Remodeling new home, do I need a contractor?

9 years ago

My husband and I have purchased a new home in a new subdivision. The upgrades we want are extremely expensive through the builder, so we will do them after we take possession but before we move in. We will be replacing the flooring throughout the home, baseboards, installing crown molding, master bath tile and plumbing fixtures, kitchen countertops, kitchen sink & plumbing fixture, fireplace mantle. It seems pretty straightforward to us...hire a demo crew and then start bringing in the trades. What are we missing? Can we do this without a contractor or not? Thanks!

Featured Answer

ackcx3

9 years ago

Will you be able to recycle any of your demo'd stuff? If not, this seems tragically wasteful.

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Comments (10)

User
9 years ago
It's really a bit hard to advise. If you have the time to dedicate (you have to be on top of them all the time) and the know how to supervise the trades, by all means do it yourselves. I must warn you though, construction is not for the fainthearted.
User
9 years ago
A 100K remodel before you ever move in seems to be not the wisest investment of money. Better to pay the builder. You are typically only paying a bit over the remodel price when you count in the demolition and dumpster fees, dust protection, and days of payi g a mortgage on an uninhabitable dwelling.
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olesichi
9 years ago
It sounds like you plan to act like your own contractor. Assuming you are in US, you need to check the web site of your town hall for local regulations. There might be some permits you need to pull before you start. And some inspection to go through before you finish. You might also look into COC insurance before you start bringing crews in to address possible liability issues.
roswellqs
9 years ago
Does sound like you are paying even for standard items with the builder than ripping them out and paying again while you are still paying for the original in your mortgage. What's your net cost? Could you get the builder to leave unfinished and lower your price? Since you aren't doing anything structural you don't need a contractor. Just manage the trade folks yourself.
npbhike
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks for the quick responses! To clarify, we won't have a mortgage and we received bids for the flooring and the shower which includes bid for demo; received bids for new kitchen countertops and its demo. I've priced out the kitchen sink and we already have the plumbing fixtures for the master bath. The builder's pricing for the upgrades we want are at least twice what we've had bid out. The home is scheduled to be finished in early July. Thanks so much!
npbhike
Original Author
9 years ago
We hope to recycle. Habitat for Humanity will take the new carpet, sinks, plumbing fixtures...the kitchen countertops if they don't get destroyed in the demo.
User
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Showers are so much more than just tiling a surface. They have to be built correctly and waterproofed correctly. That's a 6-10K job. Each. Done properly, by someone who knows what they are doing. Because you don't just pull of tile and reptile. You start over completely.

Flooring, figure $10 a square for middle of the road product and labor. Without demo of the old. If you're getting prices substantially different than that, you'd better ask what you're NOT getting for that money. Because no one gets something for nothing. Including license and insurance that protects you.
npbhike
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks to everyone for their input!
PRO
Brickwood Builders, Inc.
9 years ago
Don't know where you are located, but you will need to pull the appropriate permits for a portion of the work. There will need to be inspections for plumbing and/or electrical work.