Pros and Cons of Being Your Own General Contractor

When you want to make home improvements or start a renovation or remodeling project on your house, you don’t have to hire a general contractor. If you have the tools and the determination, there’s nothing stopping you from going the DIY route.

However, if this is your first time spearheading a remodeling project on your own, you need to know the downsides as well as the upsides of taking on the contractor role.

This article will cover both the pros and the cons of being your own general contractor, so that you can make an informed decision about how you want your remodel to go.

Pros

It’s always good to start off on a positive note, so let’s get to the pros!

– Saves you from choosing a contractor

We have a whole article about how to choose the right contractor, but let’s be honest: it would be nice to avoid that whole process to begin with. When you become your own contractor, you don’t have to agonize over hiring someone you’ve never met to work in your home. You trust you, so why not just hire yourself?

– Saves you from paying general contractor fees

There’s no doubt that going DIY can save you money, especially when it comes to general contractor fees. Instead of giving that money to someone else, you can take it and reinvest it into your remodel.

Cons

Now, on to the pitfalls of not hiring a general contractor.

– You must assume all risk and responsibility

When you’re the one in charge of your remodel, you automatically assume all risk and responsibility. That means that if anything goes wrong or you make a mistake, it’s all on you.

– You must be familiar with ICC codes

When a general contractor works on a remodel, whatever they do has to adhere to the International Code Council (ICC) coding regulations. These regulations apply just as equally when you’re working on the same project by yourself. They’re designed to ensure that your home adheres to building standards and remains safe for people to dwell in. And you have to know every single one.

The difference is you may have never had training or experience with ICC codes. A licensed general contractor has, meaning they’ll know how to stay in compliance.

– You must build good relationships with suppliers and subcontractors

Lastly, general contractors (especially the ones with years of experience) already have good relationships with suppliers and subcontractors. As a first time DIY contractor, you’ll have to create these connections on your own from scratch, which can be time consuming and even confusing if you don’t know what you’re doing.

Good First-Time DIY Projects vs Projects Where You Should Hire a Professional

If you decide that you want to try being your own contractor, these are the best first-time DIY projects for you to tackle first.

• Painting walls
• Refinishing or painting cabinets
• Replacing fixtures and appliances
• Refinishing flooring

Now, here are some projects where you’d be wise to hire a general contractor, especially when you’re still in the learning stages.

• Installing new flooring
• Knocking down old walls/building new walls
• Rewiring electrical outlets or light fixtures
• Repairing the foundation

Conclusion

Being your own general contractor can be rewarding and even fun. But it’s also challenging, especially when you’re first starting out. If at any point in your DIY journey, you feel overwhelmed or in over your head, hiring an expert general contractor can lift that weight off your shoulders.