Replies

1. 
   RichColumbus | Sep 11, 2004 09:26am | #1

   "Generally"... pay someone else with the experience.  In the long run, a good GC will probably save you more than it costs... especially when you consider your time in the equation.

   However, it may help if you outline your total experience... beyond being an electrician.  It may also help if you were to tell us what you envision the job of General Contractor to be.  Both will assist in giving advice if you wish to be your own GC.

   There are many pluses and minuses to the equation.  If you have the overall experience... but do not have the right perception of the job... bad idea.

   However, if you have the right perception of the job... and just need some "tweaking" to assist with your experience/knowledge level... it can be a rewarding experience.. especially on your own home.  Do it for the experience and personal satisfaction, however... the cost savings will be minimal in comparison to the amount of $$ you could make doing electrical work.

   The typical analogy is to ask if you would trust a plumber to do electric?  If the plumber is good with electric and has been trained... could be OK with a little oversight from you.  But if it is the typical plumber... he doesn't (and shouldn't) now the difference between "GFCI" and "#10 wire"! (sorry, all you plumbers  LOL)

   
   

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   Edited 9/11/2004 2:28 am ET by Rich from Columbus

1. 
   user-2363573 | Sep 11, 2004 10:05am | #2

   Rich, Thanks for the response, in my years before becoming an electrician I worked as a framer for right at one year. I also have quite a bit of excavation experience. My perception of a GC is a planner/babysitter/ringleader/counsouler. Great analogy with the plumber, that does make sense. I'm confident in my abilities but dont want to bend over a dime to pick up a nickel! Thanks again.

1. 
   RichColumbus | Sep 13, 2004 07:51am | #3

   Any purchasing, scheduling, budgeting experience?

   "Generally", the job of a contractor is babysitting... but it's babysitting with a purpose toward an end.

   My suggestion is to figure what your time is worth... and as a sparky... that should be pretty easy to do.  As an owner... you will have certain amounts of time invested anyway.  But the additional time/commitment is rather large as contractor.

   A good contractor will save you money in the end.  The job will be done right... on time (cough)... and will have a warranty that you will be hard pressed to get as your own contractor (with a few exceptions that you may be able to negotiate with certain vendors/subs).

   Now... if that is not important... and you want to have the experience and satisfaction... totally different story.

   My suggestion is to visualize the house going up... step by step.  Then, have a contractor "consult" with you to be sure you have all of the steps for your particular house.  The money you spend for a few hours of time will be worth every dime.  If the contractor that consults with you is good... he may also be able to refer you to supply houses, subs, etc.

   DO YOUR HOMEWORK BEFORE YOU START !!!  The biggest issue with projects that I may work on as a sub is a lack of planning.  As a sparky... you are probably better at planning than an average joe off the street.  Just as you plan your electrical work... plan each of the tasks involved with the house. 

   For the most part... materials will be your baby (unless you want to pay your subs a buncha money).  Lay out the project and materials list on a graph that will give you needed lead times, contingencies, etc.

   This brings up a good point.  For every task... plan a contingency.  On the average house... you will use at least 10-15 of those contingencies.  If you have to pull the contingency plan outta your tail... it will cost you a BUNCH of $$.

   This is enough to get you chewin on whether you want to do it.  If you decide it is worth it in your particular situataion... then get as much advice/help as you can.

   And remember... do it because you want the experience/satisfaction.  DO NOT do it if you think it will save you $$... because you will probably be highly disappointed if you do it for that reason; and that reason only.

1. 
   user-2363573 | Sep 15, 2004 08:39am | #5

   Rich, Thank you very much for your time and insight into this matter. You and others have convinced me to use a pro GC. There is a GC in my area that allows the owner to work on the project and receive "sweat equity". If your interested there web site is "adaptivehomes.com" if you feel so inclined check it out and tell me what you think, I value your input greatly! I'm reminded what Clint Eastwood said " Mans got to know his limitations" put only as Dirty Harry could say it. Thanks again for your time and input! Bob

1. 
   brownbagg | Sep 15, 2004 05:02pm | #6

   I could not GC my own house, either build it completely yourself, labor, material everything or just hire a builder to turn key the job.

2. 
   BossHog | Sep 13, 2004 03:12pm | #4

   Can'r have someone bring up being their own GC without bringing up the Spec House from Hell thread...(-:

   A wise man knows everything; a shrewd man knows everyone.