We did something similar so it is very doable. We just had to take the permit out as owner. I can't give you costs since that is very area specific. I would also do the demolition myself. It is very easy work. The inspectors actually worked better with us than the contractors so that wasn't an issue. Don't forget construction insurance, job site security, porta potty, temporary electrical, etc.

I did not know about construction insurance? What does that cover? I guess the subcontractors will have their insurances, licenses etc.

You need to talk to your insurance agent. Our home insurance wouldn't cover us during construction. Contractors are not going to cover your property for liability. If you are supplying your own building materials, then what happens if they are stolen? There are many instances that your insurance agent can discussed. We also found that we had to get things like osha permits and things you would never think of.

Thank you, is there a place on the web where I can see the list of things to be done prior we break ground? Something like "oqner builder construction for dummies"? We still have plenty of time, just started looking into it. We want to see what we need to do, how doable it is and what we need to have for budgets.

Wouldn't it be better to get this type of information; particularly on a local level, from the builder you work for? Or am I missing something? I mean; your employer would know a heck of a lot more about local permit costs than we would, for instance.

I do not ask about the specific costs, I just need a list of all items I need to consider before the actual construction starts. We as a large builder have different set up in the field, rules and regulations than a owner builder would have. We buy large lots and divide them into small lots, then sell, etc, we would have different processes set up than an individual owner builder.
Also costs form an architect... we as a large builder pay hundreds thousands of dollars to the architects and have own ones on site, I do nto think it would be the same for the owner builder.

A lot of these costs will vary based on the area...I am doing a teardown and rebuild in Naperville, IL.

http://1126webster.blogspot.com/

1 - About $5k to demo a 1,000 sq ft home on a slab and haul it all away.

2 - Loosely $5k

3 - About $6k

4 - how is this diff from Q2?

5 - I dont see why it would cause probs as long as you follow code rules

6 - There are so many little expenses you do not see...for a teardown in Naperville, we have to have fence around property, $1k, a silt fence, $500, a portapotty, $80 per month, engineering of land, $3k, builders risk insurance, $100 month, all the utility hookups, $4k...and I am sure I am missing some.

You actually did specifically ask for specific amounts in your original posting..."I am interested in your opinion on the endevour. Also I would be interested to know how much I should expect to spend on"
sounds like you wanted to know a dollar figure to me...

But even knowing OP is in Virginia, a dollar figure can't be estimated. Although I've been involved in building in 4 counties in VA, sometimes I wondered if I were really in the same state... the cost of fees, permits, labor and even haulage varied by as much as 200% difference from one county to the next.

Architects, designers, engineers also vary considerably; depending on who you chose and what you want to have done, the charge can run from a few hundred dollars to several thousand and on upward to a percentage of the expected cost of the finished project. There is no question but that if you walk into the appointment with clear drawings and written expectations, the firm will be able to help you quickly (which usually means less expense) -- the more they have to guess what you want, the more it's going to cost you.

Cost of the various permits can be obtained at your local government office. Again, there is a lot of variation depending on where you are building! But you really should get acquainted with them... if nothing else, to find out exactly which permits, etc are required. And don't forget that there will likely be permits involved for the tear-down and removal of those materials.

Definitely get insurance. Even if you gulp at spending several hundred dollars, it will be worth every penny in the event of an accident, theft, weather-related damage and/or a trespasser suing you when he falls and breaks a leg.

DIY-OBs are not unusal, especially when it comes to drywall installation, painting, and trim. Just find out what your local code is, at what stage/s the inspection/s must be done and be prepared. BTW, I suggest lots of photos as the work progresses. During construction or in the future, it's very handy to know where lines are run (both electrical and water/sewer); and sometimes they can even satify inspectors regarding spacing and installation of the studwork, etc.

If you need a well drilled or septic tank, you'll need those permits as well. And you'll need to have the septic permit and plan in advance of drilling the well and laying out the house.

You'll need surveys.

Porta potty and dumpster service.

We decided to rent a 40 ft storage container (not PODS, a real container) to keep finish material and tools on site for work we did.

Our insurance was a rider on our homeowners. We chose a large liability coverage on it.

We are building in Va as well and considered a similar owner/builder setup as DH is carpenter for homebuilder and we have access to all subs, etc. We were told by several bankers that without a contractors license, builders insurance and references we would have great difficulty getting a loan. Perhaps things are starting to loosen up, but it's worth considering.
We finally decided to have DHs company build the home - he gets paid to work on our house and we don't have the responsibility. When we considered what we would need to pay ourselves if we acted as GC it equaled what we ended up paying our GC in profit/overhead .
The initial costs added up quickly and many were specific to the property. For example, our county designates areas "Shrink/swell soil" and if you want to build with in 500ft, you have to hire a soil scientist, soil test and foundation approved by engineer. This was not that costly as we performed tests months in advance of build and worked w/Superior walls who's in house engineer approved basement system. Digging our septic test pits also let us know that our house was going to be situated over a very dense shale and so when our excavator came out, he included a rock hammer in our estimate - at an additional $2500-$3500 that would have come at quite a surprise in the first week of the build.
My advice would be to speak in great length with the county officials who will be providing your permits and your excavator. These two resources were incredibly helpful in anticipating the costs with site work. So in my opinion, the more homework you can do regarding the costs to build on that particular lot, the more prepared you will be.
Other costs were temporary electrical service, surveys, gravel gravel and more gravel, storage, eating out as we travel to and fro! and our own homeowner's policy for the property in addition to the builders insurance. Best of luck!