Log Homes >> Owner-Contractors

Acting As Your Own Contractor, Good or Bad?

Some log home builders like to act as owner-contractors. This allows them to participate fully in the construction process. They are responsible for overseeing the project, hiring subcontractors, and basically handling the day today stresses of building your own home.

Acting as your own contractor is only a good idea if you really want to be involved in the project and have the time for it. Working a full-time job and overseeing the construction of your log home may be quite strenuous. If you are simply considering being your own contractor as a way to save money, and you aren't particularly experienced in home building, you should know that it would probably be cheaper for you to hire a general contractor because they are more experienced and can get the job done faster and better.

Also, banks may be leery about financing building projects run by owner-contractors. Many lenders even require a licensed contractor before they will consider a loan, because this assures the job will be finished within a reasonable time and the completed log home will have an end value greater than that of the loan.

All of this is not meant to deter you from being involved in building your log home. If you determined to act as contractor, but your lender won't finance and owner-contractor, they may except the construction manager.

The construction manager works hand-in-hand with you to get your log home finished properly and in the time allotted. You would still be responsible for hiring and paying subcontractors, bidding, and scheduling, but you would be assisted by an experienced professional.

You can look for construction managers in phone books, but it's probably wiser to get references from your log home manufacturer or the local builders association. If you've hired an architect to do your design, he or she might also be able to recommend somebody.

Source: Log Homes Made Easy