Any major renovation to your home will certainly represent a considerable cost to you. You will have to pay for materials and supplies, as well as for labour from the professionals that you hire. Many homeowners feel that not hiring a general contractor will save them money. This is a mistake – while you might save a few dollars here and there, chances are good that it will cost you more in other ways. What might you encounter here?

Time, Time, Time

Any remodel is all about time. You need to have that new bathroom or movie room completed within a reasonable timeframe. Operating as your own general contractor is going to take a considerably longer time than working with a professional. There are several reasons for this.

Image Credit: Sean MacEntee via Flickr

1. Materials

General contractors will know where to find the most affordable materials, as well as the right options for your job. You, on the other hand, will have to spend time looking for the right options. Even when you have found the materials and supplies that you need, you will have to arrange for delivery. Contractors are sometimes given faster deliveries than homeowners.

2. Workers

Another way that you will spend more time is locating, vetting and then hiring the subcontractors for the job. Unless you plan to do the framing, wiring, plumbing, flooring and painting on your own, you will need to hire a few helping hands. It can take an enormous amount of time to find trustworthy contractors in your area. A general contractor, though, will often have a preferred crew with which he or she is comfortable working – they’ll spend no time assembling workers.

3. Management

A general contractor will know exactly how to manage your project to meet your deadline. You, on the other hand, will have to go it alone here. It will be up to you to make sure that your workers are there on time, that they do the job right and that everything goes according to your plan. That alone can take an enormous amount of time and effort on your part.

Peace of Mind

Lastly, another way that working with a general contractor will help you is with peace of mind. If you’re acting as your own general contractor, then you only have your own knowledge and experience on which to draw to make sure that everything is done correctly. A professional will have years of experience, study and skill on which to draw to ensure the best build quality.

eieihome.com has made it easier with their online directory, helping you find any professional under specific categories. Taking the hassle out of your initial search and sift through contacts and reviews.