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Did you know that by acting as your own contractor for a major home improvements project you may actually lose money and extend the amount of time needed to complete your project?

As an experienced contractor, I have frequently done work for customers who are trying to save themselves money by being their own contractor. They hire me to do part of the job. While I appreciate the business, I've seen so many of these home owners spend more money and take more time undoing mistakes that hiring an experienced general contractor would have avoided. For example, one lady was finishing her basement and bought cabinets before the walls were built. The electricians, flooring contractors, carpenters and others had to constantly move the large boxes from one part of the basement to another, slowing down the job.

Another customer forgot to have the plumber come in before the sheetrock contractor. When he was informed that the plumbing had to be done first, he had the sheetrock contractor finish the walls in the rest of the room, but left the critical area open for the plumber. He was astonished to find out that to call the sheetrock contractor back (two weeks later) cost more that he was orginally quoted.

Every time a contractor comes and goes from your home, it costs money. When they have to make multiple trips due to poor planning, it costs the general contractor. If you're the general contractor, that's YOU.

Unless you are experienced and understand the local codes, you could find yourself spending more money going back and fixing things that should have been done right the first time.