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re: How Much Cheaper Would A Home Be If The Owner Built It Themselves?
Posted on 4/17/19 at 12:10 pm to OweO
Posted on 4/17/19 at 12:10 pm to OweO
In 2005 we built our home (rural tract), contracted it ourselves and did a lot of work ourselves. Our family has contractors of several different areas so electrical, plumbing, flooring, and all trim work was all done at no cost labor. In addition, all related materials were purchased at their cost. Took a little over 6 months to build at a cost of $72/sq ft. Final appraisal going from construction loan to mortgage was $135/sq ft (value of land itself subtracted from that amount). Not sure how much this example helps but it was our experience. Also, to get the permits we did have to sign a document basically saying we were building not to sell. Still live there today.
Posted on 4/17/19 at 12:12 pm to Ed Osteen
Sorry. I didn't word it correctly.
What I mean is.. For example, my grandpa built his family house when he came back from WWII. He would go to work and then work on his house in the evening and on the weekends. He literally built it by himself. If someone was to do it like that today.. What would it cost?
Today it might not be that easy, you would at least need to have to get someone to pour the foundation, but if someone decides to do it on their own. Work on it in the evenings and on the weekends and the help they get are from their sons or a family member who doesn't charge them for labor.
What I mean is.. For example, my grandpa built his family house when he came back from WWII. He would go to work and then work on his house in the evening and on the weekends. He literally built it by himself. If someone was to do it like that today.. What would it cost?
Today it might not be that easy, you would at least need to have to get someone to pour the foundation, but if someone decides to do it on their own. Work on it in the evenings and on the weekends and the help they get are from their sons or a family member who doesn't charge them for labor.
Posted on 4/17/19 at 12:18 pm to OweO
First the slab work and roof framing, you can’t do yourself. So $30k on the slab work and $10k on roof framing. So say you can do everything else, also pay a Mexican to brick the front, trust me it’s worth the extra $5k. Now you’re in it about $45k on work you can’t do yourself. Framing will be around $10k in lumber. Electrical $5k. Plumbing around $2k. Sheetrock around $7k. Floors anywhere from $3k-$15k depends on your taste. Doors windows $5k. So basically I’d put it around $100k to build your own house with paying for a slab,roof, and brick while doing everything elses yourself. If you already have a 100k a year job, it’s not worth doing it because time is indeed money. Now say you get unemployed and don’t have shite else to do and you have a great savings, rock on my friend. Whatcha a shite ton of YouTube, buy the catalogs, and grab a tool belt.
Posted on 4/17/19 at 12:21 pm to OweO
There was that lady who built a home following YouTube videos.
Posted on 4/17/19 at 12:23 pm to OweO
Guy I work with built an almost 4,000 square foot home for under 80k. He had a small saw mill that he use to do on his previous job. Used the trees on his property to build the house. He did the wiring also but I know he paid an hvac guy and plumber to do some things.
ETA: And slab of course he had someone do
ETA: And slab of course he had someone do
This post was edited on 4/17/19 at 12:24 pm
Posted on 4/17/19 at 12:23 pm to OweO
The concrete company that laid my driveway skimped on the concrete and it had to be re-poured. That alone was a $10k frickup that the general paid out of his own pocket.
Posted on 4/17/19 at 12:24 pm to 777Tiger
quote:
see the thread from last week about the schmuck that was trying to build his with no clue as to what he was doing
Link? I need to read this.
![](https://images.tigerdroppings.com/Images/Icons/IconLOL.gif)
Posted on 4/17/19 at 12:29 pm to OweO
Another approach is to not have a general contractor/builder. All that function brings to the party is subcontractor contacts and a whole bunch of cost. After interviewing 10 builders over 3 months I decided to go it alone and cost dropped from 390 thousand to 270 thousand actual. The 120 thousand difference is contractors makeup 25 % and ineffiency
Posted on 4/17/19 at 12:34 pm to NorthGwinnettTiger
quote:
Link? I need to read this
I cant find it. It was pretty good
![](https://images.tigerdroppings.com/Images/Icons/IconLOL.gif)
Posted on 4/17/19 at 12:39 pm to OweO
We built our house ourselves except for the cabinets, brick, 80% of the sheetrock, and capping off the slab (did all the footing, blocks, and plumbing ourselves). We had a guy come in and saw up logs for our framing lumber and air dried it for six months.
Anyway, it was a pain in the butt. Worked Mon-Sat after work for six months. Tbh took halfway through before I really knew what I was doing. Spent $90k and it appraised for $203k. 3000ft heated, almost 4000ft under roof with porches and garage. House is very nice, out in the country from Brookhaven. And I would never do it again....
Anyway, it was a pain in the butt. Worked Mon-Sat after work for six months. Tbh took halfway through before I really knew what I was doing. Spent $90k and it appraised for $203k. 3000ft heated, almost 4000ft under roof with porches and garage. House is very nice, out in the country from Brookhaven. And I would never do it again....
Posted on 4/17/19 at 12:41 pm to OweO
Doing much of the work brings the cost down tremendously. My father in law did this (and somehow still had time to teach my kid to ride a bike) and saved a shitload of money.
Posted on 4/17/19 at 12:42 pm to Trevaylin
quote:
Another approach is to not have a general contractor/builder. All that function brings to the party is subcontractor contacts and a whole bunch of cost. After interviewing 10 builders over 3 months I decided to go it alone and cost dropped from 390 thousand to 270 thousand actual. The 120 thousand difference is contractors makeup 25 % and ineffiency
Im a GC, so obviously im going to recommend someone to get one.
But if I found out that I was even the 4th person you interviewed, I probably would have said that thanks, but no thanks, I hope the projects goes good for you.
That is the last type of homeowner I want to work with. You might try to say that you interviewed that many because you were looking for the right fit but you're really just looking for the cheapest.
Posted on 4/17/19 at 12:47 pm to OweO
quote:
my grandpa built his family house when he came back from WWII. He would go to work and then work on his house in the evening and on the weekends. He literally built it by himself
Your grandpa built a house and I would bet you would have trouble building a 2 story card house
Posted on 4/17/19 at 12:49 pm to OweO
So you’re basically asking how much do materials cost for a 250k house?
Or, how much of that 250 is labor?
Or, how much of that 250 is labor?
Posted on 4/17/19 at 12:50 pm to OweO
quote:
they have $0 labor cost.
Good luck trying to frame up a house by yourself.
Posted on 4/17/19 at 12:51 pm to windshieldman
quote:
Guy I work with built an almost 4,000 square foot home for under 80k
Not possible
Posted on 4/17/19 at 12:53 pm to OweO
I subed on a job where the general contractor just took an hourly salary, it saved the homeowners close to 100k.
Posted on 4/17/19 at 12:55 pm to OweO
How you going to nail drywall and you can’t nail your ole lady?
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