I was in the truck today and heard an ad on the radio for an owner-builder network…had some miles to drive so I called to hear their story. I also went to a web site and copied some stufff, which is attached a little farther down.
First, let me say that I have no problem with people whoi want to build their own homes, for whatever reason. But I think that they are being duped a little.
The guy I talked with said that they meet with you, do an estimate, arrange for a loan, give you a book and a list of subs, and are available for consultation during constructiuon. They charge $2.95/sf of living space, which they take from the loan. He said that typical savings are 35% and that’s without you doing any work. Also said that it doesn’t take much time…an hour after work in the evenings and some time on Saturday. Once the project gets going, it pretty much runs itself.
The website I looked at (I’m sure there are several) confirms the 35% savings, but says that one memeber of the family need to plan to be on site 4 hours a day.
Here’s exerpts of two of the 10 items that are characteristics of the typical owner-builder:
1. You come to the job each day prepared to fire people if needed. You are writing the check, you are in power.
2. You are somewhat familiar with construction. You talk the talk of the business. This can be learned from building shows on television, from builder magazines to which you can subscribe, from interviewing subs, and from observing building projects, among other places. Even though you may not perform a given trade, you can talk about it knowledgeably.
So if you have an attitude of superiority with the subs, and can talk the tv-bullshirt, you’ll save lots of money. Where do I sign up?
Whenever you are asked if you can do a job, tell’em “Certainly, I can!” Then get busy and find out how to do it. T. Roosevelt
Replies
I have an attitude of superiority over many subs. A friend is acting as his own GC and hiring subs, and I cringe at the work, every time I go over there. That's what generally happens when you don't know what they're supposed to be doing.
A good chunk of my business is rebuilding houses that hippie homsteaders built themselves in the 70-80's. "God ,what were they thinking??!!" is our mantra.Now they have become trustafarians or are starting to inherit so they want to fix things up. I wish I had kept a photo journal, for the Museum of Bad Building.Lets see on the last one a few perks were...None of the roof ply or drywall broke on studs or rafters!?? The whole breaker box was wired with the whites being hot!? And this place was built by a guy building the robots to fix Hubbell tele. for NASA. Oh and they chinked the whole log cabin ,in and out plus the plywood soffits with black roofing tar!And no we have no inspections here.My dad was a bldg. inspector in NJ and just rolls his eyes like a one arm bandit when hes down here.
what's the address ?
carpenter in transition
IMHO, if you got enough on the ball one should totally build their own at least once (EVERYTHING, even the grunt work).
As far as being so dumb as to paying some dufus $2.95 sq ft to BS you, then you pro'lly shouldn't try.
IMHO, if you got enough on the ball one should totally build their own at least once (EVERYTHING, even the grunt work).
I'd love to do that -- and live with the result for a few years, learn from my own mistakes (yes, I still make em), then do another one. But I'd have to move someplace with work and without building codes.
Here, we carpenters are supposed to leave everything else to a licensed professional. I cringe at the thought.
Ed-
You didn't post the link, but it sounds like you may be talking about UBuidIt. They're offering franchises to people to perform these consulting services, and the laughable thing that I found when I looked into their program is that they say "construction experience is helpful, but not required".
Now that's laughable- let "me", who knows little or nothing about construction (but took a one-week training class at UBuildIt headquarters), show "you" how to save 20-40% on your construction project by managing it yourself in your spare time.
Talk about the blind leading the blind......lol.
Bob
We do require that the actual UBuildIt Construction Consultant have residential construction management experience.
I think the radio ad I heard was for "owner builder network" and I think that's the web site I looked at. I try to forget things of dubious value...heck I have a hard enough time remembering the important stuff.
Whenever you are asked if you can do a job, tell'em "Certainly, I can!" Then get busy and find out how to do it. T. Roosevelt
There is one by that name;
http://www.ownerbuildernetwork.com/
There is also one called Presidential Home. They have one office in the Kansas City area as I see there ads. I think that they are generally in the upper plains states.
But I could not find there web site. To many common names. The first hit was the the NAHB's and then many mentioning the election.
Actually it is President Homes
That's new- I'll have to see if I still have the literature where they stated just the opposite. Maybe they finally realized that a consultant might need to know a thing or two about the business before he helps others into it.
Bob
Go to 39444.1 and check out this owner built home..
Saved a lot more than 35% but I'll grant you some people shouldn't (while some easily can)
Frenchy,
http://forums.taunton.com/tp-breaktime/messages?msg=39444.1
Make it easy for 'um
Jon
So jon,
Tell me how you did that, remember I'm real old.
http://forums.taunton.com/tp-breaktime/messages/?msg=43524.5
Frenchy, find the thread or message you want to link to.
On the left side of this page, in the list of threads, right click on the one you want. Click on "Open in new window"-- this will give you a new window (duh) with the address at the top of just that window.
Left click on it, it goes blue (for my setting, might be some other color for your compute) for "selected"-- Right click and "copy" -- then paste in the reply window where you want to post it.
Got that? Left click on the URL (address) at the top of the screen, right click & copy, then paste. Done.
Must be the RIGHT click part that's giving you the trouble?
Joe H
Edited 5/21/2004 12:28 pm ET by JoeH