{"id":20787,"date":"2022-03-31T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-03-31T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.zolo.ca\/blog\/?p=20787"},"modified":"2022-04-04T18:10:47","modified_gmt":"2022-04-04T22:10:47","slug":"become-your-own-general-contractor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zolo.ca\/blog\/become-your-own-general-contractor","title":{"rendered":"The Reality of Becoming Your Own General Contractor"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n

Home renovations can be extremely costly. For that reason, many Canadians wonder if they can be their own general contractor to save money. But is that really the sound financial decision people think it is? According to a 2021 CIBC Survey<\/a>, 34% of homeowners completed renovations in 2020. Another 31% planned to make upgrades in 2021. Of those Canadians, 71% funded their renovations with savings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These days, with the incredible increase in lumber prices<\/a>, and the lowest existing housing supply on record<\/a>, it might not be a bad idea to go the do-it-yourself (DIY) route. But, at times, it can prove to be more expensive and more time-consuming than you realize. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

One study<\/a> found that, on average, Americans will spend five hours of trial and error on a DIY project before calling in a professional to help. Yet, of those same respondents, 57% wish they could go back in time and call a professional before they started.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Related content<\/p>

How to Choose a Home Renovation Contractor<\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\n\n\n

Let’s take a look at whether DIY renovations and becoming your own contractor are worth the time and money, or if hiring a general contractor makes more sense for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Is the Difference Between Being Your Own Contractor and Hiring a Professional?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A few factors can become difference makers when determining whether you should attempt a DIY project or hire a professional.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

#1. Skillset<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Having some background in home renovations or building can be a huge pro in doing a DIY renovation. This was the case for Ameena Steininger and her husband. The couple completed a full renovation on their 2-storey home that they purchased in 2016 in Balgonie, SK. Given that her husband had worked in home building and his father was a carpenter, he had the background and support system to complete most of the jobs on their own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Attempting to do it yourself with minimal knowledge can end up costing a lot more in the long run to fix,” says Steininger. But, because of their knowledge and skillset, Steininger and her husband could complete their renovation in six months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Kitchen<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

#2. Knowledge of Permits<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When you do any major home renovation, you need to ensure the requirements as far as permits go. Typically, you will need a permit to build a new accessory or structure larger than 10 square metres, make any structural alterations to a building, and build a garage, porch or balcony. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is only a small list of what types of home renovations require a building permit. So one thing to consider when determining whether you can be your own general contractor is whether you’re able to do the research and work required to secure these permits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

#3. Tools and Equipment<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Another consideration for DIY projects is whether or not you have the appropriate tools and equipment to complete the work. If you’ll have to buy or rent the equipment you need, will the cost be more affordable than hiring a general contractor? After all, they’ll already have the necessary materials required to complete the job. These questions are good to ask when mapping out the potential budget and time it will take to complete the renovation as your own general contractor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

#4. Time to Do the Work<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Although you can save money, you won’t always save time. For Audrey Horton, a homeowner in Knoxville, TN, painting her lower kitchen cabinets felt necessary. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They were installed in the 1980s and didn’t match the upper cabinets. So, rather than hire a professional painter to do the job, she chose to go the DIY route to save some money. But, the workload was more than she had hoped. She skipped the bulk of the painting and only finished priming the cabinets. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“They look great from far away, but up close, it’s very easy to see it was a DIY job,” says Horton. Knowing what she knows now, she says you should always assume these types of jobs will take longer than you anticipate. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

#5. The Cost\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Lastly, and most importantly, determining the difference in cost between DIY and hiring a professional is a significant factor. Steininger admits this was an extensive conversation that required a lot of patience. “We comparison shopped for a lot of large purchases, like flooring, in order to save money,” says Steininger. “We sat together and made priority lists to ensure we spent the money where we wanted.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Can You Estimate the Cost of a Home Renovation?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As always, the best way to plan for any home renovation is to do the math. Create a budget with all of the potential costs for materials and labour, and of course, remember to buffer in any surprise expenses that could pop up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Certain factors will influence the cost of your renovation, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n