We are just in the begining of this process- any advice or tips onmaking things go smooth?
2006-08-10 12:56:11 · 5 answers · asked by mystratz 2 in Home & Garden ➔ Other - Home & Garden
I have not. But I used to work with a guy who was also a carpenter. I'm going to tell you EVERYTHING he said.
THE best way (best workmanship, lowest cost, etc) to build a house is to hire a lawyer/consultant familiar with the building trades. That person can:
1. Select the best and most affordable building site. (A site that meets your requirements for a good school system for your kids, provide you with a reasonable commute to work, easy access to convenient shopping, etc.)
2. Pave the way for getting required building permits.
3. Select and hire the best architect to provide plans that meet the required code of the building site.
4, Announce and select bids for each segment of the building process, including information on the winning bidder concerning the quality of that workmanship. (No selection is actually made until your consultant/lawyer has contacted you and gotten your approval.)
5. Insure that required inspections are made before proceeding to the next segment.
6. ETC.
You could always perform these jobs yourself. But Roy told me you would be overwhelmed by all the paperwork and red tape that goes into the task. The job will be completed much quicker, and has been done by the most skilled workers at the best price available.
You could also hire a general contractor, but they tend to use the "Good Old Boy" method of granting jobs to their best friends, and you won't get the best workmanship.
It may seem like an extra cost, but having a "hired hand" do all your legwork for you while you relax at work will be by far the most cost affective.
2006-08-10 13:18:51 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
as a lic. gen contractor all i can tell u is this.......every house that i have bid on and the owners ended up building it themselves, told me after it was over that they would have been more than happy to have paid me $15,000.00 to build their house! the stress they said was about to kill them! plus, the subs will not give u the same price they give me because i use them all yr and may jobs....ur house would be a one time deal for them!
plus, unless u dont have experience in building, there r many ways to build a house that will meet code but its the above and beyond details that one does not see that makes the difference...
i have been hired in the past to come by a job site once a week to inspect the work on job sites by "owners that r the contractors' this might be something u want to explore.....
get everything in writing....take time to talk to the people in charge...dont pay in advance.......if 50% has been completed then only pay 50%.......ur toughest problem is going to be scheduling the subs in the correct order..framer, electric, hvac, plumber, ect......
good luck....
lic. gen. contractor
2006-08-10 13:35:55 · answer #2 · answered by bigg_dogg44 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A girlfriend had her house built. We were thinking of building ours and sub-contracting out the work. The main advice she gave us was be at the work site EVERYDAY. m
2006-08-10 13:22:36 · answer #3 · answered by Mache 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yea, you can save a lot of money, but you better know a little about construction, so nobody cuts corners. You better be around alot on site to see that things are getting done. I built a home with a contractor who subed everything out. I could of done it myself in retrospect.
2006-08-10 13:48:55 · answer #4 · answered by johomusser 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
YES..and i saved 40% but , you actually have to live on-site to keep them working and buy a bullwhip..south americans love the sound of
cracking the whip....aaargghhh aarrghh
2006-08-10 13:09:12 · answer #5 · answered by max 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋