Acting as your own general contractor
strictlybettyboop
12 years ago
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felixnot
12 years agoabundantblessings
12 years agoRelated Discussions
Buying own materials for GC to use?
Comments (26)We were our own contractor with our house this time around, but we did hire a builder for our last home. Whether someone hires a builder or not, it is very wise to acquaint yourself with each and every aspect of the process, and to stay heavily involved. We had retained the right to purchase our own materials/fixtures if we wanted. The builder wasn't thrilled, but we would not have signed on with him otherwise. We always asked first what the builder pricing was for a particular item. For example, a specific light, toilet, etc. At all times we were able to go out and buy the exact same item ourselves for a lot less. If you have concerns about an item, for example whether a faucet has brass interiors, the manufacturer will provide you with that information. I'm not sure why some people think a homeowner is so stupid they can't find good products on their own. We buy things for our home all the time both online and in person at a store. We have never had missing parts. If by chance a part is missing or broken the manufacturer or business it is purchased from will take care of that quickly. Do some people honestly believe a builder or plumber doesn't sometimes get something broken or without a missing part?! We've bought Kohler, Moen, Italian design faucets, American Standard, Porcher, Hunter......never had a problem with parts. They arrive in the manufacturer's sealed box. I'm not getting where your GC is telling you horror stories about missing parts for so many things, because it just isn't so. We found our builder either marked things up quite a bit or got kickbacks. We've built 4 different homes over the years. We built three of them ourselves, much of the work done by us, including this last one. Tried a builder for one. We now hire a very hardworking and reputable local contractor for heavier jobs we are no longer able to handle ourselves. He likes when we buy the materials, and he provides the labor. He has a great attitude and work ethic. He's honest, gets the job done without running off to others, and stands behind his work. If your GC is telling you about delays and it costing you more money, recouping costs, "extra risks", you need to have a long talk with him. Now. Since you obviously can read and write, you are able to buy good faucets on your own. We actually had to re-do some shower plumbing a plumber had done incorrectly in our last house. We found there are a lot of people who claim they take responsibility but are nowhere to be found once paid in full....See MoreHomeowner acting as our own General Contractor for a 750sf add?
Comments (10)I am not in the building trades, I am organized and detail oriented by nature and I am not afraid to ask questions. I consider myself to be pretty intelligent, too. I GC'd a project which involved completely reconfiguring 1/2 of the main floor of our home. We moved our kitchen to another spot in our house which involved knocking out an original exterior brick wall, changing headers, plumbing, electric, adding/changing windows etc etc. I did this while working a full-time job outside of the home, but it's a job that offerred me the flexibility to be at home as needed. In our planning for this project, we interviewed at least 5 GCs or subs for each part of the job. Each gave me different tips of things to look out for/plan for. I asked questions about how their piece would fit into the overall project. Once we decided that I would GC, and the project got underway, I pretty much knew what would come next and planned for it. As it turned out, during the 3 month project, we had only 1 week of downtime because the brick wall removal and header concerns involved an unexpected visit from a structural engineer which we didn't expect. I figure we saved 35-40% on our project. To us, that is very significant. Your comments are confusing. One minute you say you have great licensed subs and the next you say you don't trust them. Which is it? You also sound like you don't have faith in your own abilities. If you do your homework, you can also work with your local building department and inspectors to get what they can offer. If you've been involved in your last projects, give yourself more credit than you appear to be doing. GC'ing is very detail oriented but homeowner's can do it....See MoreRemodeling nightmare with a contractor from HELL
Comments (41)Here is what I obtained from our village website. They only provided "tips". I have included my comments to some items. More detail would have been helpful: Tips on Home Remodeling Getting Started The Village of xxxx allows homeowners to act as contractor for their own home remodeling projects. It must be noted, however, that a permit is required for all projects in which an addition or alteration will be done at the property. (comments: I can understand additions, difficult to define "alteration" e.g. cabinets replacement, carpet replacement with hardwood flooring, or replacing existing vanity and tub, or replacing existing fluorescent light with regular light.. etcare these "alteration"? or alteration of the structure of the home?.. this is a grey area dont understand this.. this can be interpreted different ways unless there is a definite definition for this) Additionally, projects that require the alteration of the roofline of the existing structure must have drawings sealed by a (STATE) licensed architect or structural engineer. Lastly, check the covenants for your subdivision before proceeding with any work; individual subdivision covenants may have special requirements and restrictions. Obtaining a Permit Although many people consider obtaining a permit to be a burden, it does have a critical role in any construction project. Having a permit entitles each homeowner: · Provides inspectors to answer questions. · Offers some security from contractor fraud. (some security? What does this mean? With permit contractor fraud did happen. With "zero" security from the village) · Allows inspectors an opportunity to verify that the contractor is working in a professional manner.(does this mean that the inspectors verify the quality of work and also the behavior of the contractors? Define what does it mean by "verify that the contractor is working in a professional manner" again.. this can be interpreted differently by inspectors according to their likeness unless there is a definite definition) Tips on Hiring a Contractor · Insist on a written contract. Obtain a written contract and make sure you understand the terms. Include a time frame for the completion of the project, but do not rush. Include terms of a payment plan and agree as to who will handle additional unforeseen expenses. · Make secure payments. It is not unusual for a contractor to require some money up front before construction starts. Make certain, however, that payments do not get ahead of work that has been completed. Never pay the full cost of the job up front. If a contractor insists on full payment up front, look for a different person. · Conduct interviews with potential contractors. Remember the contractor is working for you. Be certain that you are comfortable working with this person. Additionally, talk with friends and neighbors: people who have had experiences with contractors (good or bad) are always willing to share their knowledge. · Check with the Better Business Bureau. Checking with the Better Business Bureau will give you an opportunity to assess a potential contractors work history. · Verify the handling of inspections. Come to an agreement as to who will handle the permit and inspection process. If the contractor is scheduling the inspections, ask for copies of the results and keep them with the permit. · Make sure the contractor has insurance. Without insurance you may be liable if a worker is hurt in your home. The Village of XX does have an ordinance requiring all contractors working within the village to be licensed and bonded. · Ask for at least 3 references. Make sure that the sources had work done that was similar to your proposed project. · Get at least 3 bids. Check material pricing with that of your local building supply store to see if the price quoted is fair. · Establish a reasonable timeframe. If the contractor states the project will take 8 weeks, do not insist on 6 weeks; doing so might affect the quality of work. Revised...See MoreToo late to say no pictures of my design?!
Comments (37)I have seen photos of full rooms and even houses from specific trades. It never occurred to me that they were trying to convince me they were 100% responsible for the entire project. I assumed they were trying to show the kinds of projects they've been a part of. I wouldn't expect a painter to show me a photo of a wall. I wouldn't want a plumber to show me a photo of a toilet. But if the painter shows me a photo of a room, I assume he painted the walls. I don't assume he built the cabinets. Close up photos of tile is important. A photo with 4 tiles, showing how well the corners are lines up, is a good detail to see. But the entire room is important, too. A photo of 4 tiles doesn't tell me if this guy was able to maintain that quality over a large space. Was it just a shower in a rental unit? Or was this an entire huge, luxurious ensuite with a 6'x6' shower with perfectly aligned tiles and numerous other high end finishes indicating a client with good taste and exacting demands? But assuming you put it in writing, no photos. Then how do you police that? If they happen to snap one when you're not looking, and put it on the website, you A) have to discover it, and B) you ask them to take it down. So, what what exactly does a written agreement do? Isn't that what people here have done without having an agreement in place? I would just say, "for privacy reasons, please do not include photos of my house in your advertising without my approval." Don't accuse them of possibly, maybe, someday, passing off work that is not their own....See MoreMarc12345
12 years agoskyedog
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