Hi everyone! We’ve just bought a bungalow that needs a lot of updating/converting and are really excited to get started in doing things ourselves and organising trades etc. 

 

Our practical skills are based on watching a lot of YouTube videos, I’m in the industry but more of a designer. Hoping to share the experience with you guys and hope you don’t mind sharing wisdom on occasion!

I’ve spoken to one builder so far on taking out a breeze block wall, it’s not loadbearing. Typical ‘take out the kitchen wall and make it open plan’ stuff.

We also are going to convert the garage and our total budget is about 40k. Great to join your forum Ty.

Edited March 1, 20251 yr by LDNRennovation

Welcome.

 

In ‘91 we bought a plot, got full PP, and I promptly got quotes from several builders.  
 

The most highly recommended of which called me a moron.  He had asked me why we didn’t build it ourselves, getting in trades as needed.  I answered “well I’m not in the trade”.   That’s when he called me a moron, but he was smiling.  He said “if you’re in the trade you know one trade, so you have to learn the other ten.   You have to learn an extra one - so what? “
 

Sage words it turns out, and that was before YouTube.  Get in there.  

Haha excellent thanks! With materials and advice around it seems like it’s possible to have a go yourself so much easier these days. We picked one that was well built and easy to fix to start with so there should be no nasty surprises but you never know how hard it will be. Partner doesn’t like mess so that might be a stress more than the work!