First Time Rehab - Need Advice

[Mark Aiken]

I'm preparing for my first full rehab on my rental property.  I've been looking for a General Contractor and all are booked at least 8 weeks out.  I don't want my property to sit vacant longer than it has to.  To avoid delays, I thought about attempting to be the GC until one becomes available and sub out as much work as possible. 

I'm curious what order I should schedule the work to be completed (e.g. painting, drywall, flooring, cabinets, lighting, mechanicals, plumbing, etc.)?  Some work I wanted to complete until the tenants move out in May, such as exterior painting, concrete repair, fencing and landscaping.  However, the inside is more complicated because I don't want new flooring or paint to get ruined during other stages of the rehab.  Also, the tenant was a smoker for 15 years so I want to focus on removing the smell before brining new items into the house (any tips on this is appreciated).

Maybe I'm biting off more than I can chew, but I would like to accomplish as much as possible on my own in the first 8 weeks.

Thank you in advance for any feedback.