How to Be Your Own Contractor and Save Thousands on Your New House or Renovation While Keeping Your Day Job: With Companion CD-ROM [Paperback]

Tanya Davis (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2008

If you're thinking about building or remodeling your house, you should consider hiring yourself as the contractor. You can save 10% to 35% of the project's cost and perhaps more important, you'll be able to monitor the quality of materials and workmanship, fine-tune the design, and make sure the result meets your needs. The best part is you can do this part-time without picking up a hammer. This all sounds great, what is the catch? There really is none, except you must know what you are doing! This groundbreaking and exhaustively researched new book will provide everything you need to know to get your house or renovation completed the way you want it while saving thousands. Since your success depends on thorough preparation as well as an ability to hire and schedule subcontractors, control costs, keep work moving, and stay calm we have charted the course for you to avoid costly even illegal mistakes. In this easy to read, comprehensive new book you will learn step-by-step procedures for subcontracting and building your home or renovating while still working full time. You will learn how to choose a site, draw up construction time line and flow charts, apply for construction loans and financing, obtain essential insurance information, buy inexpensive plans, find and negotiate with sub contractors, and comply with building code, inspection, and permit requirements. Now you can be armed with the right information and save money and time. The ins and outs of self contracting are explained, combined with the experiences of others, and with dozens of forms and checklists at hand, you will learn all about: building materials and foundations, floors, walls, paint, windows, decks, garage doors, roofing, flashings, chimneys, plumbing: piping, fixtures, faucets, water heating and fuel storage systems, pools and equipment, wiring: main service panels, conductors, switches, receptacles, heating, air conditioning and heat pumps, ceilings, floors, railings, doors and windows, attics, walls, kitchens, and bathrooms. In addition you will gain valuable information about: septic systems, wells, water quality testing, mold, radon testing, asbestos, termites, carbon monoxide testing, and lead testing. Included in this book are hundreds of easy-to-implement tools, contracts, forms, and checklists to help you get your project organized, and easier to manage while saving thousands! Expertly organized, this unique book takes you step-by-step through the many valuable forms contained in this work which may be easily printed out and customized from the companion CD-ROM.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Atlantic Publishing Company (FL) (April 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1601380046
• ISBN-13: 978-1601380043
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #223,030 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Basics of Self Contracting, September 5, 2008

By 

R. Halprin - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: How to Be Your Own Contractor and Save Thousands on Your New House or Renovation While Keeping Your Day Job: With Companion CD-ROM (Paperback)

The very readable new book by Tanya Davis walks you through the basics of self contracting in terms of either renovating your current home if you are staying put or building a new one from scratch. Managing a residential construction project, especially if you're holding down a full-time job and have family responsibilities, is clearly not for everyone, so this book will help you decide whether the homebuilding process might be right for you--a highly individual decision that can only be made after careful consideration.

Drawing upon her own experience and research as well as interviews with contractors and other real-estate gurus around the country, Davis authoritatively explains how to save money and time, and avoid frustration, when taking on a do-it-yourself project of this magnitude. According to Davis, "Building [or remodeling] a home has become increasingly complex, but by developing a straightforward, organized way of handling each step of the process, you can easily create the structure you always dreamed of from beginning to end. You will be able to create a house that will be beautiful and functional, and bring you joy for years to come. The best part is that you will have the satisfaction of having created it yourself." Davis says that you can save anywhere from 10 to 35 percent by hiring yourself as the contractor and even doing some of the actual labor yourself.

The book covers key topics such as the seven steps to the perfect home design, pre-construction activities, financing, finding and negotiating with subcontractors, building code compliance, supplies and materials, and avoiding problems and common mistakes. Even if you are just considering some minor remodeling or weekend fix-it projects, this reader-friendly book offers helpful guidance.

The book includes many checklists and sample forms (which also appear in the companion CD) to help you stay on top of your all-important scheduling and recordkeeping tasks so that you can manage material and workmanship effectively.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Consider this book before you become your own contractor, August 19, 2009

By 

Lisa J. Stamatelos "HR Queen" (New York) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: How to Be Your Own Contractor and Save Thousands on Your New House or Renovation While Keeping Your Day Job: With Companion CD-ROM (Paperback)

Whether you are ambitious enough to be the contractor for your entire project or just some sections this book is will hold your hand through the process. The author includes useful charts and lists to guide you through your project. Specific projects, such as kitchens and bathrooms have their own chapter making for easy reference.
I found the most helpful chapter to be "Potential Problems & Common Mistakes." The advice given here is a huge money and time saver. The appendix is chock full of great websites and additional resources. Even if you decide not be your own contractor you will be educated and prepared to work with whomever you decide to hire.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Renovation Made Easy, May 31, 2009

By 

D. Day "addicted to print" (Indiana USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: How to Be Your Own Contractor and Save Thousands on Your New House or Renovation While Keeping Your Day Job: With Companion CD-ROM (Paperback)

If you are building or remodeling a home this book is worth its weight in gold. Even if you do not want to be your own contractor, it provides the information you need to understand the building and remodel process. You will never have to rely on someone else to know what is happening.
Everything is covered, from site selection to finishing touches. I especially liked the part describing dangers, problems, and mistakes, that might happen.
You could easily save yourself the cost of the book with all the good advice, not to mention a lot of headaches.