How Do You Get To Doing This Professionally?

putri

A bit of history... I've been in real estate for a few years now. So I know that part of the business and some building info that I pick up from builders here and there.

Then my husband and I decided to build our own house and now we're experiencing more. Cause it's our own house we've had our disagreements but for the most part things are great and we really enjoy the whole process (hubby in the field and I'm behind the computer and the phone researching, shopping, and scheduling and designing. We like it so much that we are thinking of doing it more professionally later when he retires from the Air Force in 12 years.

So, how did you guys start? Were you in the field as subs and decided to go the GC route? Did you go to school for it? How much work do you do? How did you find your customers? Also, how did you get the initial funding... was it under your name or the future owner took out a construction loan? We have 12 years to learn about the GC world and build a couple more houses for ourselves. Ok, so it's a long time from now but I like planning ahead.

I'm thinking of taking some construction management and interior design classes maybe next Spring semester. Do you think it'd be useful? It's free for me, I work for a University.

Thanks!

putri

Though we'll do anything, I want to be more of a green builder, eco-friendly materials and home design.

Teetorbilt

Hoo boy, a lot of questions.

#1 God bless your husband and you for sticking with him. Being in the military is tough, as is being a military wife.

What's his MOS?

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P construction

I,ve been in business for over ten years
This business has it's ups & downs I give a lot of credit for peaple going into ths type of trade .
The one thing about construction you have got to love doing it, in my opinion or it just won't work .

Mike Finley

That could be the secret to your success. If you really want to be successful be the best at something instead of just good at what everybody else is doing, then you won't have any competition. I find that most people who do everything, do it all half-way decently but nothing really proficiently. Those who specialize do something better than anybody else and once they get known as the leader in that field can write their own check so to speak.

Grumpy

The answer to your question "How do youstart?" depends highly on your business strategy. Will you be speculating or will you be serving a customer? While I do not speak from experience I'd dare to say speculating would be easier to get into though much more risky. Having said that, I personally wouldn't start serving customers until I had a few specs under my belt for the experience.

Education never hurts unless you don't have the time and neglect something else. I say go for it when it comes to the classes. However Don't think you can't do it because you don't have classes and don't think that what you learn in the classes is the only way of doing things.

AtlanticWBConst

I agree, get educated: Take some construction classes and also construction Management classes. Remember too, that the biggest education is experience...>So try and find a mentor.

And by all means - DON'T BITE OFF MORE THAN YOU CAN CHEW.
Start small and grow and learn.

I have seen successful GC's who start out by partnering up with a person who has alot of background and knowledge in the field. There is so much to know and be aware of in this area, from Excavation issues to morter and concrete, snow loads, deflection levels, energy efficiency requirements, etc....

On the other hand: years ago I met up with a GC. who had had Construction License because it was required (By the state) as he owned a small excavation business.

He got 'bit by the bug' to get involved with the actual building part of the work. (he hired subs to do it all) Unfortunately - he knew NOTHING about the construction part of the business. When we got involvedv with him: originally the conversations usually revolved around us asking him about on-site decision issues, and him responding with an innocent smile and chuckle: "I don't know...ha, ha...... what do you think we should do?". Nice guy, but CLUELESS.

Last I knew, his clue-lessness led him to doing a massive addition on a house, which, after the first snow fall, the 2 story non-gabled walls started buckling outward.

That was a lawsuit waiting to happen (Which, I'm sure did). And lawsuits are what seem to eventually always happen to the uneducated and inexperienced.

Thus, I say again: Get educated and get experience, even if it means getting together with someone you hire as a construction consultant when you get things underway.

-my 2 cents-

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Grumpy

A few years ago before I got married and started a business, some people may recall me talkign about building a vacation home. Anyways at that time I had met a guy who was a CM for president homes, one of those "buy our plan and we build it" kinda companies. Anyways long story short he had told me he would build any house for cost plus $10,000. This is one of those things where the home owner does most of the work, but this CM is just there if the home owner has any questions and to setup material deliveries and subs.

I bring this up because at the time I figured it was a great way to get some experience and make some contacts. That plan has since fell through the cracks since my life has changed massively but it still is in the back of my mind for when I do my first spec house.

Peladu

Let me tell you what the other haven't said.
Building a home for you to live in is a whole different animal than building a home to put food on the table. It can be done of course but the fun of it is gone. It's not going to be fun building a house for Mr. & Mrs. Crabyass who thought it was going to take two weeks to complete, and whom have a budget that wouldn't buy a lawn mower.
Kind of like Florida is a beautiful place to visit, but to live there is different.

"hubby in the field and I'm behind the computer and the phone researching, shopping, and scheduling and designing."----so basically nothing changed for you. Just Kidding.

AtlanticWBConst

Funny thought:

Being involved with building one's own home - does not a General Contractor make....

(Not pointed to anyone, just making a statement...I had a newly married friend who was involved with building his own house on land that his grandmother had willed to him. He was an internet-type work guy. After it was built [Pre-fab sectional], he got layed off. After a couple of weeks, he started to talk about becoming a GC - due to his vast knowledge attained with building his own pre-fab home.)

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Mike Finley

My thoughts too. Things are vastly different working on your own projects where you are the boss and the check book compared to working for a customer.

putri

Thank you so much for all the information and comments!!!

To one poster, my husband is Air Force, so it's AFSC and not MOS. He rattled off some info for his AFSC but it quickly went into my left ear and out the right. He does fuel maintenance for the B2. That's all I know. It's not the easiest being a military spouse but we make it work and I managed to find a job in my field in this small town so we're in a much better situation than many. We're grateful!

Yes experience is very important (and not just from building one house). From the start my husband has been working with the subs. He evened helped the foundation guy with two other homes before the foundation guy got to ours so that he can learn the process. Our carpenter's awesome and we couldn't have asked for more. We got lucky because of the connections we were able to use the best subs and they were very willing to teach us whatever we were curious about. We also have help from a part-time GC. He's given us a lot of info but after learning more and seeing how our ideas clash (cheaper material is his idea where we want the best for the buck), I'm glad we didn't hire him full-time to do our home. We're using this experience as a learning tool.

So now, I love going to school; I don't mind the classes. But my husband, he's not that way. Is it ok if I just go? I guess it'll be fun doing it this way that way we can compare field to the classroom and which info works best after we try it out in the field. But would it be more beneficial if he goes since he's out with the guys more than I am?

We know that it’s different building our own and building somebody else’s home but we think we’d be alright. Maybe after a couple more houses we’ll help somebody build their home and see what that’s like. I know that it’s important to love what you do to be able to do a good job. We both love our jobs and we’re very good at it but in 12 years or so we’d want a new challenge.

putri

I'm a web developer and I work with others a lot. I love working on my own website projects cause I can do whatever I want. Then I have to do sites for others and they range from great clients to pain in the **sses. But, they all get done right (the backend is up to standards) even though I might want to gag each time I look at the design (cause the clients wants it that way).

Web developing started as a hobby. I took two programming classes some while back but for the most part I learned all myself just for fun. Now I have a full-time job doing it and I sometimes still freelance (if I like the person). I still love it though I get the hard clients as mentioned above.

Same with real estate. It's fun looking for houses, that's how I got into it, I just love going to open houses. But with a client, it's what they want. We're just the consultants and the one who does the paperwork and research.

I think my husband is the same... can't speak for him on this but I think he'll still enjoy the process. So, it won't be as fun but it's the main process is the same with less control.

AtlanticWBConst

Putri,

Whatever may come - good for you & Best of Luck in your pursuits. Hope we all can continue to help you in anyway we can.

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putri

Got 12 years to read this forum

springcreek

My fiancee and I have both been in our respective fields for ten plus years each. (I-designer, he-builder). Working for someone else always leads you to think, "why couldn't I do that". About a year ago we decided to start our own design/build company. Well easier said than done. Both of us get work mostly from word of mouth. Not bragging, but we are each very skilled at what we do. We have just never had the experience of doing it for ourselves. A lot of headaches come along with business ownership, small or large. It's hard to pay the bills sometimes. In a small town like ours, word of mouth is your best bet, (people who know and can attest to your skills) In a larger setting, I guess advertising is the way to go, although, I have found it to be a budget breaker. Whatever you end up doing; research and learn as much as possible, you can never know too much! Good luck!

putri

Springcreek, it looks like you have a good combo... builder-designer. When I was in Idaho doing full-time real esate I know a lot of higher end builders who wouldwork with designers to get the house just right. I had a builder-Realtor in the office and he would take us on a tour of his spec homes (and his own) and they were gorgeous. This is another area that I wouldn't mind knowing more about. It's so fun watching decorating shows cause you can see how it went to blah to wow (ok, some of the after rooms were ugly).

Anyways, I looked at construction management classes. They were either B.S. degrees or Ph.D. nothing in between. How many Ph.D. are there doing GC work? I just don't want to get another undergrad degree... I already have two Bachelor and one Master Waiting for an answer from an advisor. I might as well be a professional student.

Double-A

Some learning comes from places other than a university. Finding those places and people is the hardest part, but sometimes also the most fun. Read all you can on the subject, and seek real world experience in the profession. You'll be miles ahead of the game when it comes time to get your feet (and head) wet.

ConcreteGuy

All good and check this thread:

http://www.contractortalk.com/f11/working-your-spouse-11621/

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