Building a custom home is very much a team sport — this is particularly true if you’d like to save a little money by acting as your own general contractor or project manager. Beyond you and your log or timber provider, there are many key players who will help the final details of your home come to fruition. Hiring and managing subcontractors, from carpenters to electricians, is a skill in itself. If you can master it, it will help you stay on-schedule and on-budget.
Here’s how to navigate the world of subcontractors so you can communicate clearly, set expectations and ultimately, successfully create your dream home together.
SUBS 101
Almost all subcontractors are small-business owners who are in a competitive arena where it’s difficult to make a living. When work is plentiful, money flows; but when the weather is bad or housing is in a slump, jobs may be nonexistent.
Subcontractors bid and schedule
