customcj7
Well-Known Member
So, here it is, that moment in life where you can either pass the buck, or pull the pin on the grenade and see what happens.
I'm at a threshold. I've moved to Bham recently, and am renting a house now. In all honesty it's a nice house, but no yard, a spec of a garage and damn nosey neighbors on top of me. I'm in hell.
I've purchased 3 acres of land nearby and want to build. However I'm getting some very hefty build costs with some worse percentages going to the contractors. I'm talking 40-50k just going to the contractor. With the purchase of the land, that puts me well over my comfortable level of total investment in this. I don't want to spend $50 dollars on something that will only appraise for $35, ya know?
So I'm wondering if I'm just dumb enough to think I can handle this. I've dealt with subs and contractors before doing my last shop, but not a house. And I'm no builder. But I'm also no idiot. I've dealt with large projects before and contract negotiations and dealings more than I can count in my career. But a part of me thinks, with the amount of time I have (a lot), I could save a ton taking my time getting this done at a more casual pace with subs versus running for a 6-month home. Plus not only can I save some money on the GC side, I can do some of my own custom items throughout. I do understand that there is a good chance my savings might get eaten alive by not getting the same cost benefits that a GC would get, but that will fall on my due diligence.
I've got the ability to go by the lot daily, twice daily if needed. 3 times would be possible. But a part of me can't help but wonder, how much can I save really doing it myself as the GC? Is it worth it?
So there are many of you who have been through building a home, some on your own, some with a builder. Thoughts, insights, ridicule? Yes, I'm cheap, I pinch my pennies like you can't imagine. I'll spend good money when it's necessary, but if it's not, you're not getting a dime out of me. I'll gladly work my ass off to save money. I've done it on almost every project I have worked on. Boats, jeeps, garages, home projects, etc.
I'm at a threshold. I've moved to Bham recently, and am renting a house now. In all honesty it's a nice house, but no yard, a spec of a garage and damn nosey neighbors on top of me. I'm in hell.
I've purchased 3 acres of land nearby and want to build. However I'm getting some very hefty build costs with some worse percentages going to the contractors. I'm talking 40-50k just going to the contractor. With the purchase of the land, that puts me well over my comfortable level of total investment in this. I don't want to spend $50 dollars on something that will only appraise for $35, ya know?
So I'm wondering if I'm just dumb enough to think I can handle this. I've dealt with subs and contractors before doing my last shop, but not a house. And I'm no builder. But I'm also no idiot. I've dealt with large projects before and contract negotiations and dealings more than I can count in my career. But a part of me thinks, with the amount of time I have (a lot), I could save a ton taking my time getting this done at a more casual pace with subs versus running for a 6-month home. Plus not only can I save some money on the GC side, I can do some of my own custom items throughout. I do understand that there is a good chance my savings might get eaten alive by not getting the same cost benefits that a GC would get, but that will fall on my due diligence.
I've got the ability to go by the lot daily, twice daily if needed. 3 times would be possible. But a part of me can't help but wonder, how much can I save really doing it myself as the GC? Is it worth it?
So there are many of you who have been through building a home, some on your own, some with a builder. Thoughts, insights, ridicule? Yes, I'm cheap, I pinch my pennies like you can't imagine. I'll spend good money when it's necessary, but if it's not, you're not getting a dime out of me. I'll gladly work my ass off to save money. I've done it on almost every project I have worked on. Boats, jeeps, garages, home projects, etc.