Modular Home General Contractor

Should you be your own Modular Home General Contractor?

In order to save money, you can be your own general contractor and hire subcontractors yourself. If you have experience in construction and/or project management, being your own GC might work out well for you. Keep in mind that being the general contractor is a full-time job, requiring almost constant availability to answer subcontractor’s questions as well as coordinate and supervise their work. If you have no construction experience, you will be unable to judge the quality of the work the subcontractors provide. In most cases we recommend that prospective homeowners do not act as their own general contractors.

Being your own GC is not for everyone. To determine if you should manage your own modular home project you should be able to answer “YES” to the following questions:

  • Do you have prior contracting/construction/project management experience?
  • Do you live near the job-site?
  • Do you have time to devote to the project (be on-site everyday)?
  • Are you comfortable making decisions on the spot with incomplete information?
  • Do you know subcontractors that you trust?
  • Are you able to coordinate subcontractors?
  • Are you comfortable being “the boss”?

Hiring a General Contractor to Complete Your Modular Home

Unless you have experience with construction/contracting or project management being your own "GC" is probably not a good idea. While it is true that there will be less site work than with a traditional stick build, the sequence work with a modular home project is critical and requires a general contractor with experience with modular homes. When choosing a contractor, it helps to understand that there are different types of contractors.

General Contractor

A general contractor is more of a project manager than a laborer. A general contractor may have his own staff, or he may employ subcontractors to complete the work. If you do not feel qualified to manage your own modular home project for one or more reasons listed on  then hiring a “GC” is your best choice. A GC will know qualified subcontractors to hire, when to schedule them, and how much to pay them. He will also evaluate the quality of their work and ensure that you're not paying for substandard work.

A GC will also simplify the construction loan process by providing you (and the bank) with a turn-key price consisting of a comprehensive contract listing the work to be performed with the cost of the work broken-down by category. Contrast this service to the DIY approach of obtaining written estimates from individual subcontractors where you must identify one or more subcontractors, accurately describe the nature of the job and then wait until the subcontractor gets around to writing-up an estimate for the job (which can take months).

A GC will also obtain all the various permits that you will need to build your new home, such as:

  • State-approved septic design
  • Building permit from town
  • Driveway permit from town
  • Other permits as needed.

Subcontractors

“Subs” as they are sometimes known are specialists and provide the following services:

  • Site Engineer
  • Excavation
  • Concrete foundation
  • Electrical hookups
  • Plumbing hookups
  • Interior “button-up”
  • General carpentry (build decks, porches, garage, etc.)

Hiring a General Contractor for Your Modular Home Project

Many aspects of modular home site work are similar to traditional stick built home, but there are some differences. Hiring a GC with modular home experience is a “must”. A GC with experience working with modular homes can save you time and money on your new house.

 A GC with experience working with modular homes can save you time and money on your new house.