Should You Hire a General Contractor or Act As Your Own?

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Should You Hire a General Contractor or Act As Your Own?

Giving your house a makeover is one of the most time-consuming and intricate things you can do as a homeowner. There are so many home DIY projects on the internet that look easy enough to complete. But a total revamp of your home isn’t one of them. And that situation begs the question: should you act as your own general contractor or hire a professional?

When You Act As Your Own

When you act as your own general contractor, you get to control how long the work takes, how much is spent, and ownership over what is done. Many homeowners choose to be their own general contractor as a way to save money. And you won’t have to pay anyone externally to do the work since you’ll be doing it on your own.

Doing everything on your own is also a great way to learn more about the contractor industry. You’re going to learn first-hand how the life of a general contractor operates and gain knowledge about the business. You’ll be able to have a hands-on experience and try out something you’ve never done before.

When You Hire Externally

Even though it may seem like a good idea to do everything yourself since you can dictate the process, hiring an external contractor may be your best bet. Without the proper knowledge of codes and how everything actually works, you could make major mistakes that could cost you thousands of dollars in the long run.

Professional contractors know exactly what to do to get the job done in an efficient manner. They know how to schedule other workers accordingly, as they have likely done a home remodel a time or two in the past. Plus, if a worker was to get injured on your property, their insurance would be able to cover any medical bills. This means that it wouldn’t be up to you to deal with.

Since professional contractors are heavily involved in the business, they are able to get the best deals as well. Over the years, they have built good relationships with companies and other subcontractors so they are able to get good prices on materials and labor that are typically expensive. For example, if you need your heating and cooling unit replaced, they might be able to get a good deal for you. Air conditioners generally cost U.S. homeowners more than $11 billion each year, and regular maintenance can keep your air conditioner running efficiently. The HVAC service they work with could get you a unit at a lower price so you don’t have to shell out the big bucks.

So, now that you know the benefits of both being your own contractor and hiring someone else, what will you do?