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Home > Archive > Building and Construction > June 2006 > Being Your Own Contractor
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Being Your Own Contractor
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| My husband and I had an architect design our house. As It turns out,
the property we purchased is on a bluff and by the time we finished
with a geotech engineer and the architects engineering firm, we were
$200,000 over budget due to the additional 32 pilings they are
requesting that we install under the foundation and sonatubes to be
used under the deck so that the deck would go if, and when there is a
slide, and not the house. After thoroughly looking at this project, we
have decided, along with the builder that we can do a lot of the work
ourselves. We could do most of the inside work, but not the
foundation, pilings, windows or roof. Has anyone ever applied for a
loan where the homeowner acts as his own contractor for about half the
job, keeping the builder on contract as a supervisor? Let me know of
your experiences.
CK
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CK wrote:
> My husband and I had an architect design our house. As It turns out,
> the property we purchased is on a bluff and by the time we finished
> with a geotech engineer and the architects engineering firm, we were
> $200,000 over budget due to the additional 32 pilings they are
> requesting that we install under the foundation and sonatubes to be
> used under the deck so that the deck would go if, and when there is a
> slide, and not the house. After thoroughly looking at this project, we
> have decided, along with the builder that we can do a lot of the work
> ourselves. We could do most of the inside work, but not the
> foundation, pilings, windows or roof. Has anyone ever applied for a
> loan where the homeowner acts as his own contractor for about half the
> job, keeping the builder on contract as a supervisor? Let me know of
> your experiences.
>
> CK
Andy writes:
On my new house, I worked with the contractor on a "cost plus"
basis.
In other words, I paid the contractor all of the invoices of the subs,
plus
11% which was his fee. I could stop the work at any time just by
paying
the existing work invoices and the fee. I could sub portions of the
work
myself, or do some work myself, coordinating the work schedules with
the contractor...
Some contractors may not want to work this way. However, it
eliminates
any risk for them, and can serve to their advantage. If they work for
a "firm, fixed price" and the owner decides to change the light
fixtures,
doesn't like the color of the paint, decides on different landscaping,
the contractor would have to ask for more money (they never ask for
less).
My contractor didn't care if I changed the color every day, or wanted
the entire house moved over 6 inches ----- he would just schedule the
subs and collect his commission.....
Doing it this way means that the owner stays involved withthe
process,
and is aware of ALL of the factors that go into what would otherwise
be thought of as a small change --- CHANGES COST MONEY.......
On the other hand, except for some possible "under the table"dealings
between the contractor and the subs, you get exactly what you pay for.
A reputable contractor won't jerk you around with the costs, and if you
spot an "anomaly" you can give him his walking papers without any
penalty......
The owner, and ESPECIALLY the owner's wife, has to get it thru
their heads that NOTHING is free..... Going from glass doorknobs to
brass doorknobs will change the price. On the other hand, if the owner
buys the fixtures and appliances him/her self, they pay no markup to
the contractor ---- onlyif the contractor provides an invoice......
Worked out great for me....... Maybe it's what you are looking
for...
Andy in Eureka, Texas
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| CK, go to this web site may have the info you
want....http://ownerbuilderbook.com/
Hope this helps
Muff
"CK" <casacamano@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1151157992.857631.116580@c74g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...
> My husband and I had an architect design our house. As It turns out,
> the property we purchased is on a bluff and by the time we finished
> with a geotech engineer and the architects engineering firm, we were
> $200,000 over budget due to the additional 32 pilings they are
> requesting that we install under the foundation and sonatubes to be
> used under the deck so that the deck would go if, and when there is a
> slide, and not the house. After thoroughly looking at this project, we
> have decided, along with the builder that we can do a lot of the work
> ourselves. We could do most of the inside work, but not the
> foundation, pilings, windows or roof. Has anyone ever applied for a
> loan where the homeowner acts as his own contractor for about half the
> job, keeping the builder on contract as a supervisor? Let me know of
> your experiences.
>
> CK
>
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| abshomes 2006-06-25, 1:25 pm |
| Hi C.K.,
There are lenders out there and Owner/Builder lenders that specialize
in assisiting you in coordinating your own new home project. I
recommend www.buildmax.net
Regards,
Larry J Clark President Allpro Building Systems www.abshomes.com
CK wrote:
> My husband and I had an architect design our house. As It turns out,
> the property we purchased is on a bluff and by the time we finished
> with a geotech engineer and the architects engineering firm, we were
> $200,000 over budget due to the additional 32 pilings they are
> requesting that we install under the foundation and sonatubes to be
> used under the deck so that the deck would go if, and when there is a
> slide, and not the house. After thoroughly looking at this project, we
> have decided, along with the builder that we can do a lot of the work
> ourselves. We could do most of the inside work, but not the
> foundation, pilings, windows or roof. Has anyone ever applied for a
> loan where the homeowner acts as his own contractor for about half the
> job, keeping the builder on contract as a supervisor? Let me know of
> your experiences.
>
> CK
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| Hi Andy
Did you have a hard time finding financing? If not what are your
suggestions. We have been working towards using this builder until
Friday when we got the cost estimate. He has come highly recommended
by everyone and appears to be a nice guy. However, he doesn't want to
take up all of his time with people that can and will do a lot of the
work thermselves to cut costs. This house only came over budget
because of the reasons I stated and he gets 10% of the cost. I would
like to hire him for the upfront work on the house and we sub the rest.
How would you approach this?
CK
AndyS wrote:
> CK wrote:
>
> Andy writes:
>
> On my new house, I worked with the contractor on a "cost plus"
> basis.
> In other words, I paid the contractor all of the invoices of the subs,
> plus
> 11% which was his fee. I could stop the work at any time just by
> paying
> the existing work invoices and the fee. I could sub portions of the
> work
> myself, or do some work myself, coordinating the work schedules with
> the contractor...
> Some contractors may not want to work this way. However, it
> eliminates
> any risk for them, and can serve to their advantage. If they work for
> a "firm, fixed price" and the owner decides to change the light
> fixtures,
> doesn't like the color of the paint, decides on different landscaping,
>
> the contractor would have to ask for more money (they never ask for
> less).
> My contractor didn't care if I changed the color every day, or wanted
> the entire house moved over 6 inches ----- he would just schedule the
> subs and collect his commission.....
>
> Doing it this way means that the owner stays involved withthe
> process,
> and is aware of ALL of the factors that go into what would otherwise
> be thought of as a small change --- CHANGES COST MONEY.......
> On the other hand, except for some possible "under the table"dealings
> between the contractor and the subs, you get exactly what you pay for.
> A reputable contractor won't jerk you around with the costs, and if you
>
> spot an "anomaly" you can give him his walking papers without any
> penalty......
> The owner, and ESPECIALLY the owner's wife, has to get it thru
> their heads that NOTHING is free..... Going from glass doorknobs to
> brass doorknobs will change the price. On the other hand, if the owner
> buys the fixtures and appliances him/her self, they pay no markup to
> the contractor ---- onlyif the contractor provides an invoice......
>
> Worked out great for me....... Maybe it's what you are looking
> for...
>
> Andy in Eureka, Texas
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