There are many advantages to being an owner builder from money saved to being able to say to friends and family “I built that myself”.

“Building my own home sounds like fun can I do this with a Tamlin package?“

The answer to this question is a resounding yes. A Tamlin house package system which focuses on the “shell” of the building with the support you need to get to the lock up stage of construction is very conducive to the owner builder, but there are many questions to ask yourself before you go the owner builder route.

 

1. How much of the work am I prepared to do myself?

You can just manage the job being your own project manager and not do any of the labor, but if you enjoy the process you can do as much of the labor as you want. You will need to hire licensed trades such as electricians and plumbers, basically anyone who needs to pull a permit for the work they do. It is also a good idea to hire some other licensed trades (roofers, drywallers, etc.) as you move forward. Tamlin can help you sort out what to do yourself and what to hire people for.

2. Do I have the time to do this?

This can consume hundreds of hours (or in some cases thousands) of your time, even if you are just managing the job. You need to ask yourself if you have the time to do it and if you need to make special arrangements at work in order to take time off. 

3. How much will I really save?

You need to consider what your time is worth. Are you in a job, for example, where you could make more money continuing to work and paying a project manager than you would save as an owner builder.  Some owner builders live on site to save time and money while building their home.

4. Will my financial institution allow me to build my own home?

If you are financing the build through a bank or other lending institution you will need to check with them to see if their loan criteria requires that you have a licensed general contractor build your home.

5. What insurances do I need to have in place before I build?

Normally you would need to take out a COC (course of construction) insurance policy, which stays in place from the time you start the foundation until occupancy when you would then get normal home owners insurance. There may be other insurances required by the area in which you are building and you need to check all these out prior to starting. Also it will be your responsibility to make sure that any trades you hire have the appropriate workers compensation and commercial insurance required by your area.

6. What about permits?

You will need to get regular permits and inspections from your building department. Tamlin will take care of all of the permit plans, but it is a good idea for you to be pro-active and see if anything is required by the permit department from you as an owner builder.
For Example in British Columbia Canada there is a 2-5-10 government home warranty program in place. So as an owner builder you need to register and take a proficiency test prior to being issued a building permit. For our BC clients considering this option you should take a look at www.ownerbuildertraining.com which offers a two day intensive course to help prepare for this test.

7. This sounds like something I might like to do but is there anyone I can speak with to get more information?

Yes you can talk to any of our marketing team here at Tamlin who can discuss the pros and cons of being and owner builder with you. Also some of our owner builders are happy to talk to you about their experiences and we can put you in touch with them.  

Note: Photos are of 3 different owner built homes

If you would like to learn more about the owner-builder program please contact us.

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