+- Punaweb Forum (http://punaweb.org/forum)
+-- Forum: Punaweb Forums (http://punaweb.org/forum/forumdisplay.php?fid=3)
+--- Forum: Building in Puna (http://punaweb.org/forum/forumdisplay.php?fid=12)
+--- Thread: Helpful hints for owner-builders (/showthread.php?tid=3490)
Helpful hints for owner-builders - Dot - 07-14-2008
My husband and I are almost officially seasoned veteran owner-builders. Our house in Nanawale is 85% complete, I just totalled up all the $$ we have spent so far, and the estimate of what it will cost to finish it for the final inspection. Word to the wise, if you are paying for airfare (from Alaska), truck rental, tools, lodging and food for 3 grown men for 5 weeks...hire a good general contractor!
We really thought we could do it cheaper, we hired our nephew for the framing and sheetrock portion, and he gave us a good deal and did a a great job. The guys worked 10-11 hour days and got the house in-paint and sheetrocked in 5 weeks, and took two days off. Our nephew is still speaking to us and my husband and I are still married, quite an accomplishment! So if the going rate for a contractor is $135-$145 per sq ft, take my word for it, that's really not a bad price. Neither one of us had ever built a house before, so we were pretty green. We are the proud owners of a 900 sq. modified HPM plantation home (Ekahi model) and a detached carport. But with that being said, we do have the pride of ownership from helping to build it from the ground up, that counts for more than money can offset I guess.
Also, I can't say enough good things about Eric Ahu (concrete and flooring) 808-217-2976, he took us under his wing and really helped us out. AHI Plumbing (Sylvia and Fertom) are doing the plumbing 808-935-7080, and Big Island Electrical 808-965-5554 are doing the electrical portion. They have also been great, they scheduled the date to be there, and they showed up and did the work, gotta appreciate that. As usual, the Punaweb Forum was an incredible source of information, thanks to Fishboy for referring it to us.
It's been a long haul, but we are finally fulfilling my dream from 30 years ago of living on the Big Island. Now we just have to get retired so we can spend some time over there to enjoy the fruits of our labor!
Dorothy & Fred
RE: Helpful hints for owner-builders - EightFingers - 07-15-2008
Congrats on completing your house! I wonder about a couple things:
"... going rate for a contractor is $135-$145 per sq ft, ..."
Are you sure of that figure? Seems high to me.
I'm also under the impression you're not living in your new house now ("...Now we just have to get retired so we can spend some time over there to enjoy the fruits of our labor!
..."). Do you have someone renting or watching your house?
RE: Helpful hints for owner-builders - John S. Rabi - 07-15-2008
The $135-$145 seems high to me too, wasn't there a GC posting here who charges $110/sq.ft?
Aloha,
John S. Rabi ABR,CM,CRB,FHS,PB,RB
808.989.1314
http://www.JohnRabi.com
Typically Tropical Properties
"The Next Level of Service!"
RE: Helpful hints for owner-builders - JWFITZ - 07-15-2008
That's very high, especially in the context of many who have claimed the going rate for TRAINED construction help is no more than "16 dollars an hour."
RE: Helpful hints for owner-builders - Kapohocat - 07-15-2008
Congratulations!
RE: Helpful hints for owner-builders - Dot - 07-16-2008
In answer to some of the questions, I remember seeing $135 per sq ft on one of the real estate websites, can't remember it off-hand. Even at $110 per sq. ft, we spent more than that, but it was all worthwhile. And yes, we have a caretaker for it.
More helpful info for anyone going the owner-builder route, we also hired Professional Protective Services to watch the place at night when we had the bulk of our materials on-site. Mel (the owner) was great to work with, and it really wasn't a whole lot of money compared to the amount of material on the ground. Definitely worth our peace of mind! The guard shooed off a few 2-legged varmints in the wee hours of the morning....
We will be coming over in September to finish it up, will be thinking rainy thoughts for the BI, sounds like the drought isn't getting any better. Thanks for all your replies!
Dot