In view of the rise in construction prices, do-it-yourself seems like a good idea to many builders or renovators. However, strength, time, skill and know-how need to be correctly assessed. Do-it-yourself projects not only cost a lot of time, they also have to fit exactly into the construction schedule, especially in the case of a turnkey new building. If the subsequent work cannot be continued because of damage or delays, the house builder is liable. If construction progress is impeded, contractual penalties may be incurred. Particularly in the case of a new building, it is therefore advisable to list exactly which work the builder wants to carry out himself and to record this in the contract. In this way, the interfaces between outside and in-house work can also be precisely defined in terms of organization and timing. It can make sense to have experts take over the construction supervision of the work done by the customer in order to avoid construction defects later on and to avoid being stuck with the costs of damage – for example, if experts have to carry out subsequent improvements. This could quickly wipe out the savings.
In order to avoid such interface and liability problems, property developers often only permit own work at the end of a construction project.
What kind of work can be done
Money can be saved especially on services that involve a relatively high proportion of labor, such as drywall, painting, wallpapering or gardening work, or the laying of floor coverings. As the prices of building materials have risen significantly, the potential for savings is no longer as great, because the materials portion is higher compared to the labor costs. It should also be borne in mind that professionals can sometimes buy on better terms, know exactly which building materials are suitable, and are faster thanks to their experience. According to the Association of Private Building Owners, amateurs can achieve a maximum of two-thirds of the work of a professional in the same amount of time. In addition, the time needed to travel to and from the construction site, to obtain the necessary building materials and tools and v perhaps also a DIY course must be included in the calculation.
Therefore, it is above all trades for which no special machines and knowledge are required and which do not bring any major disadvantages if they are not completely free of defects that are an option. If, for example, a tile is laid slightly crooked or the wallpaper does not stick properly, this will not result in structural damage.
Deconstruction work such as the removal of doors, the removal of floor coverings or wallpaper or the sanding of old paint can be carried out by laymen without any problems and save a lot of money in the process. However, this should be discussed in advance with the contracted craftsman's company.
If you do not have the appropriate training yourself or if you do not have experts in your family or circle of acquaintances who can help, you should keep your hands off electrical installation, heating, plumbing and gas and water installation. The risk of making mistakes here is relatively high. In addition, there is no guarantee if work is carried out by the company itself. For example, an insurer may refuse to pay for a fire caused by an incorrectly laid cable by the owner.
Muscle mortgage as equity
Anyone who has to take out a loan for the construction project can benefit in several respects if they carry out the work themselves. On the one hand the building costs are lowered, on the other hand many credit institutes accept the employment of the own manpower as own capital funds. This has the consequence that the loan is smaller and the loan interest rate by the larger own capital portion if necessary more favorably turns out. As a rule, a maximum of 10 to 15 percent of the construction sum is accepted as a so-called muscle mortgage. Some lenders set a limit of 20.000 euros.
What also wants to be considered: Many subsidies are only granted if the work is carried out by a professional company.
Credit institutions usually want a list of the personal contributions that are to be made. Only wage costs are taken into account. Helpful for this can be statements of the building planner about individual trades or cost estimates of craftsmen. The house has described how a solid list of own contributions that the credit institution accepts can look like.
Insuring construction helpers
Helpers from family or friends must be registered with the Construction Industry Workers' Compensation Board no later than one week after construction begins, according to the law. This is also true if they work for free. In this way, helpers are covered by statutory accident insurance. The compulsory contribution is based on the number of hours worked by the helper. At least 100 euros are always due. Also itself as well as its partner or its partner can the owner in this way accident insure or a private accident insurance lock up.