How many covered vehicle spaces did you provide in your owner-built house? |
| Four |
|
How many houses have you built, remodeled or added on to as an owner-builder? |
| Five |
|
Did you use a contracting consultant or an owner-builder program? |
| No |
|
Who took primary responsibility in your family for the work? |
| Husband primary |
|
How many days when only a single sub was on site? |
| More than 50 days |
|
Did you have a written schedule for construction? |
| No |
|
How many hours did you spend as a couple, counting planning and construction? |
| > 1,000 hrs. |
|
How much time did it take to construct? |
| Eight months |
|
Have you owner-built more than once? |
| Only once |
|
How much did you save altogether vs. appraised or street value? |
| 45% - 50% |
|
If you had a general contractor estimate, how much did you save vs. average estimate? |
| 45-50% |
|
How many trades were involved on your job? |
| 5 - 10 |
|
How many books about contracting or the trades did you read when you owner-built? |
| Four |
|
Did you have any problems getting your building permit? |
| No problems as an owner-builder |
|
Did you hire anybody from out of town? |
| No |
|
How long did your self-work trades take? |
| >1,000 hours |
|
How many bathrooms did you include in your owner-built house? |
| 1 - 2 |
|
How many bedrooms did you include in your owner-built house? |
| Three |
|
Did you buy any materials from out of town? |
| No |
|
Was your project urban or rural? |
| In the country |
|
What type of construction? |
| Conventional framing |
|
What were the impact fees for you to build? |
| <$10,000 |
|
How much calendar time from when you first did some written planning to groundbreaking? |
| <Six months |
|
Do you own a truck? |
| Yes |
|
How much combined time did you spend planning? |
| 100 - 200 hours |
|
Have you had it appraised? |
| Yes |
|
Was your project a new house or a remodel and addition? |
| Remodel and addition |
|
Did you get materials separate from labor on any of the trades? |
| 100% |
|
Did you use a computer? |
| Yes - some |
|
What is the R-value of your walls? |
| >R-20 |
|
How did your final appraisal compare with your preconstruction appraisal for the lender? |
| Final appraisal was 10% more |
|
Apples to apples, what utility savings did you get in your new house vs. old? |
| 20% -25% |
|
Did you take pictures of the job when you owner-built? |
| A few pictures |
|
How much combined time did you take off work when you built? |
| Four weeks |
|
Was yours a starter, step-up, custom, or dream home? |
| Starter |
|
Did you read The Owner-Builder Book before you built your house? |
| No |
|
How many bids did you get for each subcontracted trade, on average? |
| Two |
|
If you used a contracting consultant or O-B program, what did it cost? |
| Didn't use one |
|
How much personal use do you make of the Internet? |
| > 25 hours a week |
|
Did you get liened by anybody? |
| No liens |
|
Were you working when you owner-built? |
| Both working |
|
Did you get bids from generals? |
| No |
|
What's the population of the community where you built? |
| <50,000 |
|
What percentage of O-B's do you think get liened? |
| 15% - 20% |
|
How many air conditioning units did you include in your owner-built house? |
| One compressor |
|
How many finished levels in your most recent owner-built house? |
| Two |
|
How much construction industry experience did you have before you owner-built? |
| > 10 years |
|
How much would the trades you did yourself have cost in the marketplace? |
| $10,000 - $30,000 |
|
What did the plans for your project cost? |
| I designed the house myself/other |
|
Did you get a construction loan without a contractor? |
| Built with own funds |
|
How many dead days did you have where nobody did anything? |
| 5 - 10 week days |
|
What time of year did you start? |
| March |
|
Did you install a water softener? |
| No |
|
Were utility costs in the new house a surprise? |
| About what I expected |
|
What was your original construction budget, not including land? |
| $100,000 - $200,000 |
|
How many houses did you own prior to this one? |
| Four |
|
What was your planned schedule when you started out? |
| 7-8 months |
|
Are you a good shopper? |
| Good shopper |
|
Did you use any personal friends as subs? |
| None |
|
How much did you save on the trades you did yourself? |
| $10,000 - $30,000 |
|
Are you a coupon shopper? |
| I use a coupon < 10% of the time I grocery shop. |
|
Did you get a bad surprise on property taxes? |
| No - I expected the tax assessment I got |
|
Did you have contract problems? |
| One |
|
How many trades did you do yourself? |
| 3 |
|
How much management time did you and your spouse spend during the construction phase? |
| More than 900 hours |
|
Do you have a step-up strategy? |
| Yes |
|
How much more activity was there at end of project than in the middle? |
| 20% |
|
Did you incorporate active solar panels (PV) into your home? |
| No |
|
Would you be willing to help another owner-builder? |
| Yes, I would respond to emails. |
|
What was the average monthly cost of maintenance in the home you left to occupy your new home? |
| $200 - $300 |
|
If stick-built, did you use 2x4 or 2x6 framing? |
| 2x4 |
|
How many children lived at home when you owner-built? |
| Five |
|
If ever you move from your O-B house, how long will you have lived in it? |
| 5 - 10 years |
|
What was the age of your previous home? |
| 20 - 25 yrs. |
|
House style? |
| Conventional |
|
Do you know your credit score? |
| Yes |
|
How many children do you have? |
| Five |
|
What did you choose for wall insulation? |
| Insulated Concrete Forms |
|
How much construction industry experience will you have before you owner-build? |
| > 10 years |
|
Will you take pictures of the job when you owner-built? |
| Will use a digital camera regularly |
|
What will you choose for wall insulation? |
| Insulated Concrete Forms |
|
Planned house style? |
| Colonial |
|
If stick-built, will you use 2x4 or 2x6 framing? |
| It won't be stick-built. |
|
Do you have experience using spreadsheets for budgeting or scheduling? |
| Never used a spreadsheet |
|
How much calendar time will there be from when you first did some written planning to groundbreaking? |
| Six to 12 months |
|
How many air conditioning units will you include in your owner-built house? |
| Two compressors |
|
Do you have a step-up strategy? |
| No |
|
Who will take primary responsibility in your family for the work? |
| Husband primary |
|
Will you incorporate active solar panels (PV) into your home? |
| No |
|
What's the population of the community where you will build? |
| <50,000 |
|
Are you a good shopper? |
| Good shopper |
|
How many hours do you project spending as a couple, counting planning and construction? |
| > 1,000 hrs. |
|
How many houses have you built, remodeled or added on to as an owner-builder? |
| Five |
|
How many children will be living at home when you owner-build? |
| One |
|
What time of year will you start? |
| Jan-Feb |
|
How many finished levels in your future owner-built house? |
| More than three |
|
How much combined time will you spend planning? |
| More than 900 hours |
|
Is your occupation "blue collar" or "white collar"? |
| White collar |
|
Will you build in town or in the country? |
| Rural |
|
What type of construction are you planning? |
| ICF |
|
How much personal use do you make of the Internet? |
| > 25 hours a week |
|
Will you get comparison bids from general contractors? |
| Three |
|
How many children do you have? |
| Five |
|
Will you be working when you owner-build? |
| Both working |
|
Are you organized? |
| Very |
|
What is the average General Contractor estimate to build your plans? |
| $125 - $150 |
|
How many bedrooms are you planning on? |
| Five |
|
Do you know your credit score? |
| Yes |
|
What percentage of the time do you think O-B's get liened by subs or vendors? |
| More than 10% |
|
What is the average monthly utility cost in your current home? |
| $200 - $250 |
|
How many bathrooms are you planning on? |
| 4-5 |
|
What will be the R-value of your walls? |
| >R-40 |
|
What is the average monthly maintenance cost of the house you'll be leaving? |
| <$100 |
|
How much do you plan to save altogether vs. appraised value? |
| 20% - 25% |
|
How many times are you planning to do this? |
| One time total |
|
Do you plan to use any personal friends as subs? |
| Three |
|
Will your project be a starter, step-up, custom, or dream home? |
| Dream home |
|
How many houses have you owned prior to this one? |
| Four |
|
How many books about contracting or the trades will you read when you owner-build? |
| Five |
|
How many tools do you own? |
| $500 - $1,000 |
|
Do you own a truck? |
| No |
|
How many covered vehicle spaces will you provide in your owner-built house? |
| Four |
|
What are the most helpful websites for your owner-builder project? |
|
www.ownerbuilderbook.com
www.mydreamhomeforless.com
www.google.com |
|
Why are you considering owner-building? |
| I want a custom dream house built "my way" so that I can make it as "green" and "energy efficient" as I dream it to be. |
|
What print publications do you read regularly? |
|
Electronic House
Solar Today
Travel and Leisure
Trade Publications
|
|