DIY?

Question

Should I do all the remodeling myself (lay flooring, painting, update kitchen, etc) and just hire a plummer, electrician, and someone to look at the roofing, siding, etc? With the help of friends and family of course. Or should I just hire my GC? This will be my first flip and I don't have any real experience doing these things but I'm a fast learner. Also, I don't plan on flipping more houses later on...just this one.

Any advice?

Aaron Montague · Answer

Everything is up for negotiation.

State everything clearly in the initial contract.  "If this kitchen remodel is going to cost me $10k, how much can I save if I'm your(the contractor's) manual labor?"

Account Closed · Answer

So if I hire out do clothe contractors usually let other people help? Yes I do want to flip it quickly and make some cash BUT I'm also doing this because I want to be involved.

Stephanie Dupuis · Answer

I always hire out (well...if I can - I'm eating those words today). As I say this I'm headed down to a rental in a bit to do a few things myself b/c I can't get anyone down there to fix a few odds and ends. They're all "too busy" with summer rush and my stuff is "too small" to bother with (even if a pay them a kazillion dollars to screw in a doorstop and install a new light, apparently). End of vent.

Point is - hiring out, esp. on large jobs, is faster.

Steven Del Prete · Answer

You don't exactly need to hire a GC if you can be there to hire and schedule your own subs. However with that route you also can get burned by fly by nights. Should be easy to spot those guys anyway so you don't hire them.

If I was you I wouldn't go about trying to do things yourself if you never done them. A person buying a finished home WANTS a nice product that they don't need to fix. Doing things you never done to "save" money can easily cost you way more in the end if the craftsmanship isn't up to par.

Just my 2 pennies