08-23-2007, 01:31 PM
I've done pretty much the same thing. I looked at the kit prices; the cost of the material privately purchased; and even the cost of some material on the mainland shipped to BI. This is my personal take on the issue:
One of the main factors with buying the raw material yourself was the ability to go outside the box for something you need. You weren't stuck with what a particular kit packager offered for either standard or optional equipment. You also had the opportunity to buy in stages so if you change your mind on something, you simply purchased what you want and not necessarily what you ordered. The overall cost of the raw material was cheaper if you bought it yourself and not through a kit packager.
Now, I suspect that the time it's taken me so far just comparison shopping for material, would have been all the time spent with a kit home packager. And, I'm still doing research. So, I think it's come to the point where I need to stop trying to nickel and dime myself into a false sense of savings and admit that when the value of my time is added into the raw material cost, I've exceeded the package home price.
I also realize that if I maintain the control over the material, I probably will make changes. After all, if the material hasn't been actually ordered yet, I can change my mind and buy what I want. But, again, am I deluding myself? Make a change, prices are higher, the material isn't in stock, and delays of this leads to delays of that. Delays equals money, money equals cost. So did I save anything?
And finally, I just don't feel that in the grand scheme of things, the cost saving is worth the aggravation. When the time comes, I want that to be people like Catherine and Angela's headaches, not mine.
I do really enjoyed going to Argis, HPM, Home Depot and looking at the siding, cabinets, lights, fixtures, etc. But I don't have the time or understanding to start buying straps and hangers, hinges and underlayment, housewrap and cornerbeads. If my builder wants to purchase everything themselves, that's fine, add it to the cost of the bid but leave me out of the process, cause I will make a mess of it in the end.
One of the main factors with buying the raw material yourself was the ability to go outside the box for something you need. You weren't stuck with what a particular kit packager offered for either standard or optional equipment. You also had the opportunity to buy in stages so if you change your mind on something, you simply purchased what you want and not necessarily what you ordered. The overall cost of the raw material was cheaper if you bought it yourself and not through a kit packager.
Now, I suspect that the time it's taken me so far just comparison shopping for material, would have been all the time spent with a kit home packager. And, I'm still doing research. So, I think it's come to the point where I need to stop trying to nickel and dime myself into a false sense of savings and admit that when the value of my time is added into the raw material cost, I've exceeded the package home price.
I also realize that if I maintain the control over the material, I probably will make changes. After all, if the material hasn't been actually ordered yet, I can change my mind and buy what I want. But, again, am I deluding myself? Make a change, prices are higher, the material isn't in stock, and delays of this leads to delays of that. Delays equals money, money equals cost. So did I save anything?
And finally, I just don't feel that in the grand scheme of things, the cost saving is worth the aggravation. When the time comes, I want that to be people like Catherine and Angela's headaches, not mine.
I do really enjoyed going to Argis, HPM, Home Depot and looking at the siding, cabinets, lights, fixtures, etc. But I don't have the time or understanding to start buying straps and hangers, hinges and underlayment, housewrap and cornerbeads. If my builder wants to purchase everything themselves, that's fine, add it to the cost of the bid but leave me out of the process, cause I will make a mess of it in the end.