Building our own house

1/9/2012 at 7:25:39 PM

Hi Nghia:

Does the saying "I can do your job, but you can't do mine" sound familiar? General contractors have the experience, know the codes, can source materials cheaper than you, know which trades to trust, know which trades price fairly, and it just goes on. We don't get paid for doing nothing. Hours of planning, consulting, pricing, scheduling, dealing with new home warranties, inspections, local building regulations, goping and getting supplies, tool rentals, dealing with problems on site, and paying attentiopn to every detail on a continual basis, is what they do. They are there to safeguard not only your dollars, but your most expensive investment and to make sure that it is done right.

A lot of cheating and sloppy workmanship can go on in the building of a house, and he is there to make sure that you are getting what you are paying for.

In addition to the above, he has the experience and foresight to recommend to you variables which are able to be changed during construction, and make sure that you are aware of additions that you might want that if left will cost you much more later on to install.

However, make sure that you get a very highly recommended contractor. There are a lot of opportunists out there and I am presently cleaning up such a mess. the customer paid $45000 for about $25000 worth of work and the workmanship was shoddy at best. However, he had years of expeience and the customer trusted that reference. It all depends on the integrity of the indivual. Pay for a good one.

Yes, a general contractor will cost you a few dollars, but believe it when I say, that they will compensate with lack of nightmares, ability, savings on materials and future lawsuits later on.

A good honest General, is the best and only person to hire. Let him handle the rest.

Chuck MacMicking