I Wantt To Be My Own Contractor To Build My House Now that you have decided to go ahead and build that new house or add that addition to your existing home, it's time to decide whether to hire a contractor to oversee the construction project or to be the contractor yourself. The benefit of hiring a reputable contractor is that the entire project will be managed from start to finish and you can go about your regular job and other activities. All you do is visit the construction site from time to time to watch what's going on. This article will assume that you will be the contractor and be responsible for the entire project, from hiring workers to purchasing all the materials required and procuring all working permits and other obligations. The first step will be working with an architect who will design and plan the new home or extension to your home. After the plans are completed to your liking, you must take your plans to file for a building permit. Your Town's building inspector may ask you to make some modification to the plans, and your architect must do these modifications, if necessary. If the plans are approved, and depending on your town's rules, you may need to notify all your neighbors in the immediate area to your house that you are proposing to do this construction project. A sign wimust be posted on your property and visible from the street with the hearing date of your project. Attendee's may object to your project, and it will be the town board's decision whether or not to approve your plans. Assuming that your plans for the project are now approved and you have the green light from the building department, you will be issued a building permit which  must be visibly posted on your property. Any person who chooses to build a property without the proper permits in place can be issued a stop-work order from the town and it is also possible that the town may order the construction to be torn down.  It's very risky to do a construction project without permits. Now that you are the contractor, you must hire all the workers to handle the various phases of the project. If your plans call for a basement or concrete footings and slab, you must  hire  an excavator and mason or concrete company to follow the architect's plans. Each  phase of the project must be inspected by the town, so you must coordinate the work to be performed with the building inspections. After the concrete foundation is ready for building, you then must hire the carpenter or framer who will begin the construction and framing of the walls and roof of the shell. The framer will work from your plans and advise you what lumber is needed. It will be your job to purchase the lumber directly and have it delivered to the site in a timely manner. After the shell of the home is completed with all the plywood sheathing, the inspector must visit the site and approve that the worked performed was done by building code, and issue a written OK to proceed with construction. The roofing shingles, doors, and windows are now ready for installation to seal the house. The same process will continue after each other phase of construction, such as: all electrical work, all sewer and plumbing, insulation, fire-retardent, and other. The building inspector must visit the site and approve in writing that the construction may  proceed after each of these phases. When the entire project is completed, the building inspector will now do a final inspection, and if all is in order, a written document will be issued to you that the inspection is final. It is at this point when you go back to the building department to file for a new “certificate of occupancy” which describes the new home. You will need to bring both before and after surveys of the property with you when filing for the new "C of O." Your town will be very helpful when you are doing your project, and in fact, is watching and making certain that all work performed  is to code and safe. (Your own town may have other different or specific requirements not necessarily outlined as above). By MS Jazzetti Website: http://www.betterlifestyles.com