Expert: Dan Griffin - 11/29/2007

Question
Mr. Griffin,

I need to build an addition in my house. This is going to be a simple four wall room. Any contractor that I get in contact with is always more expensive than the one before, and every single one of them has something bad and scary to say about other contractors. Since this is a simple project and I already have the blue prints, I said to myself why do not I act as my own contractor and subcontract the different companies involved in the process. Everybody says that it is cheaper that way, but my question is how cheap would that be? So far the estimates go around 80k. Depending on how big is the saving maybe it is a good idea to try. What do you think.

Thank you

Alfredo

Answer
Alfredo,

This depends a great deal on your local market conditions.  General contractors work on a profit margin from 5% to 20% of the final project.  If you do not know much about construction it can be a harrowing experience.  It sounds as if you might have a limited number of sub contractors, but here is a partial list:
Excavation contractor
Concrete foundation cont.
Concrete slab cont (might be the same guy)
Electrical cont
Plumbing ?
Termite treatment
Framing
Masonry
Roofer
Insulator
Drywall cont
HVAC
Finish carpentry
Painter
Flooring
Clean up and landscape

If you feel qualified to find these subcontractors, review their credentials, supervise their work for quality and code compliance, monitor their insurance and payment schedule, and coordinate their sequence is a decision you need to make.  Any construction job has it's difficulties when everyone know what they are doing, remodels while a house is occupied add to the problems.  Let's assume the builder is expecting to make a profit of 10% to 20%, so between $8,ooo and 16,000 dollars for a 2 month (?) or more project.  I can't make this decision.  I am also having a problem figuring out how you are adding a 4 wall room to an existing structure as one of the walls must already be there.  I can't see your project or envision the trades and problems involved.

There are people who do this work themselves, hiring out a few trades and there are others who prefer putting all the problems in the hands of builder they trust.  Your call, I hope this conversation helped.