While I've never built a house from scratch, I've done extensive remodels that were probably more involved than building from scratch.
The most important question is: whose money are ya using? yours or theirs?
Most loan companies will not allow you to be your own general contractor. Yes, that sucks - because it also means you'll be paying a general contractor something like 15% of the overall cost of the house.
Lazy subcontractors are the reason for general contractors. That roofing crew isn't gonna care if *your* project gets done in a timely manner - if you're the general contractor, Why? Because their reputation is safe if you're only a G.C. once. They don't have to please you in order to get more roofing jobs. Get mad if you want, they honestly won't care.
I imagine your goal is to save as much money as possible by doing everything yourself. That will still be possible, even if you are required to hire a general contractor...although you won't recover his/her fees.
There are a lot of tasks that are best left to 'professionals'. Sure you could probably do it yourself, but it won't be worth your time nor the money saved. Drywall finishing, concrete, and roofing come immediately to mind. Those are jobs where skilled workers can finish in a weekend - but unskilled labor could take a month. With iffy results.
I completely gutted and remodeled a house without hiring a G.C. It took me $50,000 and 3 years of weekends to finish. I hired outside help on 3 occasions. The first was an electrical service upgrade [$1,000] (the power co. required licensed electrician else they wouldn't connect their lines to it). I then hired a heating/cooling contractor to install ductwork and air-handling equipment [$7,000]. Finally, since I was such a wussy, I paid a plumber to crawl under the house and install the washing machine plumbing [$675].
I did all the other work myself. Turned out very nice.
Time is money. How much time you got?
The most important question is: whose money are ya using? yours or theirs?
Most loan companies will not allow you to be your own general contractor. Yes, that sucks - because it also means you'll be paying a general contractor something like 15% of the overall cost of the house.
Lazy subcontractors are the reason for general contractors. That roofing crew isn't gonna care if *your* project gets done in a timely manner - if you're the general contractor, Why? Because their reputation is safe if you're only a G.C. once. They don't have to please you in order to get more roofing jobs. Get mad if you want, they honestly won't care.
I imagine your goal is to save as much money as possible by doing everything yourself. That will still be possible, even if you are required to hire a general contractor...although you won't recover his/her fees.
There are a lot of tasks that are best left to 'professionals'. Sure you could probably do it yourself, but it won't be worth your time nor the money saved. Drywall finishing, concrete, and roofing come immediately to mind. Those are jobs where skilled workers can finish in a weekend - but unskilled labor could take a month. With iffy results.
I completely gutted and remodeled a house without hiring a G.C. It took me $50,000 and 3 years of weekends to finish. I hired outside help on 3 occasions. The first was an electrical service upgrade [$1,000] (the power co. required licensed electrician else they wouldn't connect their lines to it). I then hired a heating/cooling contractor to install ductwork and air-handling equipment [$7,000]. Finally, since I was such a wussy, I paid a plumber to crawl under the house and install the washing machine plumbing [$675].
I did all the other work myself. Turned out very nice.
Time is money. How much time you got?