Let’s apply that concept to building or remodeling a home. These are among are the largest investments some people will ever make, so the potential to save money on such a big undertaking can make anyone think about doing it on their own.

It’s true that many people have successfully built or remodeled their own homes, but, have they really saved any money? Maybe, but more than likely, probably not! Doing it yourself can save you money. It can also cost you. Mistakes usually cost more to correct than to make, and more often than not, a project undertaken by an inexperienced person takes longer as well. Since time is money, it can easily cost you more there as well. If you have a loan, each day you are building is costing you construction interest.

There are also situations where unscrupulous people will take advantage of you by overcharging you, or take advantage of your potentially limited knowledge of materials and labor costs. Maybe you get a subcontractor or supplier that doesn’t perform well, or doesn’t fix problems, or worse yet, never shows up or doesn’t complete the work after being paid for part of the job.

These are all reasons to consider using a Construction Professional. There are also many more options than you might be aware of.

There are three types of Construction Professionals: The Homebuilder, Remodeler and the construction consultant. Each one allows you different options and pricing, including the opportunity to get in some “DIY” time.

The Homebuilder offers participation in the selection processes, while they handle the details and manage the project through completion. Typically, they offer a warranty after the home is built, to take care of any items that may come up later.

There is also the option of Construction Management; a service offered by many construction professionals. This allows you more involvement in the project, but leaves the day-to-day supervision and details to a professional. The fee for this service is typically lower than a normal Homebuilder or Remodelers combined profit and overhead. Many Homebuilders and Remodelers offer a “shell” option, where they perform the work until the house is framed and dried in (windows in, roof on) and the owner can take over with some guidance from the builder.

Another option is to hire a Building Consultant. This affords you the opportunity to be very active in the process, and have a professional guide you through the project step by step, connecting you with subs and suppliers, and is often the most cost effective option.

As a do-it yourselfer, you need to know where to find reliable information and guidance.Here are some of the reasons to consult with a Construction Professional about your project:

Avoid paying overly inflated prices for land: In a tight land market such as we’ve been experiencing for the past several years, sellers have the upper hand. Often, people who aren’t familiar with comparable lot costs pay more than they should, leaving a big hole in their budget. A Construction Professional can help review your lot, give input on the price, and point out any other cost issues, like rules and regulations, which may concern your proposed property. Given the price of the land and required improvements, will you have enough of your budget left to build the house you want?

Knowledge of current building costs: Talking to a knowledgeable professional before having any plans drawn or purchased is crucial. They can guide you, based on your budget and the property you have selected, what are the best options for the size and style of home. Too often people come in with beautiful, and expensive plans that they cannot afford to build. If they had consulted with someone prior to that, it would have saved them considerable time, effort and cost, as well as preventing a huge disappointment.

Getting the best subcontractors: This is where a consultant can be a real lifesaver. In a strong market, the best subs are always booked up — often for months in advance. Homebuilders, Remodelers and Building Consultants have established business relationships that benefit their clients in terms of timely service, fair pricing, and warranty coverage because of the continued work they offer the subs. This is the most challenging part for the do-it-yourselfer. An established Construction Professional knows which subs are best and which are unreliable, perform poorly, or do sub-par work, and can help you avoid a mistake in your selections.

Getting the best price for the job or materials: A sub or supplier that works for the owner builder often charges more than they would for a Construction Professional because more time is required working with an owner-builder, and they charge accordingly. Subcontractors like repeat work, and Construction Professionals offer them continued business, which commands better pricing, not to mention better service.

Technical Expertise and knowledge of current building codes: Knowing what happens, and when, is crucial to the success of your building or remodeling project. Missing a step can be extremely costly, and can result in tearing things out to complete the step if you’ve gone to far. A Construction Professional knows the routine, and is responsible for the scheduling, and overseeing all work to prevent these costly errors.

One or two mistakes can cost more than the fee you would pay for the services of a Construction Professional.

Quality control by an experienced person is also crucial to the success of any building project.

Thorough and accurate bidding: Based on your specifications, a Construction Professional will set out with the specs for your project and acquire bids for all the aspects. Many owner-builders are not skilled in reading a bid, or even what is normally included by a given trade.

This is a very time consuming process, and can be a very challenging task for an owner builder. If you miss something in the bidding process, your budget can go out the window. Another aspect of bidding is investigating each sub. This involves checking references, inspecting their workmanship, verifying insurance, licensing and checking to see if there are complaints registered against them. This is a full time job in itself. A Construction Professional verifies and maintains this info as well as having had numerous experiences with a variety of subcontractors.

A well-run job: Construction Professionals know the order in which things need to happen. Missing any step can be extremely costly, and can slow you down, causing the possibility of losing your next subcontractor if you are not ready for them (they don’t usually wait for you!). Construction Professionals provide scheduling that includes all the things to be done, in their proper order, and allows for some flexibility, keeping your job moving, saving you time and money.

Warranty Work: Construction Professionals know the importance of having good subs that warranty what they do. Again, because of the continuing business, their subs are more willing to come back and take care of things to keep the Construction Professional satisfied. They will only work for the owner builder once, so getting to come back for warranty issues can be difficult.

A well built home is an investment in your future: It’s important that the work is done properly, is structurally sound, that things are plumb, level and square, and the fit and finish is pleasing to the eye. All these things contribute to your enjoyment of the home, and as important, to its resale value.

A home that is built with quality materials and excellent craftsmanship will appreciate more than something that looks, quite honestly, like it was built by a do-it-yourselfer.

When your next building or remodeling opportunity comes around, think about you’re your options. Working with a Construction Professional, whether a builder, Remodeler or construction consultant, can be a very cost effective when you look at the “big picture.” Before your start, take the time to talk to one about how they can benefit you and your project.

(Editor’s Note: Judy Granlee-Gates and her husband own U-Build-It and Joe Gates Construction in Poulsbo. Reach them at 360-779-8303).