Very few non-contractors will attempt to serve as their own general contractor on a custom home build or a commercial project, but occasionally, a homeowner will consider serving as their own general contractor on a home remodel in Temecula. This is certainly something a homeowner can do. It’s perfectly legal, but as a professional general contracting company, we would advise you to really consider all the aspects involved in a home remodel before diving in without a licensed contractor on your side.
Completing a home remodel in Temecula involves much more than just calling subcontractors to come in and do the various aspects of your project. It involves researching, scheduling, and supervising those subcontractors. At Cal-Pacific Construction, we’ve developed a network of quality, licensed subcontractors during our many years of working in the construction industry. When we need specialty work completed, we can call on them. They show up when they say they will and do the work at a fair price.
Even though we have a lot of confidence in our subcontractors, we still oversee their work to ensure it is up to our high standards. Answer this question honestly: If you were to serve as your own general contractor, would you be able to tell if a subcontractor did a subpar job? In addition, do you have the time to supervise every tradesperson who will need to come in and out of your home during your home remodel? If the answer to either of these questions is “no,” then you may want to consider using a general contractor for your home remodel in Temecula.
Being your own general contractor also involves carefully managing schedules. As experienced general contractors, we know how to manage our own schedule, as well as the schedules of our subcontractors, to minimize downtime between tasks. Unless you want your project to take forever, you need to know how to schedule subcontractors so your project doesn’t come to a standstill while you’re waiting for the next subcontractor you need to become available.
Finally, working with your local building department for permits and inspections is another job you’ll have to take on if you choose to serve as your own general contractor. Plan checkers and city inspectors are not going to go easy on you simply because you are not a professional contractor. In fact, they may use a little extra scrutiny if they know you are acting as your own general contractor to make sure everything has been completed according to the building code.
We know it can be tempting to try to save money on your home remodel by serving as your own general contractor, but really take the time to consider if you are up for the task, or if hiring a general contractor would be money well spent in your situation.