Building your own home, rather than hiring a general contractor, makes you the boss and gives you control over the two most important aspects of home construction: keeping costs down by managing funds and monitoring the process. of construction.

Save money. Probably the main reason to be an owner-builder is to save money. You can save 15% to 30% or more of the construction price. That means for a $ 200,000 home, you can save $ 30,000 to $ 60,000.

Exactly how much you can save depends on what the current market is in your area and how well you do at hiring subcontractors and purchasing materials. That does not mean that you should accept the lowest offers with your subcontractors.

Quality is more important than price, but you may get a real “gem” from a subcontractor who does quality work and can offer you a good price.

When it comes to purchasing materials, taking the time to shop around to see what’s on sale, like tile or hardwood floors, can save you a lot of money.

Control of funds. One of the main benefits of building your home yourself is that you pay subcontractors and vendors directly to know they are getting paid and avoid middlemen. Plus, you don’t have to deal with the contractor’s profit margin.

Construction control. Acting as your own contractor will mean that you are the boss. You control the construction progress. The really cool thing is that you don’t have to know everything about construction and you don’t have to do any physical work. Your subcontractors provide the experience and knowledge to get the job done in a timely and professional manner.

Networks. The difficult part of being an owner-builder might be selecting and managing your subcontractors. However, it doesn’t have to be because you can choose those that you like that you can easily communicate with. To find them, you need to be patient and take the time to shop around and ask everyone, even strangers, for the names of good subcontractors.

Ask your friends, real estate agents, building inspectors, homeowners, and even drive through neighborhoods looking for homes under construction. It won’t hurt to stop, go outside and talk to the construction crews during the lunch break.

You can start by asking who the best excavators, concrete contractors, and builders are. Before you know it, you will have a selective number of subcontractors to start with. What a great way to get to know your community!

Consultant. The good news is that you don’t need to build your house entirely alone. You can hire a part-time construction expert. Even with the money you pay, you can still save money.

To build a house on your own, you need some kind of guidance to plan ahead. This means at least buying the right kind of book on how to build your own home. Although it points the way, it does not solve the problems you will encounter. That’s where a home building expert can come in. He can help smooth the ride.