Should You Be Your Own General Contractor? Pros, Cons, and How-To Guide
If you’re building a custom home or planning a major remodel, one question often comes up: Should I act as my own general contractor (GC) or hire one?
Serving as your own GC can be both rewarding and challenging. It offers control over the design, schedule, and budget—but also carries risks that can derail a project if not managed carefully.
The Pros of Being Your Own General Contractor
1. Greater Design Control
When you hire your own architect and manage the trades yourself, you’re in the driver’s seat for every design decision. You’re not limited to a builder’s set floor plans or finishes.
Dana’s parents did exactly this in the late 1980s when they built their home near Castle Rock, Colorado. They hired an architect directly and managed the project themselves. They personally hired plumbers, electricians, and carpenters. They even tiled the bathrooms and hung wallpaper themselves. The result was a home that reflected their exact tastes and preferences.
2. Potential Cost Savings
Without a GC’s markup, more of the budget can go toward materials, features, or finishes. Dana’s parents were able to stretch their budget further while still using quality products.
3. Personal Satisfaction
Completing a home build under one’s own management brings a sense of pride. Every wall, tile, and design choice becomes part of the story of the home.
4. The Advantage of Hiring an Architect
Working directly with a licensed architect—rather than a design–build firm or a drafter—provides a higher level of expertise and flexibility.
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Design–Build Firms often limit your choices to their pre-approved designs and subcontractor relationships. Their goal is to keep projects in-house, which can mean fewer customization options.
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Drafters can produce drawings but typically do not have the training to address structural, code compliance, or design challenges holistically.
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Architects bring both creative design vision and technical expertise, ensuring your plans meet building codes, reflect your personal style, and anticipate construction challenges.
At Essential Pillar Architecture, this also means offering a one-stop shop—producing architectural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and structural drawings, complete with an engineer’s stamp for permitting.
The Cons of Being Your Own General Contractor
1. Risk of Subpar Work
Without strong project management skills, workmanship can suffer. Dana’s parents experienced frustration with several trades—especially the electrician, plumber, and painter. The painter would sometimes arrive late at night, and trades blamed each other when problems arose.
2. Building Department Challenges
Inspections and permits can be a source of stress. When an inspector refused to pass the master shower without doors, Dana’s mother found a creative workaround—buying a shower curtain at Walmart, passing the inspection, then returning the curtain.
3. Delays and Temporary Housing
Construction delays are common. Dana’s parents had to move out of their previous home before the new house was finished, so they rented a one-bedroom apartment and stored belongings in the unfinished basement.
4. Decision Fatigue
Choosing everything—from paint colors to light switches—can be exhausting. Dana’s mother famously broke down at a small-town diner when asked what salad dressing she wanted; she simply couldn’t make another decision.
5. Relationship Strain
Building a home can put pressure on any marriage. Acting as the GC often amplifies this stress due to the constant problem-solving and decision-making.
How to Succeed as Your Own General Contractor
Hire a Skilled Architect
Detailed, accurate plans prevent costly mistakes. A “one-stop shop” providing architectural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and structural drawings—with a structural engineer’s stamp—can make permitting far smoother.
Know the Local Permitting Process
Each jurisdiction has its own rules and required plans. Submitting complete, code-compliant drawings the first time saves weeks or months.
Be Realistic About Time and Skills
If you aren’t skilled in construction management, you may need to hire more experienced help and build that into your budget.
Expect the Unexpected
Allow contingency time and funds. Dana’s father joked, “Well, time to remove another brick!” whenever expenses rose. Adjustments are part of the process.
Stay Organized
A large, well-organized binder can be a lifesaver. Create categories such as:
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Contracts & Agreements
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Permits & Inspection Reports
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Architectural Drawings & Revisions
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Budget & Invoices
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Schedules & Timelines
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Contact Information for Trades
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Material & Finish Selections
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Warranties & Product Manuals
Keep all documentation, receipts, and notes in one place so you can quickly reference them when questions arise or disputes occur.
Lessons from Experience
Even today, Essential Pillar Architecture sees the importance of getting the design right from the start. In one recent project, a client’s garage plans—drawn by another firm—were rejected because the foundation was drawn incorrectly. The plans had to be scrapped, and the project redesigned as a pole barn. Accurate plans can prevent these costly do-overs.
Travis often comments that he wishes he could have helped Dana’s parents with their home in the ’80s—but it was at least five years before they met.
Start Your Project with Confidence
Whether you plan to be your own GC or hire one, success starts with detailed, code-compliant plans. Essential Pillar Architecture can produce all necessary drawings—architectural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and structural—with a stamped engineer’s approval so you can obtain permits without unnecessary delays.
Book your free consultation today and take the first step toward building your dream home—your way.