In this final article about building our home, let’s talk about money and scheduling. We wanted our dream home to have the highest quality we could afford, built on time, without overspending. Here’s how we did it.
Budgeting, tracking expenses, and cost accounting are in my DNA. With a background in production management and some stints as a project manager, my plan leaned more toward off-site production, where I meshed all trades together, supporting them to ensure the home was ready when each trade was scheduled on-site.
From the beginning, I treated this project like running a production line. Using an Excel spreadsheet and One Note, I meticulously tracked bids, managed every step in the process, and kept a close eye on bid versus cost. I reconciled actual to budget every week and immediately addressed any changes, be they savings or added expenses.
Subcontractors who covered multiple trades made scheduling much easier, like going with Graber Post Buildings. They handled everything from foundation to framing, siding, roofing, doors, and windows. Same drill for electrical, plumbing, and HVAC—a local contractor with three stellar teams working together. Besides making the process easier to manage, their coordinated efforts resulted in lower prices. Promising swift payments for a 3%–4% discount sweetened the deal. Also, being my own General Contractor allowed us to save 10% off the top.
Something to remember when working with subcontractors: you are only building one home, but they have builders they have worked with for years that they need to keep happy. Don’t expect them to drop everything and come running when you call. Work with them and give them flexibility when you can. Keep an eye on your progress and, if they need to pull out for a week at a time when it won’t affect your schedule or other subcontractors’ schedule, give them some slack. You will have a better relationship and they will likely come running if you have an emergency.
In the end, we actually did it! Our goal was to have Thanksgiving Dinner in our new home and Beth cooked us a wonderful meal. Eating Thanksgiving dinner in our new home was a modest celebration of sticking to our budget and finishing on time.
Our hands-on approach to building our home revolves around responsibility and making things happen without breaking the bank. Sharing our experiences is our way of helping others going through a similar journey. Would I do it again? Absolutely. Working with subs and getting my hands dirty was a blast. Reviving decades-old skills filled me with pride and accomplishment. Hats off to all of you making a living in this field. It’s a ton of work and dedication, not for the faint of heart.