How to Be Your Own Contractor and Save Thousands on Your New House or Renovation: While Keeping Your Day Job- with Companion CD-ROM
If you're thinking about building or remodeling your house, you should consider hiring yourself as the contractor. You can save 10% to 35% of the project's cost and perhaps more important, you'll be able to monitor the quality of materials and workmanship, fine-tune the design, and make sure the result meets your needs. The best part is you can do this part time without picking up a hammer. This all sounds great, what is the catch? There really is none, except you must know what you are...
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If you're thinking about building or remodeling your house, you should consider hiring yourself as the contractor. You can save 10% to 35% of the project's cost and perhaps more important, you'll be able to monitor the quality of materials and workmanship, fine-tune the design, and make sure the result meets your needs. The best part is you can do this part time without picking up a hammer. This all sounds great, what is the catch? There really is none, except you must know what you are doing! This groundbreaking and exhaustively researched new book will provide everything you need to know to get your house or renovation completed the way you want it while saving thousands. Since your success depends on thorough preparation as well as an ability to hire and schedule subcontractors, control costs, keep work moving, and stay calm we have charted the course for you to avoid costly even illegal mistakes. In this easy to read, comprehensive new book you will learn step-by-step procedures for subcontracting and building your home or renovating while still working full time. You will learn how to choose a site, draw up construction time line and flow charts, apply for construction loans and financing, obtain essential insurance information, buy inexpensive plans, find and negotiate with sub contractors, and comply with building code, inspection, and permit requirements. Now you can be armed with the right information and save money and time. The ins and outs of self contracting are explained, combined with the experiences of others, and with dozens of forms and checklists at hand, you will learn all about: building materials and foundations, floors, walls, paint, windows, decks, garage doors, roofing, flashings, chimneys, plumbing: piping, fixtures, faucets, water heating and fuel storage systems, pools and equipment, wiring: main service panels, conductors, switches, receptacles, heating, air conditioning and heat pumps, ceilings, floors, railings, doors and windows, attics, walls, kitchens, and bathrooms. In addition you will gain valuable information about: septic systems, wells, water quality testing, mold, radon testing, asbestos, termites, carbon monoxide testing, and lead testing. Included in this book are hundreds of easy-to-implement tools, contracts, forms, and checklists to help you get your project organized, and easier to manage while saving thousands! Expertly organized, this unique book takes you step-by-step through the many valuable forms contained in this work which may be easily printed out and customized from the companion CD-ROM.
Dedication 3Introduction 7Are You Ready to Tackle the Custom Home Process? 13Plans 37Pre-Construction Activities 57Financing 63Financing for Remodeling 83Insurance 89Find & Negotiate with Subcontractors 99Renovating a Home 115Comply with Building Code, Inspection, & Permit Requirements 127Building Materials & Foundations 133First Stages of Construction 159Kitchens 207Bathrooms 217Putting on the Finishing Touches 229Potential Dangers & How to Prevent Them 239Potential Problems & Common Mistakes 245Conclusion: A Final Word on Saving Money 257Resources 261Author Acknowledgements & Biography 265House Building Glossary Terms 267Index 287
