DIY Or HIY Contracting

Wow!  It’s the beginning of March already and spring is just around the corner.  I can only imagine how eager you Easterners must be to leave those snow days behind. Aren’t you ready to shake off those cobwebs, and grab on tightly to the first signs of spring? Spring is a time for renewal, a time for recharging, and time to start planning your summer home renovation project.  Whether it’s that gourmet kitchen and family room you’ve been dreaming about, the outdated master bathroom you’ve been putting off, or the new bedroom addition you desperately need, spring is for planning and summer is for building. Walk around your house with paper in hand and start working on a list of improvements your home needs and some others you want.  Factor in a budget for each and decide if you’ll need a general contractor to oversee your project or do you plan on taking on the role of a general contractor yourself? Many DIY contractors feel they will save a considerable amount of cash by overseeing the entire project themselves. Truth be told, if this is your maiden voyage, your lack of experience and any errors you make along the way could realistically only save you 10% to 15% of your overall construction costs. If your job is small and only requires the organization of two or three different sub trades then it may pay to take on the job.  Providing you have a solid relationship with a few of these specialists then this may be the best type of DIY contracting for you. So you have to ask yourself: Do I have what it takes to be my own general contractor? And more importantly, is it worth it? I encourage you leave questions or comments below this post, and fill out the form on the right hand side of this page to receive your free copy of my special report: “How to Avoid the 15 Most Common Decorating Mistakes” Article by Lori Gilder, Architectural Interior Designer, Los Angeles, Ca. © 2010 Lori Gilder. Interior Makeovers Inc.