FHB Logo Facebook LinkedIn Email Pinterest Twitter Instagram Plus Icon Close Icon Navigation Search Icon Navigation Search Icon Arrow Down Icon Video Guide Icon Article Guide Icon Modal Close Icon Guide Search Icon Skip to content
Subscribe
Log In
  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Videos
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House
  • Podcast
Log In

Discussion Forum

Discussion Forum

My first whole home job!

Philter | Posted in General Discussion on May 20, 2003 10:33am

‘Tis true, I’ve been asked by friends to build a Craftsman style home for them .

I’ve known them for years, and they’ve seen tons of my work( live and photo…),AND we are sure we can maintain the friendship and they will end up with what they want…

Now the first ( of what I’m sure will be many), question I have is if there are any opinions on whether I should be contractor, manager, or “consultant”,(I will definitely be framing and doing the finish carpentry, stairs etc). and what are the potential setbacks we might expect from these options…Cheers, and TIA for any advice..Phil.

If it is to be…. ‘twil be done by me.
Reply

Replies

  1. YesMaam27577 | May 21, 2003 02:56am | #1

    I certainly can't tell how good your friendship is, but that aspect should help you decide your level of involvement. But perhaps your personal financial condition is more important.

    If you intend to be the contractor, that (usually) means that you are financially responsible, and that you are assuming the financial risks. If you are willing and able to do that, then go for it (and charge for it).

    If you can't/shouldn't/won't take on the $$ risk, then you can still be the project manager, the framer, and the finish carp.

    Vast projects should not be founded on half vast ideas.
  2. brujenn | May 23, 2003 05:42pm | #2

    Only do this job if you are prepared to lose the friendship.

    Do not! Give anything away. Your friends will decide to move to Hawaii on the profit they make from selling the house you worked your self to death to create for them.

    They will smile and thank you, thinking, what, i don't know, that you are a big business who gave them a great deal? Not that you sacrificed your nights and weekends for work you didn't charge them for.

    Have this discussion first.

  3. Planeman | May 23, 2003 11:08pm | #3

    I have the opposite perspective. I hired my @#$^&*% brother in law to re-model my kitchen. Before the job he was just my brother in-law, the contractor. Unfortunatly there were problems created by both of us and assumptions were made and expectations yada yada yada. I think I took some advantage of him because he was family and I expected a higher level of service and quality. I know he thought he could get away with certain things and delay other because I'm family. Now 2 years later I am still waiting for some details to be finished and he is waiting for the last of his money and we do not speak. There is no better way to lose friends or family than to enter into a business agreement together. Just my perspective.

    Experienced, but still dangerous!
    1. CarpenterPJE | May 24, 2003 02:22am | #5

      Dave

      I just read your post, Brought back bad memories for me, I respect the fact that you take some of the blame.  I have a ready answer for all my friends (both of them), family & anyone I have to see sunday morning, when they ask me to do there projects. I just say "Lets save time & money, Just start hating me now"

      Ive always found that I can't do the projects good enough, fast enough, free enough, ect. ect.

      Make friends again with your brother in law.

      Let him read your posting.

  4. migraine | May 24, 2003 12:40am | #4

    If you are going to supervise, order, negotitate, deal with who does/doesn't show up, pick up materials(for cost?), answer phone calls(night and weekends), expect it to be done by a certain time, pull in favors from other subs to get you friend a good price,  then you should be paid for ALL your time energy.  This means PROFIT and OVERHEAD.  You don't need to be the GC on the job, just get paid being at their disposal.   Don't ALL business include profit and overhead?   Even Microsoft, McDonalds, Walmart, or Home Depot do.  If they didn't how would they grow into the monopolies they are?

Log in or create an account to post a comment.

Sign up Log in

Become a member and get full access to FineHomebuilding.com

Video Shorts

Categories

  • Business
  • Code Questions
  • Construction Techniques
  • Energy, Heating & Insulation
  • General Discussion
  • Help/Work Wanted
  • Photo Gallery
  • Reader Classified
  • Tools for Home Building

Discussion Forum

Recent Posts and Replies

  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
View More Create Post

Up Next

Video Shorts

Featured Story

Balancing Density and Privacy in Los Angeles

Four 2200-sq.-ft. detached homes provide flexible open-plan housing on this Los Angeles block.

Featured Video

Video: Build a Fireplace, Brick by Brick

Get an overview of the process of creating a traditional-style fireplace that burns well and meets current building codes from experienced mason Mike Mehaffey.

Related Stories

  • Podcast 548: PRO TALK With Design/Build Operations Manager Jessica Bishop-Smyser
  • Strategies for Venting a Roof Valley
  • Podcast 547: Basement Insulation, Historic Preservation Resources, and Shipping Container ADUs
  • Podcast 547: Members-only Aftershow—Fine Homebuilding House memories

Highlights

Fine Homebuilding All Access
Fine Homebuilding Podcast
Tool Tech
Plus, get an extra 20% off with code GIFT20

"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

BOOKS, DVDs, & MERCH

Shop the Store
  • Code Check Building 4th Edition
    Buy Now
  • 2023 Tool Guide
    Buy Now
  • 2022 Fine Homebuilding Archive
    Buy Now
  • Pretty Good House
    Buy Now
  • Shop the Store

Fine Homebuilding Magazine

  • Issue 314 - April/May 2023
    • 7 Options for Countertops
    • Tool Test: Wood-Boring Bits
    • Critical Details for Ductless Heat Pumps
  • Issue 313 - Feb/March 2023
    • Practical System for a Seismic Retrofit
    • Fine Homebuilding Issue #313 Online Highlights
    • Practical System for a Seismic Retrofit
  • Issue 312 - Dec 2022/Jan 2023
    • Tool Test: Cordless Tablesaws
    • Gray-Water System for a Sustainable Home
    • Insulate a Cape Roof to Avoid Ice Dams
  • Issue 311 - November 2022
    • 7 Steps to a Perfect Exterior Paint Job
    • Options for Smarter Home-Energy Tracking
    • The Fine Homebuilding Interview: James Metoyer
  • Issue 310 - October 2022
    • Choosing a Tile-Leveling System
    • Choosing Between HRVs and ERVs
    • Custom Built-in Cabinets Made Easy

Fine Homebuilding

Follow

  • twitter
  • facebook
  • instagram
  • pinterest

Newsletter

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Membership & Magazine

  • Online Archive
  • Start Free Trial
  • Magazine Subscription
  • Magazine Renewal
  • Gift a Subscription
  • Customer Support
  • Privacy Preferences

Taunton Network

  • Green Building Advisor
  • Fine Woodworking
  • Fine Gardening
  • Threads
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Careers
  • Copyright
  • Terms of Use
  • Site Map
  • Do not sell or share my information
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility
  • California Privacy Rights

© 2023 The Taunton Press, Inc. All rights reserved.

X
X
This is a dialog window which overlays the main content of the page. The modal window is a 'site map' of the most critical areas of the site. Pressing the Escape (ESC) button will close the modal and bring you back to where you were on the page.

Main Menu

  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Video
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Reader Projects
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Popular Topics

  • Kitchens
  • Business
  • Bedrooms
  • Roofs
  • Architecture and Design
  • Green Building
  • Decks
  • Framing
  • Safety
  • Remodeling
  • Bathrooms
  • Windows
  • Tilework
  • Ceilings
  • HVAC

Magazine

  • Current Issue
  • Past Issues
  • Magazine Index
  • Subscribe
  • Online Archive
  • Author Guidelines

All Access

  • Member Home
  • Start Free Trial
  • Gift Membership

Shop the Store

  • Books
  • DVDs
  • Taunton Workshops

More

  • FHB Ambassadors
  • Reader Projects
  • Podcast
  • FHB House
  • Customer Support

Account

  • Log In
  • Join

Newsletter

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Signing you up...

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters
See all newsletters

Follow

  • twitter
  • facebook
  • instagram
  • pinterest

Join All Access

Become a member and get instant access to thousands of videos, how-tos, tool reviews, and design features.

Start Your Free Trial

Subscribe

FHB Magazine

Start your subscription today and save up to 70%

Subscribe

We hope you’ve enjoyed your free articles. To keep reading, become a member today.

Get complete site access to expert advice, how-to videos, Code Check, and more, plus the print magazine.

Start your FREE trial

Already a member? Log in