It’s a no-brainer really – but the cost of labour is a considerable portion of the total cost of building a new home. When practicable and practical, saving money by doing it yourself can save you hundreds of dollars.
The cost of constructing a new home rises quickly when you factor in the time spent by everyone from the general contractor (GC) to the landscaping crew. Taking on some of the work yourself is the best way to keep an eye on costs.
Industrious and creative people have various paths to the home of their dreams. A DIY effort for the non-systems components of the home can go a long way to save money, but you’ll always need qualified professionals for mechanical, electrical, and plumbing – anything that needs legally signing off.
If you’re building a smaller, more manageable cabin or second house, doing the work yourself may be more feasible because it allows you to spread out the work across several months of weekend DIY sessions.
It’s important to think things through and know when you’ve gone too far.
There are instances when working on your own is more cost-effective, but there are also times when doing so is a waste of time and money. For example, finding a crane for hire might be best left to the professionals.
For those who aren’t sure whether to employ a contractor or handle it on their own, the most important stage is an honest assessment of their degree of talent and expertise, as well as how much free time they have.
If you’re ready to get your hands dirty, here are several methods where you can save money on the construction of your new home or cabin:
You may not be a professional architect or engineer, but you may save money and time by reviewing ready-made house designs to choose one that best suits your vision and your financial constraints.
If you have a knack for visualizing three-dimensional versions of two-dimensional floor plans, then a stock plan can be a good fit for you. Many blueprint providers offer some customization options lead sources for an additional price, but you won’t have complete control over the layout of your home.
For a fraction of the cost of a custom design, you can then engage an expert to tweak the plans to meet your specific needs.
You don’t need to be licensed as a general contractor if you’re working on your own home. More than ten per cent of your entire construction costs can be saved by taking control of the project yourself.
In order to hire and coordinate experienced subcontractors, you’ll need a working knowledge of the construction process. For those who are naturally adept at solving problems and communicating with others, building a simple cabin or home should be a piece of cake.
It is important to keep in mind that as your general contractor, you must take out a builder’s risk or fire policy as soon as the building materials are delivered or a worker begins working on your project. Depending on the architect or subcontractor, you may also be responsible for obtaining the necessary building permissions. You also need to consider things like a hand sanitiser stand and other health and safety requirements.
It can be difficult for a subcontractor to handle the costs of multiple projects at once. As long as the subcontractor is going to charge you for supplies like lumber, wiring, and siding, offer to buy them directly from the supplier and pay for them in full.
If someone else buys the materials, subcontractors may be ready to lower their bids a little. Suppliers, on the other hand, may provide a little discount if you pay in full upfront.
You can save money on kitchen and bathroom cabinetry by purchasing RTA (ready to assemble) choices from a wholesaler, which is a substantial line-item cost. Assemble and hang the cabinets when they arrive (with an extra helper or two). Customer service is also available from several of the top-tier brands especially if you are one of their sales qualified leads.
The availability of prefabricated marble or granite countertops in predetermined sizes is also on the rise. A typical kitchen and bathroom plan means that you’ll spend around half as much money on the countertop as you would on a personalized one. Prefab granite or marble countertops might save you up to $4,500 in comparison to having them made to order.
Make sure the windows and doors are all the same size, whether you’re using pre-made blueprints or a unique design. Customization is often necessary for windows and doors that are out of the ordinary in terms of size, form, or function. Construction supply stores sometimes have conventional windows and doors, and aluminium cladding, priced to sell, so you may also look for leftovers there.
Comparing pricing is a great way to find high-quality, name-brand finishes and appliances at deeply discounted prices if you put in the effort.
There are several ways to save money around the house, such as purchasing discounted floor models or scratch-and-dent appliances, as well as keeping an eye out on sites like eBay, Craigslist, and others for used or reused products. And you never know, you might be able to haggle on the price.
In order to make use of this, you don’t need to be a skilled constructor. You may be more imaginative in locating materials when you are doing the homework on your own.
Your dream home can be achieved with a bit of elbow grease, imagination, as well as being a knowledgeable online and in-person materials scavenger. Traditional routes aren’t the only way.
General contractors can save money by performing non-legal system-related work. Legally prohibited work applies to jobs like electrical wiring and plumbing systems. These need to be completed by qualified specialists for compliance with safety laws, and to allow insurance cover.
Wall sheathing, batting insulation and drywall, plywood floor decking and wood flooring are all Excluded from this process and okay for the DIY amateur builder.
When working with a builder, you may not be able to perform any construction-related tasks yourself.
Check-in with your local building authority to see what requirements apply in your area, but if you’re working with a general contractor, you’ll need their cooperation too.
There are a large number of contractors who will not let you take part in the construction process. The GC may not want to risk his insurance coverage on you because you are an unknown quantity. When it comes to fulfilling deadlines and staying within budget, the general contractor (GC) needs to know that you can keep your half of the bargain.
Request that your general contractor leaves some finishing touches out of the bid so that you can take care of timber screens, once the main building project is complete, even if you engaged a general contractor. Interior painting, staining wood trim, and landscaping are all included in this service.
It is important to remember that every job requires a specific amount of planning and a sliding scale of time to complete.
The scale of the work and the time it takes is never seen on the many popular home renovation TV shows. These always condense months; even years, of labour, into a few minutes – so be aware of this before you take on such a massive project.