GC or No GC, that is the question

[Ray Negrete]

Serious question here:

Would you rather GC a project yourself or hire a turn-key GC? 
(Please ellaborate and explain your reasoning) 

[Ray Negrete]

Quote from @Ryan Normand:

How valuable is your time? Being a GC is a full time job - most of us work 60-80 hours per week. If you think it's as simple as making a couple calls to some subcontractors and then kicking back and relaxing you're in for a rude awakening. 

Also consider the laws in your state and if it's worth it to put in the time and money to get licensed. A lot of investors throw around the "owner-builder exemption" very freely. In a lot of states, AZ included, that exemption only applies to homeowners working on their primary residence. If you plan to rent or sell within 1 year of completion (aka an investment property), you must use a licensed GC.

Bottom line I think it depends on how much effort you want to put in and if you're in if for the long haul. If you want to get into the construction business and do a bunch of renos/flips for the next 10-20 years then it may be worth it to get proper licensing and learn how to do it yourself. You probably won't save any money at the start though - there's a steep learning curve and lots of start up costs. If you're just doing it to save a buck - don't - just bite the bullet and hire a pro.

 I couldn't agree more! I've been preaching this for 13+ years as both an investor and a fully outfitted GC. 

Thanks for your feedback. I'm glad to see there are like minds out there! Kindly - Rehab Squad