Home & Garden Owner Builder.

[Jafa]

Has anyone ever been through the owner builder process? It's something I am thinking of doing and I would be interested in hearing peoples experiences of the process.

I have some experience of the building industry through my business and I am not a stranger to building sites etc however I have no building experience beyond my trade (cabling). I am also fortunate to know most of the guys from the various trades and have a good feel for who has a good rep in the industry and who is not all that well regarded.

Any thoughts would be helpful. I am just tired of dealing with builders who want to charge the earth and use the cheapest tradies they can find.

 

[Tormented Tiger]

16 years I've been an owner builder.

I got a builder to get us to lock up stage and then the rest was mine. The good thing is you get to know where the wiring and plumbing is in the house so when things go wrong. Most jobs like plastering are easy as long as you don't cut corners or try do it on the cheap. Preperation is everything to a good looking job at the end.

Also we got robbed just after we registered as an owner builder. At the same time the neighbors 2 doors down were robbed too, they registered at the same time. Apparantly our Council releases a directory to builders and suppliers of all Owner Builders in the area. If your a crap tradie who doesn't get any work atleast this directory tells who should have cash or tools on their property.

 

[Jafa]

I got a builder to get us to lock up stage and then the rest was mine.

Now thats an interesting compromise. I hadn't thought of that.