Be Your Own General Contractor and Save Money

If you are like most people your home is probably your greatest asset. With this said, it is natural that you would want to increase its value, keep it appealing and enhance its livability. Most homeowners would also like to be able to save themselves thousands of dollars by doing work on their own home and not having to hire a professional trades person. The value you add to your home by improving it yourself is called "Sweat Equity." The idea is that the less you pay to improve or enhance your home, the more profitable your home will be at resale time. Before attempting any project yourself always consider the scope of the project and what your real skills are.

What is a General Contractor?

Homeowners are sometimes not skilled enough to do their own projects so in order to save money some take on the role of general contractor when they are faced with a large project. By doing this they can often save 10-20 % of their total project cost.

So what does a general contractor do? They are usually hired to manage and oversee large home improvement projects, act as the main contact for the homeowner, help to ensure that the project goes smoothly and that the work is completed on schedule to the homeowner's satisfaction. Many homeowners feel that they could handle the role of a general contractor - and some of them have.

Let's find out more about the typical responsibilities placed on the general contractor's shoulders.

Responsibilities of the General Contractor

The general contractor is in charge of the home project start to finish-and everything in between! Here are some key elements of a project that a general contractor needs to be trained or skilled in.

- Ability to Get the Required Permits for the Project - local permits are required before any structural work can take place. A good general contractor knows which parts of the project will need a permit. He will also know how to apply for them and how to properly complete the paperwork. CF2Some projects may require approval from the local Board of Appeals and/or Planning Board. Be prepared to attend some meetings.

- Communicates With the Project Designer - the general contractor and project designer will normally work together reviewing the homeowners' ideas and final plans before work begins. If problems arise, the general contractor is the one who will normally be looked upon for suggestions by the designer.

- Receives and Evaluates Project Estimates - most general contractors have a network of quality sub contractors they rely on. For each trade needed good general contractors will get at least 2 bids to compare pricing. This can be the most time-consuming part of the general contractors' job. What he may be able to do in a few days could take the homeowner many weeks.

- Schedules the Different Trades - this can be very confusing and extremely frustrating for the homeowner. The general contractor knows what is happening all the time and what needs to be scheduled next. Like they say, "Timing is everything". This is so true in the construction industry.

- Responds to Questions and Problems - even with the best general contractors something is bound to go astray. Major delays can occur if issues cannot be resolved in a timely manner.

- Ability to Arrange for Inspections - throughout the project inspections will be needed in order to proceed to the next phase. The electrical and plumbing parts of the project need to be inspected at specific points. A good general contractor will anticipate when an inspection will be needed and plan accordingly.

Do You Have What It Takes?

If you feel confident that you have the SKILLS and TIME to be your own general contractor - go for it! Maybe you know someone who has been his or her own general contractor before. Ask them about their experience and learn from them. Most importantly, be honest with yourself - if you have ANY doubts, call a professional!

Paul Lawrence has owned and operated Home Project Partners, a free Maine-based contractor referral service, since 2002. He helps bring homeowners together with reliable, quality-conscious, pre-screened home contractors skilled in numerous trades.

For more information contact Paul at info@HomeProjectPartners.com or visit online at http://www.HomeProjectPartners.com