Self-contracting, a good idea?

 Irene,

Unless you have contracted your own home before on been in on a lot of construction, I recommend not doing it.  You can get in so much trouble if you don't know the ropes, and there is plenty of work for you to do as owners, like researching and picking products.  You don't need to fall behind while you are running around making sure subcontractors are doing their jobs.  

What I like to do is find a good contractor that I really like and has great references, that I can pay by the week.  I give him/her a set fee, plus ten percent over what he/she spends for labor and materials.  I don't like to have the contractor bid my job, because I know he/she has to pad it a lot to make sure it does not go over budget and he/she loses money.  I reserve the right to buy products on my own and get them to the site.  It takes work, but I have to be in on those decisions anyway, can save some money, and get the miles on my credit card.  

Doing it this way is like co-contracting the job.  If you insist on contracting the job, at least get a really competent foreman to be on site every moment.  Also, a contractor comes with workman’s comp insurance, and can sign you on as an insured, so you are protected against any injuries on the job.  Without the contractor you really to need get your own insurance.  You might feel very lucky, but you’ll have restless night without that insurance.

Other things: 

Get subcontractors to sign you on as an insured to their insurance.  It costs them nothing or very little and protects you from their mishaps. 

Also, I will from now on have job order sheets that are given to each subcontractor when their work is decided upon.  That subcontractor has to have signatures from husband, wife, contractor and foreman before his/her work can proceed.  Example:  I spoke with our shower door maker/installer no less that five times and told him that all openings were taller than average, and I wanted all glass doors to stop three inches from the top of the opening.  The day he came back for the final measurement he inquired with my wife about the door size, and she told him to make them “regular” size.  I returned to find that the sexy shower entrances I designed had been reduced to mere doors.  I had no recourse.  If I had written my instructions on a piece of paper and all of us had to sigh off, that would not have happened. 

Next, one of you must be on site every day and watch people like a very friendly hawk.  They do not have your vision and will not execute properly, guaranteed!  That said, trust the aesthetic senses of the pros who’s work you like. 

Finally, remember that you are the client and you hire people on your terms, but hire all the best you can.  There is just too much work to do it all yourself.  Build what you can afford and know that it will always take more time and cost more than you planned.  Knowing that going in will make the process much more pleasant and it will save your marriage.

Happy Building,

Kevin