Thinking About Acting As Your Own General Contractor?

Before you don your hardhat and strap on your tool belt, know what you’re getting yourself into

By Laura Meyer
Published: Dec 01, 2007

If you're thinking about renovating, it’s easy to take a look at the mark-up for profit and overhead paid to General Contractors (G.C.s) who pocket typically 15 to 20% of construction costs—ouch!—and wonder why you should pay that when you could supervise the project yourself. Hey, remodel and go on a shopping spree with all the money you saved, right? Well, maybe you shouldn’t rationalize a few Jimmy Choo purchases just yet. Read on…

Doable. If your project is small – say, you’re just repainting or installing new light fixtures – then, yes, you’re probably fine hiring a painter and electrician and scheduling and overseeing the work yourself. But if your project is on a grander scale requiring more then a couple of trades or if you are doing any work that involves ripping the walls open or affecting your home’s systems, then it might be that you can’t afford not to hire a G.C.

Disastrous. For a large project, acting as your own G.C. can spell major trouble if you don’t know what you’re doing. It will almost certainly cost you more than you would have paid to a G.C., if not in cash then in aggravation. Be realistic. Ask yourself: Do you really have the experience to shop the different trades to get the best deal? Do you really understand how things work well enough to anticipate problems and keep your project on schedule and on budget? You may not have a clue as to what specialists are needed for many things (what is lathe, anyway?) and you almost certainly won’t know how the different tradesmen work together, making coordination a nightmare. And what about insurance issues? Do you really have a handle on that? Also consider that if something goes wrong after the project is done, it will be your job to chase those subs down. Lack of experience aside, general contracting is incredibly time-consuming. So if you have a job and/or a family, find that you can’t even find time for a weekly manicure, or if you plain-old value your sanity, Mr. G.C. may be one man you can’t live without.

Don’t have a choice. If you live in a co–op, condo or planned community, being your own G.C. may not be an option. The by-laws or other legal documents may require that a board or committee approve who can play that role.

Dare to be. If you’re determined to take this on, make sure you check out your subcontractors carefully. Interview, get references, solicit a few bids and compare. Make sure they have the appropriate licenses and proper insurance. Ask to get copies of the certificates. Oh, and good luck!

Laura Meyer is a real estate expert and the author of Remodel This! A Woman’s Guide to Planning and Surviving the Madness of a Home Renovation. Laura is a sought-after expert in the field of home improvement, appearing as a frequent television and radio talk show guest.

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