Getting your ‘hands dirty’ as an owner-builder can be an exciting and rewarding experience. By taking on the role of a licensed builder, you can fully manage your residential construction project exactly how you want.
Before rushing off and buying your hard hat, we offer you an overview of the pros and cons so that you can make a well-informed decision. For example, did you know it is a legal requirement to attend an Owner Builder Certificate course?
Let’s look at those advantages and disadvantages now.
Advantages of Being an Owner Builder
- Cost Control: One of the most obvious advantages of being an owner-builder is the ability to cap costs. You can choose the materials, negotiate with suppliers, recoup trade rebates and hire trades directly yourself. This avoids markups and saves you thousands of dollars.
- Customisation: You will have full control over the design and customisation of your home. You can make decisions that suit your taste, lifestyle and budget without being limited by a third-party builder.
- Personal Satisfaction: Building your dream home armed with your owner-builder certificate must be one of the most satisfying projects to be personally involved in. Managing your project from start to finish offers a sense of achievement that’s difficult to match. You will also gain immense hands-on experience and invaluable learning opportunities.
Now, let’s look at the other side of the coin.
Disadvantages of Being an Owner Builder
- Lack of Expertise: The biggest risk is your own inexperience. You might overlook critical aspects of construction, such as compliance with local building codes, project planning, timely ordering, proper staging of trades, material compatibility or safety measures. Mistakes can cause costly delays or even legal issues.
- Time-Consuming: Managing a building project is time-consuming and demanding. If you have a full-time job and family commitments, it might conflict with the ‘job’ of being a builder. You will be involved in every tiny stage of the project, from sourcing materials to coordinating tradespeople.
- Financial Risk: Without proper oversight, construction projects can easily run over budget especially if you are making emotional purchases, not utilitarian ones. Unforeseen issues or mistakes can eat into your finances. Miscalculations or cost overruns are for your account.
Hiring Professionals and Trades
One of the big jobs you will have as an owner-builder is engaging professionals and trades at key stages of the project.
Hiring an architect or building designer at the start ensures your vision is translated into viable building plans, the plans comply with building regulations and are passed by the Council. You’ll also need an engineer to certify structural integrity.
You will then need tradespeople:
- Carpenter
- Electrician
- Plumbers, Pipefitters and Steamfitters
- House painter
- Plasterer
- Roofer
- Glazier
- Bricklayer
- Earthmoving Plant Operators
- Sheet Metal Worker
- Heavy equipment operator
- HVAC
- Insulation
- Landscaper
- Welder
- Fencer
- Labourers
- Masonry Workers
- Boilermaker
- Elevator mechanic
Each trade completes very specific tasks that require specialised skills, licensing and insurance. Hiring early in the project ensures smoother progress, avoids delays and ensures that every aspect of construction is completed to industry standards.
Ready to build? Get your owner builder certificate and take control of your build today!
