It can be very difficult to focus on what exactly is needed to be done to a house once it’s past its very best.  Perhaps you have inherited a place outside a major home county – you really won’t have any idea how much it will cost to upgrade and refurbish it to even a middling standard.  Unless you have a private bank beside you, it’s going to take a concentrated effort to fund work to be done a job at a time.  As I watch a home purchase and refub programme fairly regularly it’s it seems  the most cost effective way to renovate a property is to use one firm who can look at the project as a whole, advice on the jobs that can be done in one fell swoop so as to keep the hire of personnel under control.  Any expert trades can work on the place at the same time to limit the project engineering time on site. Good communication and trust in the team leader is necessary.