questions You need to ask Yourself before even considering
acting as Your own General Contractor and or becoming an
Owner/Builder.
There is a ton of information out there about how to be your own
general contractor, luring you into the idea usually with a
price attached. The $29.95 be your own General Contractor and
save thousands electronic book.
Hey, I don't blame you in the least. Contractors have overhead
and need to make a profit so they mark everything up from
between 10 and 15 percent...don't they? On a $200,000 house
that's $20,000 at least and that's nothing to sneeze at but, are
you going to actually save that? In some cases you will but just
like any other business with a world of variables, you may end
up paying more than if you'd hired a contractor to build the
house and hand you the keys. Plus contractors have learned how
to handle all the stress of getting the job done in good time
and within a set budget.
I'll close this introduction and get on with the questions by
adding that planning is everything. A good plan and good
planning can save you money. How to arrive at that point where
everything is on the table and no stone is left un-turned takes
experience and cannot be learned totally from a 30 dollar book.
Questions to ask yourself.
1. Do I have a set budget and my finances in place? Decide on a
set amount that you have to spend on your project even before
you get your plans drawn. Let your budget carry the project and
remember that 90% of the time a project ends up being
underestimated because the budget wasn't allowed to govern the
project. There is one person out there that can help you
determine whether your budget is high enough to get your project
done and can even go over your plans to make sure nothing is
left out by the architect.
2. Do I have a final plan and specifications that leave nothing
to chance? This includes a site plan spelling out where your
utilities are located, where they will enter your house and
where they will be terminated inside the house. For example do
you know exactly where you want your electrical panel located
even before you put your project out for bid? Make all your
decisions on fixtures and materials ahead of time. What you need
is a good checklist to make sure you don't forget something.
3. Do I have the time to spend over-seeing my project? Don't get
drawn into believing that running a construction project is
easy. Just making sure everything is coordinated and getting all
the subcontractors there to get the work done is a full time
job. Can you afford to take the time away from your family?
4. Am I a natural leader that knows how to get the most out of
people without rubbing them the wrong way? The best way to deal
with people is from a position of respect. Make the contractor
feel that you value his expertise and give him the
responsibility of getting the job done. For under a hundred
dollars, you can utilize the services of people that can save
you thousands.
5. Am I knowledgeable enough about building systems to be able
to make decisions when questions come up? Sub-trades always have
questions and answers are needed on the spot not a day later. A
list of the top 20 most asked questions on a building site is a
must have.
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© 2007 Kitchen Pro Cabinetry, Inc., Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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