mike Posted December 21, 2006 Report Share Posted December 21, 2006 we are talking about another place so my question is... do we buy a house or hold out for a couple years to build our own? i am a carpenter, have been since day one! the problem is the work it takes to pay the bills and build one on the side!! the place we live in now, i put an attached garage on, then when child # 2 came along we needed more room so i ripped the roof off and put a second floor on it!! but i was younger then and didn't mind the 70 plus hours a week working at work and at home. that can kill a guy off in this business. but by building i get what we want! but by buying we get what we need and i don't take 10yrs off my life working like a mad man for the next year!! just thought i would get your opinions!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muff Posted December 21, 2006 Report Share Posted December 21, 2006 Re: build a house? WOW thats a tuff one....but I think you know deep down that you would rather live in a place you built.....knowing how well its built and putting better workmanship into it knowing thats its going to be you and your family living in it......jmo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buckee Posted December 21, 2006 Report Share Posted December 21, 2006 Re: build a house? I know how you feel. It's nice to be able to do things yourself, for yourself, but age is creeping up on me too and I just don't seem to have the energy left for myself after working all day. I think that's a decision only you can make honestly for yourself. One thing nice about building a house over a few year time span, is that is settles well and the walls and ceilings don't crack Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elkoholic Posted December 21, 2006 Report Share Posted December 21, 2006 Re: build a house? I know a couple of people building their own homes and they have been at it going on two years and they still are not completely finished. On the other hand, they have the satisfaction of knowing that it was done right and the way they wanted it. Personally, if I had the time and tools to do it myself I would go for it, but I would not set any time lines if at all possible. Building a house is stressful enough mentally and to add the physical stress puts an extra wrinkle in the process. Good luck on your decision. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KirkV Posted December 21, 2006 Report Share Posted December 21, 2006 Re: build a house? I am a electrician and did my 3rd house of my own at 46. That was it for me, we said no more new houses, it's too much work. And the electrical is not near as involved as the carpentry. So I know where you are coming from. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeramie Posted December 21, 2006 Report Share Posted December 21, 2006 Re: build a house? Buy.... Buy..... Buy...... Its pretty much a buyers market right now. You can get a good house much cheaper then you could a few years ago. You already know what kind of work is in front of you if you build and in my humble opinion, its just not worth it. There are far to many nice houses on the market to start driving nails and dealing with stress, bank deadlines, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdvantageTimberLou Posted December 21, 2006 Report Share Posted December 21, 2006 Re: build a house? Hard one to decide Mike, my neighbor just completed his house and it took 2 years for him and his buddies to build it. He had the help of many friends and if you have that on your side it helps but most of us can't get committed guys to give up their lives for 2 years to build your house. I guess my neighbors deal was they all built new houses helping each other out so when it came to labor that was all free. In the end, my neighbor lives in a house that is probably over $250,000 and with no mortage! When I did my house 4 years ago I opted to hire a builder, my dad and I did all the tile and marble work and that saved but for the most part, I found an awesome builder to build it for me. I wish I could have been like my neighbor but my buddies have lives and I couldn't see having them spend all their free time building my home. So tough call, to avoid headaches I would find something on the market, their is some grief with building a house and some reward too, so its basically a decision on what you wish to do and what your finances will allow. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snapper Posted December 21, 2006 Report Share Posted December 21, 2006 Re: build a house? I would buy...being a carpenter, you know what to look for in construction of a home. Buying/finding a home can be stressful enough...let alone building a new one on top of a job! Wife and I built our house...subbed out alot of work...but also did alot to save money. Read my typing...I WILL NEVER DO IT AGAIN! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kidd Posted December 21, 2006 Report Share Posted December 21, 2006 Re: build a house? build your dream home!!!!! you will never have to do it again!! JMHO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randy Posted December 21, 2006 Report Share Posted December 21, 2006 Re: build a house? I would have to build it. I also have worked construction and know all to well what you could run into having someone else build your house. Do it yourself and have the satisfaction of knowing that your blood and sweat went into it and it was all for your family and yourself. It will all be worth it in the end. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbeck Posted December 21, 2006 Report Share Posted December 21, 2006 Re: build a house? You be the GC on the job, sub out the framing and general ruff-in, sub the drywall and finishing, then do the trim work to suit you, this can be done easily in the evenings. If you haveing custom kitchen cab. put in get them to do the staining and finishing of the trim work for you. Then just set up the compound miter, table saw, and Pasload and your set. JMO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted December 21, 2006 Report Share Posted December 21, 2006 Re: build a house? Tough decision, the wife and I have thought about building and talked about it many times, but always come back to wanting to wait until we can pay cash to build and not take another loan ever. We need more room like last year though, so I am kind of considering just making an addition on the back of the house we live in now. Only downside there is we are also talking about possibly moving and not so sure we want to dump the money into this place for that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BowJoe Posted December 21, 2006 Report Share Posted December 21, 2006 Re: build a house? I say go pole barn and then fix up the inside as you go to your specs. You have more time to do it and can make it a dream on the inside which is what you see the most anyway. Your choice but you can always landscape to make the outside more beautiful as well. Here's my Dream home that's converted from this plan to an actual house with a lot more square footage (like say 1000) and our daughter's room upstairs. It's the Lancaster. http://www.homesteaddesign.com/framebarn.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Andrea Posted December 22, 2006 Report Share Posted December 22, 2006 Re: build a house? We are building our first home. They are coming to pour the slab after the first of Jan. We will sub out some of it, but do the rest ourselves. May take a while, but it will be nice, and NO MORTGAGE. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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