"Rick Dipper" wrote in message
...
I have gone both routes

IMHO there are three things that make / break it

1) The people
Is the guy managing the build any good ?
Do you have all the contacts to get all the trades in, without getting
cowboys or excuse merchants.

2) Speed
If you want to avaoid people sat arround wating for the previous guy who
has overeun you need to leave gaps in the schedule, which means it takes
longer. If you have
done any form or project management this is part of the skill.

3) How much you want to do
Your general guy will probabably do all the bits the other guys skip out,
so if the plaster leaves a mess on the follr someone has to clean it.
Someone has to provide
the bacon butties.

On my current project, its in a rural area, I interviewed a number of
roofers, foend one that I could work with, and then work on his
recomendations as to who he
knows does a good job of other trades. I now have two really good people I
trust (roofer, digger driver), and wish to add one more - brickie. I will
then fill in the
gaps between these three guys untill I have the building up. Most of the
interanl trades I can DIY.

Architect is still an issue, I just sacked the last guy cause I could not
work with him. You need to be able to have a good working relationship with
the acitect.

"just do X why you are here" = HUGE COST HIKE. Get quotes for the work,
and stick to it.
"just do X" works if you pay per hour, and supply materials then you are
controling the cost.

Rick


On Tue, 7 Oct 2003 09:41:05 +0100, "Dave" wrote:
We're about to get some building work done involving the usual mix of
groundwork, brickwork, roofing, windows, plastering, plumbing,
decorating
and electrics. I know that if I just get a builder to "do it" I'll be
paying
OTT for the various trades but am unsure about whether to manage it
myself
and bring in the trades as needed.
Has anyone any experience of doing this or any advice?

Dave S

Thanks Rick - and thanks also to everyone else that's replied.

Complex Project Management is what I spend some of my working days doing so
that doesn't worry me, nor do the electrics and plumbing, but I don't
working in the building industry and finding good brickies and plasterers
who will turn-up when they say they will is a bit of a concern.
I'm not sure which way to swing at the moment but once we've got Building
Regs approval I'll get some quotes and decide. If I self-manage I'll report
back.

Dave S