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Started By
Message
Owner Builder Advice
Posted on 12/23/17 at 8:17 pm
Posted on 12/23/17 at 8:17 pm
My wife and I have been looking for a new house for a several months and can't find one we really like. We are thinking about just building. A friend/co-worker built his house 2 years ago using an owner builder program similar to this LINK. He built a very nice house and was able to avoid paying PMI with just a small down payment due to the equity he got from building himself with their help. Does anyone have experience with something like this? I don't think I could do it all without some help but with a program like this I think I can. I worked construction for about 3 years(10 years ago) but I have plenty of family and friends that could help me also. TIA for any advice.
6
Posted on 12/23/17 at 8:30 pm to BentonTiger7
This is interesting...just doesn't seem to be one in the BR area.
Posted on 12/23/17 at 8:40 pm to financetiger
There may be someone who offers something similar in BR. The company my buddy used is out of Shreveport and I don't think they are affiliated with the company I linked.
Posted on 12/23/17 at 8:46 pm to BentonTiger7
quote:
My wife
You know what we need...
Posted on 12/23/17 at 8:47 pm to BentonTiger7
I am in the middle of a major home renovation FWIW. This all sounds good until you factor in the Baton Rouge effect. The housing and building markets are still reeling from the floods and the contractors and subs know it. Getting them to return calls, show up on time or at all, give reasonable quotes or do even passable work is a rarity. Don’t get me wrong, there are great construction companies out there but they have their own people and they are charging a huge premium right now. Anyone with skills is working for them and getting top dollar. That means the other subs, the ones available to owner builders and small contractors, are the bottom of the barrel.
I have been shocked at the shite work the subs have done on my place. I get the contractor to the site, after six or eight calls, and then point to fricked up work and he just shrugs. It is infuriating. I am not an isolated case. I have friends experiencing the same issues. But then I know a lady who just dropped half a million with a big name contractor on a job and had no issues. It’s all in the $$$ and the subs.
I have been shocked at the shite work the subs have done on my place. I get the contractor to the site, after six or eight calls, and then point to fricked up work and he just shrugs. It is infuriating. I am not an isolated case. I have friends experiencing the same issues. But then I know a lady who just dropped half a million with a big name contractor on a job and had no issues. It’s all in the $$$ and the subs.
Posted on 12/23/17 at 8:56 pm to jbgleason
quote:
This all sounds good until you factor in the Baton Rouge effect.
I live in North Louisiana though. I know it was 2 years ago but my buddy said it wasn't bad at all and he actually enjoyed doing it because he could see how much money he was saving. Of course he did say he had some issues with people but overall it was a good experience. He said if he ever moves, he will definitely go the owner builder route again.
Posted on 12/24/17 at 9:21 am to BentonTiger7
Bump for morning crowd
Posted on 12/24/17 at 9:32 am to BentonTiger7
That's interesting. Not only saves money, but you as the homeowner are more involved which is always a good thing. Keep us posted if you go this route.
Posted on 12/24/17 at 10:27 am to BentonTiger7
I am a professional builder and think that program is interesting. They probably get better discounts than your small time builders. I'm not sure how they negotiate on such a large scale in smaller areas though. It seems like it would be a bigger market thing. With my business, we do enough volume where people are knocking the door every day looking to give us discounts and great deals that we can pass on to our customers. I would be surprised if any of my subcontractors have even heard of this company.
Contractors also pass savings on to me because of reputation and payment history. With each customers paying individually, you lose that negotiating factor.
I do not work in your area, but if I were you, I would still understand the commitment it takes to get it done. I tell people they get us for free. By the time you pay more to the framer than I do, more in lumber, more in paint, to the painter, etc etc etc. I could have been there doing the day to day at no additional cost. You need to find someone like that if you can, but we aren't easy to come by. Good luck and if you have any specific questions about the process let me know.
Contractors also pass savings on to me because of reputation and payment history. With each customers paying individually, you lose that negotiating factor.
I do not work in your area, but if I were you, I would still understand the commitment it takes to get it done. I tell people they get us for free. By the time you pay more to the framer than I do, more in lumber, more in paint, to the painter, etc etc etc. I could have been there doing the day to day at no additional cost. You need to find someone like that if you can, but we aren't easy to come by. Good luck and if you have any specific questions about the process let me know.
Posted on 12/24/17 at 11:33 am to jbgleason
quote:
I am in the middle of a major home renovation FWIW. This all sounds good until you factor in the Baton Rouge effect. The housing and building markets are still reeling from the floods and the contractors and subs know it. Getting them to return calls, show up on time or at all, give reasonable quotes or do even passable work is a rarity. Don’t get me wrong, there are great construction companies out there but they have their own people and they are charging a huge premium right now. Anyone with skills is working for them and getting top dollar. That means the other subs, the ones available to owner builders and small contractors, are the bottom of the barrel.
I need work done on a house in BR, I have a reputable contractor that I have used before, I got on his waiting list in August this year for him to do the work in Feb 2018. My experience with trying to get subs myself is the same, no returned calls, if I set up a appointment most never show up, those that do are giving bids that would have been considered robbery before the flood.
Posted on 12/24/17 at 11:33 am to Libertariantiger
LINK
This is the specific company I'm supposed to meet with after the 1st of the year. He does the owner builder and also builds homes himself. He says he gets the discounts you are talking about and passes them to us. I only personally know one person who has gone this route but he spoke very highly of this company. Thanks for the advice. I'm the kind of person to research a ton and talk to a lot of people before doing anything. So I am open to all opinions, good or bad.
This is the specific company I'm supposed to meet with after the 1st of the year. He does the owner builder and also builds homes himself. He says he gets the discounts you are talking about and passes them to us. I only personally know one person who has gone this route but he spoke very highly of this company. Thanks for the advice. I'm the kind of person to research a ton and talk to a lot of people before doing anything. So I am open to all opinions, good or bad.
Posted on 12/24/17 at 11:46 am to BentonTiger7
I did it, but that was 20 years ago. Working a full time job, shift work. I sub contracted the framing out/ blacked in. After that, I finished out everything, plumbing, electrical, sheetrock, floors and painting. 2500 living, 3500 under roof. Did it in 6 months. Yes, it took it's toll and kicked my arse, but I saved well over 70K at that time. I used a local bank with no problem. Took a couple meeting with my plans I had drawn up and had a price break down to the penny. 
Posted on 12/24/17 at 2:07 pm to fishfighter
quote:
but I saved well over 70K at that time.
We are looking to build about the same sized house. $70k 20 years ago is pretty significant. Between us, family, and friends, we would do a lot of the work ourselves also. I'm ready to meet with them and see what we can do.
Posted on 12/24/17 at 2:10 pm to BentonTiger7
Southern Living has some great house plans
Look up good local home builders
Look up good local home builders
This post was edited on 12/24/17 at 2:31 pm
Posted on 12/24/17 at 2:15 pm to biggsc
quote:
Southern slicing has some great house plans
Typo? I do need good sites for house plans.
Posted on 12/24/17 at 2:31 pm to BentonTiger7
Yes sorry, meant Southern Living. Stupid autocorrect
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