Back...Are you making these five mistakes?
Building your own home can be exciting, nerve-wracking, fun and scary all at the same time. The Owner Builder Custom Homes program is here to walk you through the steps you need to take to build the house of your dreams while still getting quality workmanship, staying on schedule, and saving money where you can. Keep in mind these mistakes other owner builders have made so you can avoid unneeded costs, wasted time, and undue stress.
Not Getting Multiple Quotes
Remember, you are about to spend a substantial amount of money. You may be thinking that it costs is what it costs. Wrong. There is a huge range of costs for similar items in building your own home. For example, let’s start with one of the first quotes you will come across, your foundation (if pouring slab). When comparing quotes, make sure you compare apples to apples. Even something as “cut and dry” as pouring a slab for your home will have several ways to go about it, including type of rebar, concrete density, etc. Make sure you make informed decisions when choosing a contractor. Many times the cheapest quote that comes through will not yield the best product. Building your own home is a cooperation of price and quality to get the most out of your money.
Not Being Involved
Being an Owner Builder is not just a title, it is a job. Owner builder Custom Homes will be there to walk you through the process, but there is work to be done by the homeowner. You are saving the builder’s fee by managing the project yourself, make sure you manage the project.
You can do it. Most of the owner builders that build their own home with us have never attempted before, and are amazed at their results. Even those who have full-time jobs and family activities manage their projects just fine. Don’t be discouraged, just be involved.
Not Being On Time
The age old saying Time is Money applies to the construction industry best of all. Keep your timelines for deliverable materials up to date and materials chosen, purchased and delivered on time or in advance when possible. Even if you have a set quote for the work to be done, holding up contractors because a sink wasn’t purchased on time and now has to be delivered in 3 weeks only creates frustration and resentment on the job. Even if the delay doesn’t directly change you bottom line at the moment, if your contractor is losing money on the job, your change orders will cost more and the work done may slip in quality.
Underestimating the Workload
You can’t expect to build your own home and cut out the General contractor or builder, and not expect to have to do anything. It is your job to get quotes, hire subcontractors, monitor progress, and choose finish materials. Owner Builder Texas can help you get a grasp on the workload and may sure you are on schedule with the duties of an owner builder, every step of the way. In general, you should spend 10 hours/week working on your builder project, doing anything from shopping for materials to review quotes or walking the job site. Keeping on task and planning time to take part in your building project can help make your new home be built faster, smoother, and in many cases, cheaper.
Getting Ahead of Yourself
On the other hand, trying to do too much at the beginning or before the time is right can have negative impacts on your project as well. Ordering bathroom sinks to be delivered before the slab is cured, for example, can be detrimental. Too many materials on the job site before they are needed can slow production, causing wasted time to rearrange or work around materials. You may also run into discontinued, non-matching, or sold out scenarios. For example, you order a run of bath tile too early only to find out you need an additional 5 square feet. If months have past since the original order, you may not be able to find the exact tile, or the run may not match exactly to the first order. Worse yet, you may not be able to return it anymore if the return time frame has lapsed.
Don’t worry, You are not Alone
Owner Built Custom Homes is there with you through every step of the project. We supply timelines, ordering samples, and contractor referrals.We can help you stay connected and focus on the goals of your project to get a beautiful custom home as the end result.
Would you like to receive more information?