Be Your Own General Contactor

   Many people looking to build a home consider acting as their own general contractor. The general feeling is that it’s not all that difficult and you can save some money on the project, perhaps 10% to 20%. Building your own home does in fact present the opportunity to save some cash as long as you either know what you’re doing or have some guidance.

   What does that  general contractor do anyway? The false impression that some people hold is the general contractor simply shows up on a job site, looks around for an hour and leaves to collect all the cash. The other guys do all the work! What is not often understood is the hours spent scheduling, the understanding of the structural and acetic needs of ahome, knowledge of which subcontractors to use for which jobs (and which to avoid), the permitting and inspection process, ensuring that all insurance and licensing  is in place for all suppliers and subcontractors (an uninsured worker being injured on a job can be financially devastating to the home owner) and so on. The process of home building can seem pretty easy at times however those that underestimate the time commitment and necessary knowledge do so at their peril.  

   As a land owner you have the right to build your own home (act as the general contractor)  in most areas. If this is something you’re interested in check with your local town or county government to get the local rules and regs. 

 Possible Pros and Cons of building your own home…

   PROS: If done correctly you can save money on the home building process as well as undergo an amazing learning process. 

   CONS: Possible issues of liability and warranty. May be larger undertaking than anticipated. Any mistakes, fines, miss-orders, supplier disputes or delays are direct cost to home owner.  If this would be your first time you face having to “learn on the job” when it comes to your home. 

   Building your own home can be a very rewarding experience (I still get a kick out of finishing  home after 40 years!). Just be sure to fully understand everything that is involved before going down this road. If you do begin a project and then either get in over your head, or simply don’t have the time to finish it on schedule, you may have a very difficult time finding a builder to finish it for you. There are potential  liability and warranty issues for a licensed builder when completing another’s project that many steer away from. Good luck!