Building a house: hire a contractor or do it on your own?

Lily Cichanowicz Lily Cichanowicz
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When it comes to any construction or renovation project, no matter how big or small, making a plan ought to be the first step. Of course, one of the most fundamental elements of the plan involves deciding who will be the one to put it into action. We must do a bit of research in order to seek out the person with the expertise and know-how best suited for the job. Often, hiring a contractor will be the logical conclusion to this thought process, but not always. Before you put the life of your home renovation project into someone else’s hands it’s wise to assess what you can do on your own first. 

With the abundance of information available at our fingertips, you may be surprised at how many things you may already be equipped to do without the added expenditure of a contractor. Today on homify we will be supplying you with a guide that will help sort out whether to hire a contractor or do it on your own.

Finding the right contractor

Whether you’re looking to remodel the kitchen or build an extension on your home, it’s imperative that you find someone you can trust. Seeking out the right contractor can help you to avoid some common pitfalls, like being charged with surprise expenses or having a contractor delay construction plans after they commence. 

Start by asking around. Personal recommendations are always most reliable, so take note of who in your social circle has recently made major changes to their homes that might haveve required the help of a contractor. Remember that you are hiring the contractor, not the other way around. Don’t be afraid to set up consultations with a few in order to pick their brains before making any choices. Come prepared to explain what it is you’d like to do with your home, and select the contractor based on his or her experience with that particular type of project.

Communication with the contractor

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It’s good to set the tone with communication before the project even commences. Pay attention to this factor when you’re selecting a contractor. You want someone who is prompt about returning calls and knowledgeable enough to answer your questions clearly, someone who respects your plans and takes your concerns seriously. 

Construction projects can be stressful, so lay the foundation for a solid business relationship from the beginning by being clear with the contractor about what you need from him or her. If things feel off from the start, don’t expect their demeanour to improve when the going gets tougher.

Average costs

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One thing in particular worth being frank about is the price range of your project. Stick to your guns and hold your contractor to the estimated costs as the project moves forward. 

This is not to say that things won’t inevitably come up, however. For this reason, be sure to make a budget that allows you some cushion in the event that things end up costing more than originally plan. Try to allocate an extra 20% of the estimated budget to the project just to be safe. Naturally, it is important to educate yourself on the average costs of the particular projects you have in mind rather than relying solely on your contractor’s word.

Advantages of building a house on your own

Now that we’ve covered some of the basics associated with hiring a contractor, let’s consider the advantages of bypassing one altogether. Not surprisingly, it is significantly cheaper to forego the help of a contractor. Because projects tend to take longer than expected, the price tag around the contracting deal could theoretically increase indefinitely. 

Contractors don’t have the same incentives as you do when it comes to building the house in a timely manner. If you’re a self-starter that can take the initiative needed to run the project efficiently, you may even be able to get it done faster when you don’t have to wait around for the contractor’s schedule to open. Plus, there is a certain pride linked to doing things yourself. We recommend going without a contractor if you have renovated in the past with a contractor’s help and feel confident in your knowledge of the various steps that go into making a project a success.

Disadvantages of building a house on your own

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We cannot deny that there are certain risks to doing it all on your own, particularly if you are inexperienced with this kind of work. Not to mention, construction is one of the most labour intensive, time consuming kinds of projects you could involve yourself in. 

If you aren’t sure how to do something and the project ultimately gets botched, fixing it might ultimately be more costly that it would have if you simply hired a contractor from the start. These projects can be very stressful, and ought not be romanticised. Before commencing with the construction endeavour yourself, be sure to do your research and fully familiarise yourself with the steps you’ll have to take to get your rooms looking remarkable.

Combination of both ways – is it possible?

Luckily, you can find a middle ground. If you don’t want to throw yourself to the wolves by embarking on the project alone, but would still like to maintain autonomy, you can be the general contractor! This way you can do all that you feel comfortable and capable working on. 

As the general contractor, you will be in charge of allocating the supplies, setting the schedule, and hiring any support personnel like construction workers, plumbers, electricians, and design professionals like the team at Love Design Homes who drew up the plans for this beauty. When it comes to those certain steps that you feel a bit shaky on, delegate the job to a subcontractor! This way you only have to rely on the help of another when it is actually necessary.

For more information about planning your project, check out this guide to designing your dream house.

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