I'm in the process of learning about writing a blog, and converting a barn.

Results can be seen here. Don't laugh too much

http://fairleasteading.blogspot.com/

Costs so far

Plot £155,000
Plant hire £1200
Materials £1000
Legal and fees £7000

Anticipated budget's about 160,000, so I have about 150K left.

Is this up in the north east of scotland you are carrying this out?

Being a Banchory lad I ken phit the weathers like up yonder.

Saying that we have snow here in rural hertfordshire at the mo.

I'm sure it will look fantastic when its finished.

Just outside of Alford. The garage will have a scalextric loft ::)

Oh, I forgot, a bit of advice to one and all.

Don't use a mini digger to look for buried power cables. You WILL find them  :(

Add another £350 onto the bill.

Quote from: Catchpole on March 23, 2008, 11:12:06 PM
Paddy with his trusty JCB had found it ;D

This is a regular occurance on small developements where 'diversions costs' are deemed excessive.

As it will all be covered by insurance, just snag/cut cable. BT comes out and does a full diversion.

Haven't done it myself but......................

Nick, I wish you luck on the barn conversion.  In my mind I can see that it will be stunning.

Quote from: nickliv on March 23, 2008, 02:52:44 PM
Costs so far

Plot £155,000
Plant hire £1200
Materials £1000
Legal and fees £7000

Anticipated budget's about 160,000, so I have about 150K left.

Could you enlighten me here? ??? If I add up the costs so far you're about 4200 pounds over your budget, not having anything left.

Quote from: Petra on March 24, 2008, 12:26:07 AM

Quote from: nickliv on March 23, 2008, 02:52:44 PM
Costs so far

Plot £155,000
Plant hire £1200
Materials £1000
Legal and fees £7000

Anticipated budget's about 160,000, so I have about 150K left.

Could you enlighten me here? ??? If I add up the costs so far you're about 4200 pounds over your budget, not having anything left.

I could be wrong, but have seen enough of these programmes on telly... I assume the 160,000 is the development budget (excluding the actual purchase of the property £155,000).

I also suspect (with my knowledge of the tv programmes) that the actual budget will be in the region of ... slightly more.... I hope you have got your 10% continengcy in there Nickliv.   :-\

I looks like it will be a fab place when you are finished, I didnt realise the scale of the buildings until I spotted the small child in the doorway!!!

I look forward to watching progress on the blog.  Are you living on site - no sign of a mobile home in the pics!?

F

Thanks Fran, that indeed makes a lot more sense ;D

Petra - the development budget doesn't include the purchase of the site - because otherwise it'd make me cry.

Fran - 10% contingency included - to keep costs down I'm doing a lot of the work myself  - groundworks, preparation, drainage, demolition, removal of roof and timbers, replacement of roof timbers, fitting out inside etc etc etc.

Not electrics or plumbing though

Living in a cottage about 1/3 of a mile away. (It's frucking feezing here today with about a foot of snow, so I'm hiding indoors)

Quote from: nickliv on March 24, 2008, 05:24:59 PM
demolition

Ooh, can I help? Please? :D

Petra

Demolition's mostly done I'm afraid.

There will be an amish style garage raising soon though I hope.