The Owner-Builder Book: How You Can Save More Than $100,000 in the Construction of Your Custom Home, 4th Edition Reviews

• SUBSTANCE

  
  By A1SN0DRRBNUFAL on 2001-12-10
  Our home in New Mexico will be the first and last we build. I reviewed several books at the library before purchasing one as a guide to this project. The "Owner-Builder Book" and the accompanying CD I received after purchasing the book solidified our approach to organizing to build. Its step by step approach, the ideas presented by the author and the side bars from other owner-builders caused us to re-evaluate many of our preconceived concepts on how to build a home. Three items of significant importance were driven home when we followed the approach:
  1)Its easy to design a home! However, to then build it for a reasonable price is a real challenge. The ideas for a cost down approach in the book are invaluable in focusing the owner-builder with a budget and big ideas. Of particular interest was the admonition to get multiple bids! We have found price differences of over 100% from the same bill of material. We would never have realized the importance of multiple bids without using "Owner-Builder" as a guide.
  2) Our research and experience since purchasing the book last March are right on with the observations of the Smiths. General contractors spend little time at any individual project. The quality of work is up to the lead worker. The quality we have found is variable depending on which house we visited.
  3) You cannot do too much planning and we needed a guide for the planning process. We plan to build next March and taking a year to plan the task is not too much time. We will easily spend more than 1000 hours before the first shovel hits the site. We will know what is in the home from top to bottom. The book drove this point home and its organizational steps were invaluable.
  
  

• Great overview of a complicated process

  
  By AIVSFY6OL04GB on 2000-09-01
  Owning your own home has long been considered the American Dream. For many, that includes designing and building the homes themselves. But building a home is a complex project filled with pitfalls and traps, and unwary budding homeowners can find their dreams turning into nightmares.

  Enter Mark Smith, who has built several houses of his own. Written by a man who acted as his own general contractor, "The Owner-Builder Book" is crammed with useful advice on how to oversee your own project, from planning to construction. But be warned: it's unflinchingly honest about the amount of work and stress involved. While Mark Smith writes that it's possible to build a house in six months, first will come at least a year of planning and organizing. Once construction begins, you'll have to deal with ensuring that subcontractors appear on time and finish their work on time before the next group of workers appears. You may also have to deal with problems such as late deliveries of materials, subcontractors who don't show up, or who demand advances before working, threatened lawsuits,

  Reading this book will give you a better appreciation of what the general contractor goes through. It will either fire your desire to run the show yourself and pocket the savings, or gratefully turn over the work to someone who does it for a living. But what it will also do is give you the information needed to make informed decisions that, even if you work with a contractor, will save you money.
  
  

• If you have the time, you will save money

  
  By A1IU7S4HCK1XK0 on 2006-06-11
  If you have the time to be your own general contractor, you will save money on your house construction, according to author Smith. This is true; I know two people at least, maybe more, who built their own house in a pricey market and got better results for a lot less. But...they had the time to be a full-time or nearly full-time general contractor.
  
  A general contractor is a business person; a manager. If you can manage projects or people, you can do this. The book has charts, tables and suggestions on how to handle subcontractors. The myths that you cannot buy good lumber or components dashed here. And I can attest that contractor-grade furnishings in houses are often garbage, so much so you have to refit a new house to remove the trash they installed for you. You can avoid this waste by building your own, with your own specifications for windows, doors, brass door fittings, toilets, cabinets.
  
  Don't be fooled; this is a job; you save money because you are doing the job of a professional. But that professional may have gotten into the business at his daddy's knee and really you may have the same skills, just untried. So do read the book first and see if you can manage all the jobs listed.
  
  I liked the tables and checklists best in here. I like guides so I dont forget things. How to handle the subs, including sending knotty, subpar warped lumber back to the lumber yard and how to specify in your sub contract (strike the line that says you pay a restocking fee before you sign with the lumber yard) is worth the entire book price.
  
  If you want some facts; it costs about $50 a square foot to build a house around our area and the builder sells it for about $100 to $140. Think about that.
  
  

• One major problem....

  
  By on 2002-05-07
  The main part of this book contains some useful information and some helpful hints for owner-builders. However, beware a major problem that nearly destroyed the reading experience for me. The writing goes until page 272. But the book contains 314 pages. So what do pages 272-314 contain? Look at the cover of the book, where it says "Valuable Coupons Inside! $100 Value". Most of the 42 pages contain full-page ads for the author's seminars, audiotapes, workshops and special reports. To see this for yourself, go to the "Look Inside" feature (click on book picture) and look at the last page of the table of contents. I found these ads irritating, because although this is supposedly a reference book in and of itself, it asks you to shell out $6.00-$99.00 each item for more information. Excuse me, but shouldn't information like "Staying on Schedule" be included in the "Owner-Builder" book? The author offers the explanation that he couldn't "fit" all of this info into the book. He sure didn't have a problem tacking on 42 extra pages of shameless bids for more money. Get a book that doesn't reach into your wallet, like the excellent "Complete Guide to Contracting Your Home".
  
  

• lacking in actual construction information

  
  By A3LX2AGZ9VWM0G on 2003-09-26
  I found the book helpful in areas such as financing,getting subs to show up on time, and getting good prices on material.
  I was looking for very specific info regarding the actual steps of constructing your own home. I need to know exactly what type of foundation is best, how to calculate much fill I'd need for the project and so on. If you're looking for a factual book on home construction, this is not the one. I'll keep looking.
  
  
• When Lenders Listen to Owner-Builders
  By A1M4ZTC4T9SOZ6 on 2004-01-23
  The Owner-Builder world is here. When the cost of buying a home in the local subdivision is priced out of the hands of 50% of the local population it is time to look for alternatives.
  
  The title of this book states it all. The Owner-Builder book is the first purchase (must have it) for those considering building their next home to meet family needs. The Author takes an on hands approach listing subject matter in easy to find sections. I like the way he relays this information.
  
  The book will guide you, step by step. A checklist to understanding many of the areas you are expected to know. So very important to complete prior to talking seriously to a lender when securing a construction loan. Better yet, topics included will save you money not just with the construction project but for the fees lenders charge. Protect yourself by knowing as much as you can about the process.
  
  The Owner-Builders book ultimately saves money, time and enhances communication for all involved. Thank You for a great tool I can add to my professional arsenal. I recommend this book as a guide and resource to all future Owner-Builders.
  
  
• good book... a bit redundant but provides good overall advice
  By A6WAJ23IE4N8G on 2005-08-27
  This was the first contracting book that I read. Since then I have purchased and read a few more that were recommended in this book. The book drives home the fact that planning is critical and give great tips to help you organize your plan. After reading this book, if you still think you want to be your own GC. I would suggest reading "The complete Guide to Contracting your Home". It gets more into the technical aspect of each phase of construction.
  
  
• Makes one good point
  By A1D24MS8AVKXXG on 2003-04-19
  If nothing else, this book will convince you paying for a general contractor is money down the drain--assuming you're willing to do his job instead. The author, a marketing consultant, relates his experiences as owner-builder. There are undoubtedly nuggets of wisdom amid the endless anecdotes, but nothing not found elsewhere.
  
  
• Very Helpful Guidance * Practical Advice to PLAN, PLAN, PLAN
  By A3CHV01UFBUPYB on 2004-06-23
  This is an excellent book to read during the PLANNING stages of your building project. The book is written in an easy-to-read format and had insightful suggestions on cost savings, tax avoidance, quality construction and more.
  Highly recommended!
  
  
• Very helpful book!
  By A27L1S6R4KV7O on 2001-02-23
  I was fortunate to come across this book as I was making my decision to owner build my custom home. This book was an excellent resource and it allowed me to go in to my construction effort well informed and ready to tackle the project. From tax insights, to planning and organizing techniques this book covers everything that I needed to know. It's step by step plan of attack, and it's insightful and fun to read reminders truly helped me get into the drivers seat. In the end, I was able to save a substantial amount of money in the construction of my home, as well as avoiding several headaches, and mistakes along the way. The owner builder book chronicled owner builders like myself who had a story to tell, and insider tips. I also learned strategies that enabled me to take advantage of tax benefits. In owner building, knowledge isn't only power, it's tremendous savings.
  
  
• Exactly what I was looking for!
  By A1JUTMQ9UQATOM on 2003-01-06
  When it came down to owner-building my house, I purchased a whole slew of books hoping that all of them together would help. I found the Owner-builder Book to be the only book that did. I carried it with me everywhere and it came through for me time and time again. I learned many valuable lessons that I've carried on into my everyday life as well- one of which is "Plan, Plan, Plan". I've found that what he says is true, that for "every hour you spend planning, saves 4 hours in execution". This book is everything I was looking for and more!
  
  
• Please stop repeating yourself
  By A305D29CEZHZDG on 2002-04-16
  Okay, maybe I am the odd ball, but this author drove me crazy! He should have made a pamplet instead of a book. I felt as though it was written by a Amway sales person. To me, the book read like they were trying to motivate you to go ahead and build your house. I needed factual information, and I got 90% "You can do it" and 10% "This is the stuff you need". If you are two years away from building, you might like it, but I was two weeks away and already had most of the information provided. I am sending mine back.
  
  
• Pass on this one...
  By A2H6XZC7UKWTBS on 2002-12-30
  The authors must certainly be experienced in building and the various trades but this book just didn't help me at all. A total flop for me, really. The book to get for the first time Owner-Builder is the Complete Guide to Contracting Your Home, by McGuerty & Lester. A wonderful step-by-step guide with TONS of useful information.
  
  
• GOOD START - Even if you aren't subcontracting out your home
  By A1MHI1VPJB97V4 on 2001-08-08
  Arm your self with knowledge with this book. They show you how to budget your expenses, schedule the sub-contractors, make the lenders see you as a contractor, avoid liens and lawsuits, avoid mistakes, lower your property tax, and most importantly ... owner builder savings secrets. The authors have really made this there personal diary. They have done the research for you and passed it along. They have experienced it first hand and know what it takes to be a Owner-Builder yourself. They give you the confidence to do it yourself. You can't go wrong with this book unless you buy it and don't read it. It has become a reference book for me that has come in very handy.
  
  
• Wonderful book!!!
  By on 2002-05-25
  Love this book! I have other books on owner-building but this is the one I carry with me in case I have a few minutes to read. The authors recommend a year of planning, trying to do it in a few weeks or months is a crash course so it's truly nice to have found such a great study guide. (it would be less stressful to spend a year!) Financially very inspiring, tells how to save a fortune by doing a great job of managing the home building project, and also how to make a life's fortune owner-building. Tips for getting the Owner-builder construction loan. Also has an extensive list of similar books by other authors; the Smiths don't presume to be the end all/be all in DIY contracting, which I find very refreshing. Very useful book, a real gem.
  
  
• Big on promises, but mostly self-serving
  By A1TK7BTFLP8H3I on 2007-05-15
  This was the first book I read when I decided to retire and in some way become very involved in building our retirement home. I ended up reading about 4 others - all of which were more substantive and helpful. The most obvious problem from my point of view is the exaggerated claim on the amount you can save. You would have to substitute a great deal of your own time plus a few other person's in place of the building tradespeople to even approach the author's claims. The other problem is since the time since I read it (2003), the book has become a platform for the author to expand his marketing. Finally, the pictures of the home the author built on his own were very unimpressive to me. I thought it looked really dull.
  
  There was one thing I took from the book - that you needed 1,000 hours to do the job. I did that and a bit more since I had the time. I had a fantastic experience on my house, although I had to pass through ideas of being my own GC or getting someone experienced to act as a mentor. Dispensed with the first as unrealistic and ran into significant problems with after starting down the second path. I ended up using a builder who simply let me participate extensively in the process since I had done so much preparation. I ended up designing, planning, and participating extensively with all the subs. It ended up being done on time, on budget, and with a quality level that exceeded my expectations.
  
  
  
  
• Start saving money right here
  By on 2002-05-12
  Filled with personal anecdotes, blank pages for note-taking and the all-important several pages of readers' testimonials.
  
  
• Must reading for anyone remodeling or building a home.
  By on 1998-10-15
  Ever dreamt about a custom built home? This is the book for you. Mark and Elaine Smith saved 44% of the cost of building their own home, thanks to their painstaking planning, savvy supervising of sub- contractors, and getting the best possible price on everything that went into the construction. The Smiths share their experience and strategies in this fascinating book. It's incredibly detailed, with valuable lists, charts, ideas, and questionnaires (like what to ask potential subcontractors), yet easy reading. Even if your construction project is more modest, say, remodeling your kitchen or adding a deck -- this is must reading.
  
  
• A Worthless Smithco Marketing Piece
  By AZQUBRZOQXYHS on 2002-08-21
  This book was extremely disappointing...it is nothing more than a "puff-piece" brochure for the many products that the authors sell. There is very lttle of any substantive use ....some teasers and lot's of testimonials for their tapes, CD's etc. People building their own home will find that "The Complete Guide To Contracting Your Home" is an infinitely better investment.
  
  
• Good Book
  By A1QOTBEFNTHPZU on 2006-01-15
  This book has a lot of useful information if you are building a house, regardless if you decide to be your own general contractor.
  
  
• FLUFF!
  By A1Q4NVDDKUSRBU on 2001-11-21
  This is by far the worst book I have read on this subject. Lots of pep-talk (You too can save $100,000!!!) --and little substance. It advices readers to "beat the systen" by for example paying sub-contractors cash (i.e. let them cheat on taxes) and to obtain estimates from contractors whoose services they have no intentions of using (basically abusing their "free" labor.)
  
  
• Do your own contracting
  By A3AFZRD3O2WHMJ on 2000-08-08
  This book gives an excellent overview and detail of the issues that owner-builders are presented with. Full of useful hints, guides and processes, as well as the opportunity to get the various spreadsheets used for just the cost of postage. A must have to get going as an owner-builder if you have no experience.
  
  
• All the tricks of the trade in one book!
  By AQAKYDZKB8Z3D on 2006-03-02
  A step by step plan to constructing and saving on your dream home. This book helps to make your dream home even better, by saving money you can put more into it! We can't wait to start our project, and use this book as our guide!!!
  
  
• Take this book with you when you take the plunge
  By A3RQK9A71FTFQ5 on 2003-03-26
  If you are contemplating the notion of building your own home--or at least serving as the general contractor, do yourself a favor and read this book by Mark and Elaine Smith. With highly readable text that offers ton's of excellent advice the Smiths encourage and support you to take on this frightening--but potentially hugely rewarding--endeavor.
  
  
• Great Motivator
  By A34FTL71XIZMJQ on 2006-02-23
  This book was an easy read and really motivated us to contract our home on our own. Has some great suggestions on saving money and planning a home build. Read it before you get too far on your project. Very enlightening.
  
  
• Written by a seller
  By AL777FMOCB8OY on 2006-12-21
  At least at first, the tone is like trying to sell you the book you already brought. Quite repetitive too. Then a lot of pure blank "write-your-notes-here" pages and too many "readers say" pages making you feel "enough already". It says it has 288 pages, but it actually has 274 and pages 251 to 274 are just commercials (ie. "valuable coupons"). What's most irritating is the usage of the psychology of the numbers. 50% here, 10% there, scattered around every page in the book making you feel informed. The author knows that numbers give credibility and abuses this technique to the point that insults the reader's intelligence. Maybe it's that I'm not used to management books...
  
  On the positive side, the book *does* have good tips (although nothing I didn't thought of myself) on buying materials, and quite a lot of tips on dealing with subs, generals, etc. I especially liked the parts dealing with the stress and anxiety associated with such kind of projects, and how it might affect your marriage, something you don't take too seriously at first. Another nice phrase: "We were surprised at our limitations when we began to do self work." - some owner-builders are too optimistic about what they think they can do themselves.
  
  All in all, the book can prove useful, if you can get past the commercial aggressivity with which it's written.
  
  
  
• motivational garbage
  By AM76XJ0E6P9V4 on 2007-06-18
  This book is garbage. Nothing more than motivational fluff and a complete misrepresentation of the homebuilding business and process. The Author convinces readers that they can't control or trust an individual contractor to build a house for them but can easily control dozens of individual subs and suppliers without being cheated. Yeah right. The book is chock full of statistics and statements that have no support or reference. It is not surprising that the book is self-published because no reputable publisher would publish a book with so many unsupported facts and figures. If you need motivation and someone to tell you you can do it and you are the king of the world and contractors are the skum of the earth, buy the book. If you want real guidance and grounded advice on how to build your own home, look elsewhere.
  
  
• Very useful if you're planning your first building project
  By AHBW5A6K6AD42 on 2007-10-28
  I bought this book last year before I started my first building project and it was very useful. While I agree with some of the negative reviews that there are too many testimonials and some strange justifications discussed on why to build your own home, I think overall it's helpful.
  
  Here are the things you can get from this book: a plan showing you how to get started, understanding the different steps and trades to build, understanding the planning time required, an idea of the commitment that is required, a structure to set-up your budget, tips to secure your bank loan and ideas for some custom home features to consider.
  
  You will not get much information on the following: details on building techniques, detailed cost saving tips or useful price information.
  
  
• The Owner-Builder Book
  By A1ZVCP6ASCJDGL on 2001-09-23
  This book was incredibly helpful, and exactly what I was looking for when I decided to build my own home. The budget worksheet helped me to figure out what I needed to bid first, and made sure that I didn't forget anything. The star that I left off was for the repetition of several points. Although, when learnind something new repetition is key. The list of resellable features in a home was excellent as well.
  
  
• Not a bad book to read.
  By A2QOHHBMG27VO6 on 2005-08-24
  I was happy after reading this book. Concepts well laid out.
  
  

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