Home Improvement Contractor - Licensed Contractors
How difficult is it to be your own general contractor for home improvement projects?
For example, I was thinking if you need plumbing, call in a plumber and say "tell me where you need to get at for what I want done and I will tear away the walls and floors for you". Same thing with electrical. Could I just say to an electrician "just tell me where you need to get at and I will open it up for you"? In terms of walls, everybody can put up drywall to patch up open spaces. In terms of framing, a DIY book should do just fine, right? My point is, just as long as you do your homework while still letting licensed people do plumbing and electrical, you should be able to save big bucks, right?
Public Comments
- Some people are good at DIY, and some people are crap. Some people are almost as good as professionals and yes, you can save an awful lot of money doing things yourself. You`d need to discuss with your plumber or electrical man, whether he would prefer if you made the job easier for him, by removing `obstacles` to the job in hand, as some of them prefer to do it all themselves from scratch and don`t take kindly to finding the job half-done already! .....(they prefer big long-term jobs). But you could always ask.
- Whatever project you want done call in at least two contractors, plumbers or electricians and tell them what you want accomplished. Get a bid in writing from each person. After you choose who you want, you can ask them if you paid them in CASH, what would be the price. You will be surprised at how much you can save. If permits are required, they should pull the permits. Just make sure you check the work and never pay them by the hour. The job will really slow down if you do.
- yes you can.you will learn more as time goes by.thats how i started 50 years ago.worked on my own 35years.bld,inspector13 years.loved every minute of it.good luck.remember reputation means EVERYTHING.
- As a plumber i can tell u that most will want do do the job from scratch but its best to go past a library and reed up on plumbing and building i re weired my house and got a electrician to pass the test saved thousands if u need help e mail me and ill do my best
