How Much Time is Involved in Being Your Own Contractor (And Giveaway!)

This month we're talking about the book Be Your Own House Contractor. Today, we'll discuss how much time it takes to be your own contractor:

How much time is involved in being your own contractor? This will differ for each individual, but you'll spend more hours planning and preparing than you will on the construction site.

You may spend a month or several months of your spare time in the planning stages, depending on how quickly you are able to make decisions on all the various aspects of the project.

You won't need to spend a great deal of time on the project after construction starts. Your maximum time commitment ought not to exceed two hours a day.

Here's my translation: in order to save the 25% on your house, you're going to need to work for it. You'll spend a good amount of time planning and managing the process and that's your investment in the project. That 25% savings doesn't come for free.

Want to know more? You can win a free copy of Be Your Own House Contractor. Here's how it works:

1. Leave a comment below -- any comment.

2. Sometime Monday, I'll stop by the post, stop the submissions, and name the winner.

3. It will be that person's responsibility to check back to see if they are a winner and then email me their contact information.

4. I'll send all the winners their books in one mass mailing going out the second week in September.

A few rules for these giveaways:

1. You can not win more than one prize.

2. I will be the complete and final judge.

3. Legal disclaimer: I can not guarantee safe delivery of the items. I'll send them via US Mail, so it's likely they'll be fine, but I can't control it and won't be held accountable if the mail system messes up.

4. If you win something and do not contact me within a week of winning, I reserve the right to give your prize away to another winner. Note again: I won't track down the winners -- it's your responsibility to come back and see if you won.

Good luck! Post a comment below for a chance to win this book!

Comments

[Scott Moonen]

Entering drawing.

[Richard M.]

Again, if you would enter me in the drawing.

Thank you.

[Thad]

sure, why not?

[Jared Yaple]

As we are looking to build a house, this book would be a big help!

Enter me please!

[Scott Kustes]

In it to win it.

[Harley]

have to do it this time

[Mike H]

Time would be a big issue for me with this whole idea. I have a hard enough time keeping up with maintenance on my current house. Trying to find time to plan for a new one as well could be daunting.

[Matt G.]

I'll give it another go!

[Cherly]

I am lucky#7

Pick me please!!!

I am already planning and I started using the website as well

[Cherly]

HA HA!!!

Matt G, took my Lucky #7 spot.

I guess I am doomed now ;-)

[Squeezer]

I'd think you'd have to be at the job site a lot more then the time spend in the planning stages. because you'll need to be there to manage your subcontractors and make sure they are doing the work, and doing it satisfactory. i think the biggest problem you'll have is even getting your contractors to show up.

[S]

So I am my own contractor? I should be paid! (with books :-)

[Nathan]

Big book, no whammies!

[Jacob]

oooh! pick me pick me pick me!! Lucky number 14

[Eric G.]

i need this book bad

[GeekMan]

Gimme book. I'll be your best friend.

[Chad d]

Come on Friday, bring me some luck!

[Cam]

Hoping for a Friday win!

[Esther]

winning would be a lovely end to a dismal week.... besides, i'm getting married soon and we want to know as much as we can about how we can save money on a house!

so. here goes one more try. :)

[Brian]

Trying again!!

[Richard]

Trying again!

[Mira]

Just started my career. Still living in an apt, but hoping to have my own home in the not-too-distant future.

[Seth H]

Trying again!

Thanks.

[Daniel]

Blogs with giveaways! Can it get better? Thanks for doing this! It's fun.

Squeezer says:"I'd think you'd have to be at the job site a lot more then the time spend in the planning stages. because you'll need to be there to manage your subcontractors and make sure they are doing the work, and doing it satisfactory. i think the biggest problem you'll have is even getting your contractors to show up."

Posted by: Squeezer | August 17, 2007 at 09:18 AM

I say: If you take the time and effort to hire good subs, you not only co not need to be on the job site, you shouldn't be there. Who wants their "boss" watching them while they work? Do you? Their work will be inspected when they are done with their specific function and they won't be paid till then...just like in other types of business.
Part of the GC's job of screening subs is checking their reliability. That little trait follows subs around like the tail on a dog.
Getting to do your job is easy. You can offer to pay them the minute their work is inspected (as you should anyway).Professionals make them wait 30-90 days ,or longer! Owner builder loans offer unlimited draws to accomplish the above. I have a FREE chapter on finding, hiring, paying, and working with subs on my web site, www.byoh.com
Good subs are plentiful, it's the bad ones who create the horror stories...same for lawyers.
Carl Heldmann

[Dusty]

zing danga baga mooka laka chaka...ingibopa sanjola maku chaka

[Barbara]

This is very interesting and helpful information. Thanks so much for providing it!

[juanny]

mmmmm....ice cream

[JMS]

Giving it another shot...

[guniadi]

This is it! Winning a good resource.

[Cory]

I'll get it this time ...

[Fred]

Here we go again!

[Hemal]

like your blog

[Saloni]

Me too

[JH]

.

[Lance]

The problem I had with my house is taking all the calls during my actual 'work' hours. You will spend lots of time on the phone, believe me!

[Dee Whit]

Would like to enter again to receive an interesting book!

[Brad]

Is it my turn yet?

[Ruthie]

Wanna try my luck again...WIN ME!

[FMF]

This giveaway is now closed. The winner is Guniadi who posted at 1:40 pm Friday. Congrats!

Guniadi, please email me (see: http://www.freemoneyfinance.com/2005/04/free_money_fina_4.html ) and we'll arrange to get you your book.

To the rest of you, stay tuned. I still have plenty of copies to give away!