Can I Act as My Own General Contractor?
Yes, in most states you can act as your own general contractor (owner-builder). But the cost savings come with significant risk, time commitment, and liability. Here's the honest breakdown.
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What it involves
You hire and manage all subcontractors, pull permits, schedule inspections, coordinate trades, handle material procurement, and take responsibility for code compliance. It's a full-time job during active construction. Expect 20-30 hours per week of management on a typical residential project.
The potential savings
You save the GC's overhead and profit (typically 15-25% of construction cost). On a $500,000 project, that's $75,000-$125,000. But inexperienced owner-builders often lose much of this through scheduling mistakes, rework, and paying retail for materials that GCs get at trade pricing.
The risks
You're liable for jobsite safety, worker's comp compliance, and code violations. Subcontractors may deprioritize your job (you're a one-time client, not repeat business). Banks are hesitant to fund owner-builder projects. And if something goes wrong structurally, there's no GC warranty to fall back on — it's on you.
When it makes sense
Owner-builder works best for simple projects where you have construction experience, flexible timeline, and can be on-site daily. It rarely makes sense for complex commercial work or if you have a full-time job that prevents daily site presence.
The bottom line
Owner-builder can save 15-25% but requires full-time management and carries significant liability. Best for simple projects with experienced owners.
Torch Engineering PLLC · (480) 490-0064 · info@torchengineering.com — PE stamping backed by Apex Grid Engineering.