For the last month or so I've been playing general contractor. Suz and I had decided to replace some old kitchen cabinets and from there it grew into a 3 room remodel. We've been living mostly in our guest house since we started.

Since the hurricane season last year contractors have been hard to find and prices are at a premium. After looking at a couple estimates ranging up close to 80k I said " Hell honey, I'll do it and be my own GC.

SInce then I've had the privilege of juggling carpenters electricians plumbers plasters and tilemen. That's an education in itself, just in time management.
Well the tearouts all done, the rooms have been rewired replumbed retiled and on Sunday the ceilings and walls got their finish coat. Starting tomorrow the cabinets go in and we're only a week behind the schedule I set up so it's going well.

I was fortunate in that I had lots of free advice from my rum loving architect friend , although all his ideas seemed to cost more ( No Jm I don't want designer Italian halogen lights in my kitchen at $300 each even if they would look great they're too damn hot).

Anyway, the bottom line is by being my own GC I'll be done at under 45k compared to my contractors estimates that ran frm 80 to 85k. If you can put up with the hassles and the inconveinence it sure seems to be worth it.

Happy with the results

fltsfshr

 

Is that with or without clothes on? That is a huge savings, if you know what to do and who to line up.

 

Great...post some pics!! The only disadvantage to doing your own labor is that you can't write it off your taxes. But sounds like in this case, it doesn't matter.

 

Pictures please.

 

When it's done I'll post some pics.

I guess I did a really good job. So good in fact that this morning I got taken out for a bloody mary and introduced to my new great room furniture and other decorator necessities. Only thing I couldn't handle was leaf shaped hand carved featherwood fan blades on the ceiling fans I wanted the ones with neon.
There goes a bunch of what I saved in construction.

Now I've figured out I'm only a kitchen table and chairs away from true happiness.

fltsfshr

 

good to hear that it has turned out well. sometimes these things can be a nightmare

 

Flts,

Good for you. Aside from the savings, you had some input into the quality of the job and, you didn't have to listen to the nonsense and excuses that usually come from the contractor when the job goes over budget and behind schedule.

If you have the time, energy, strength and emotional stability to be your own GC it is the way to go.

Years ago Liz and I hired a contractor to renovate our loft. A six week job turned into a 4 month job. When we threw him off the job and took on the general contracting ourselves things went much better.

Like everyone else, I want to see photos of the finished product.