I recently read an article (in an old issue of a magazine that shall remain nameless) that’s intention was to help one decide between hiring a general contractor/builder or handling things themselves.  The author proposes that the main advantage to using a builder is that the builder has  a history of working with his sub-contractors and designers.  As well, she proposed that the major downside is that you have to pay the builder for their services (heaven forbid!)  and you may lose the ability to hire your friends and relatives (not necessarily a good idea in the first place).  In short, the author concludes that hiring a builder is a good option for busy people.  Wow, while the points made are not necessarily wrong, they woefully underestimate the value of hiring an experienced builder.  A good builder is not only someone to handle the scheduling and meetings with trade-contractors, but is someone that has  avast amount of knowledge that the average person is not going to have with regards to construction.  This knowledge helps to ensure a project is done correctly and safely, as well as helping the project run smoother with less hiccups and headaches.  Many states now require builders to be licensed, which helps to ensure they have a t least a minimum amount of knowledge and experience, instead of anyone being able to hang out their shingle as a builder.  I’ve heard some complain that this is unfair, but by that logic, anyone should be able to call themselves a doctor or lawyer with out demonstrating any knowledge or competence in their chosen field.  (to be continued)

~ Russell Ives