• If you choose to be your own contractor, you will need to schedule home building projects, hire subcontractors, buy materials and supplies, and oversee the entire project from land excavation to landscaping.
• Some owners opt as contractor by hiring a supervisor or other home builder
• Acting as your own contractor, you will need experience in project management and scheduling.
• Use our Building Checklist to help you mange building your new home.

 
Some key issues to consider as a self-contractor:

• Remind them who is the boss:
• Get people to perform the work in the time you need the work done and at a fair price with quality workmanship.
• Be fair, but tough. Always maintain an alternative backup if the work is not being performed as required.
• Act like a builder:
• Dress, talk, and act like a professional contractor.
• Get to know your subcontractors and speak on their terms.
• Keep records:
• Track purchase orders, invoices, paid receipts and checks, scheduling plans, contracts from subcontractors, worker's compensation records, etc.
• Have readily on hand to protect yourself against liens and any injury liabilities.
• Be insured:
• Carry liability insurance for workers and non-workers for all who have permission and non-permission to work or walk on the premises.
• Provide a comfortable working environment:
• Schedule your project so that inside work can be completed with heating or AC depending on the temperatures outside.
• Provide bathroom facilities and a place for breaks.
• Define and know your priorities
• Manage changes
• Avoid making to many changes to the original design. This could become expensive over time and delay your project.
• Changes are part of every home building project. Most of them are minor, such as adding additional wiring to a certain area of the home. Others can be expensive, like knocking out a wall.
• It's critical that you manage changes within budget. Also note that structural changes may impact other parts of the house such as frame if you decide to remove a wall.
• Keep things moving:
• Stay as close to your schedule as possible
• Delay after delay can push the home building beyond the financing draw period, prompting the bank to take action if necessary.
• Get commitments from suppliers on delivery dates and have them inform you days in advance if they expect delays
• Promptly schedule subcontractors far enough apart so that you can inspect and repair work if needed or make up time if the project is falling behind.
• Add some variance in your original home building plan for unforeseen delays due to weather, labor, and delivery problems
• Keep a tight control on costs — one of the biggest delays is when money runs out

• You hire a home builder to oversee the entire construction plan.
• The home builder will subcontract projects and work with suppliers to provide the materials and labor.
• Consider your level of involvement with the home builder. Most owners rely on the builder's judgment and experience in selecting subcontractors and buying materials.
• Never approve or make payment until the inspection has been satisfied as outlined in the home building plan.
• You and the home builder will jointly oversee and manage the financial aspect of the project. This includes managing the construction line, paying subcontractors and suppliers, obtaining all lien releases, converting the construction line over to a mortgage loan, and finalizing settlement and closing.