| 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
|
| |