1 bed refurb - too expensive ?

[terrapotter]

I am looking to completely refurb a 1 bed flat:

new electrics and led lighting throughout
new combi boiler,plumbing and radiators
replaster/paint all walls/ceilings
minor repairs to windows
wooden floors in main living areas
new bathroom and tiles
new kitchen and tiles
built in wardrobes in bedroom
take down a small partition and some other misc stuff.

the quotes i have had so far from 4 diff contractors come in
at the 48-55k range all in !

a couple of mates(in related trades) reckon i should be able
to do a decent job all in for about 30k and if i upped the spec
maybe 40k.

now the flat is in a posh part of central london so are
these builders all taking the mick and applying a rich person's
(i am not btw) premium ?

Any suggestions?

[terrapotter]

thanks for the replies.

unfortunately i can't do the work myself because i am incompetent
and semi-disabled.the friends i could have roped in have either moved way out
or are too moany to ask favours from.


i am outside the congestion zone,
parking in my road is about £3ph = £24 a day
so 40 days work rounded up is about 1k
this doesn't explain the 10k+ London "weighting"