-down and rebuild it's pretty straightforward as long as you keep all your receipts and invoices.

- can't really comment as we had one contractor for demolition and early re-build stages.

 

 

I did, I had a single builder/contractor with his own project manager but he was not needed as I did it but have been a builder before and designed it myself so understood what was required. I also did all the woodwork, plumbing, tiling etc, builder just did the structure, plastering (wet trades). Claiming VAT is fairly easy but because I am crap at paperwork I paid a VAT specialist to claim mine fir me and he got back much more than his fee, even finding stuff I forgot!!!. I can PM you his details and others here have used him.

Welcome @Daviefish.  I'm in the process of buying a plot in west northants (used to be in south northants but apparently the new council has moved it ?).

 

I'll have a stone built garage to demolish - would have like to keep it but it blocks the visibility splays.  I'll reuse the stone on a new boundary wall.