Guys, I fixing to build a new home and was looking for some advice. I'm trying to decide if I should sub it our just get a builder to do the whole thing. Any other advice woulb be appreciated. Thanks.
Guys, I fixing to build a new home and was looking for some advice. I'm trying to decide if I should sub it our just get a builder to do the whole thing. Any other advice woulb be appreciated. Thanks.
Do you have the knowledge and the time to sub it out your self? Will you be able to leave work at the drop of a dime several times a week to take care of any problems that you may encounter? Are you aware of current prices so you don't accept a bid thats too high (lowest is not always the best)? The biggest part is scedualing all the trades!!! Concrete, framers, roofers, plumbers, electrical, insulation, drywall, painters, tile, carpet, multipal inspections ext. ext.....Or do you pay a GC to take care of it then you only have one guy to yell at
06 PT190TX
06 Modified 90 Opti
80LB Terrova/I-Pilot
6" CMC Jackplate
23P Trophy plus
Lowrance HDS8
12' Talon
Get a reputable contractor to do it. It's too overwhelming for the homeowner in most cases to try and sub it out themselves. I have a plumbing and electrical business and alot of my work is new construction. I would say that most of the jobs I have done where the homeowner acted as the contractor, the total cost for the home went way over budget.
You will get a better end product using one contractor. I've seen alot of subs with the "Let the next guy worry about it" attitude.
I built the very first house I lived in (other than my parents house) in 07'. I was the general contractor and handled everything. BUT I am very familiar with the industry and worked at a building supply and was around it everyday and all day. If I needed to I could run to the house and check on it or handle any problems. I knew who to use for all the trades.
It is not as easy as everyone thinks it is. It takes a TON of time and planning. Feel free to IM me if you want to talk. Good luck with whatever you do.
One last note. If you do decide to use a GC don't befraid to haggle them with their price. The new construction market has crashed and they are hungry.
Guess I am a cheap bastard. I couldnt see paying some jack leg 10% per step to make sure it gets built. Not 10% of the total build cost, 10% for every thing he gets done. I done all the electrical, plumbing, floors, HVAC, painting, trim and all other sorts of odds and ends. I am locale to where I built and had help from several different friends. I save around 40k. Its really hard to get a concrete number. But I saved at lest 40k. At the very lest I would sub it out myself. It wasnt that hard to find people to do what I couldnt. There are to many construction workers out there hungry for work to not get some great deals. I also bought all kinds of supplies and stuff off of Craigslist. All my appliances, Travertine flooring, toilets, sinks. Lots of good buys of materials there. Good luck.
If you already have prints, check pricing both ways. Never go with the lowest price, there is a reason its the lowest. Never pay in advance, pay upon completion of project or % of work completed. Warranties mean nothing if the company is out of business. If you get a GC to build it, they will just sub most of it anyway then add their % to the bill.
Always have a 10% retainage for a length of time after the project has been completed and inspected. If you are in construction and deal with architects,,, it will be 90 to 120 days to receive a check after invoicing and 10% is always withheld and we might get the retainage hopefully in one year.
Be sure to have a contract, and that the contractor will have all needed items included in his bid to complete the project. IM me with any questions, be happy to answer.
Modified by brushnjigs at 10:20 AM 4/14/2011
I am a general contractor and have been for 35yrs. I have seen a great no. of people try this and 90% run over budget or can't get the trades to come back as you are a 1 time shot. problems always arise on the project and if you don't have a good repor with the trades or have a good working knowledge of construction , as hard as you try you will get into trouble. My contracts require payment after the work is done in each catagory. you don'tt want to give a contractor a percentage as you will mostly be on the short side. If i can help you , let me know or im me.
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