Help with questions on sub-contracting out your own home:
I’m thinking of sub-contracting out my own home; 2200 sq. ft for retirement. I already own the lot. My experiences are extensive for not being in the trade. Have designed many homes before and am a long time woodworker (45 years, with a home shop most 1-2 man companies would love). I’m thinking of sub-contracting everything from excavation through to the finish drywall. I plan to complete the rest. I have done this 3 time before all about 10 years apart, however this time it will be in the south east, a place I am yet to call home.
Any idea how difficult it will be to find sub-contractors to work with me? I will be able to pay as soon as the building inspector approves the work.
Any recommendations on how to find sub’s in a unfamiliar area?
Any pro’s and con’s and/or tips from you experts on taking this project on?
Replies
Unless you are a professional home builder with a long list of established contacts,you would be better off hiring one. Ther is no end to what will befall you.
what part of south east
I don't know if you should or shouldn't. Some people have the temperment for it and some don't. I moved from the NE to the SE (Western NC) and GC'ed my house. I'm glad I did it, be/c I couldn't have sat back and let someone else control progress, quality, etc. Gotta be hand's-on. I had prior construction management and building experience though, and that helped a lot. The main requirement is...can you be on-site whenever workers are there? If you can't always be around, then it's harder to do successfully. On the plus side, the ability to pay promptly will help a lot. At least, it helped me. I used that as a selling point for working with me and it helped. But I also had to accept that contractors would fit me in when convenient to them, be/c they had to pay more attention to their regular GC's rather than me. If you're ok with all that, then consider it. As to where to meet contractors...I got referrals from the guy who sold me the lot and was a developer/builder himself. We ended up enemies, but not be/c of the referrals. He actually introduced me to some great people before that. Make contacts at a local plumbing supply, electrical supply, lumber yard, and get referrals from them. When you find a sub you like, get referrals for other trades.
Chuck -
One thing that's often overlooked by home owners wishing to act as their own general, subcontracting all the various trades, is scheduling and coordinating their work. You've been through this already a few times so perhaps its not an issue in your case. None the less, different parts of the country have different approaches to, shall we say, work ethic. That's not meant as a disparaging remark, merely that, even in my state, different localities will yield different attitudes toward scheduling. You simply can't expect to call a sub the night before and expect him/her to be on the job in the morning.
I'd agree with one comment you've been given already - it may well be a crap shoot in a new territory with respect to selecting a sub for any given trade. If I were in your situation, I think I'd interview three or four generals, invite bids from at least three, and seriously consider taking the second lowest bid.
One reason I don't like traveling by air .... most of the airplanes systems and parts were provided by the low bidder (grin)
Dennis in Bellevue WA
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