Four Approaches
Once the plan is made and the budget is set, it's time to decide who is going to supervise and do the work. There are four general approaches:
1. Consultants
The first approach is to engage an architect or a designer to provide assistance throughout the project. This consultant can get involved fairly early in the planning stages, follow through to the completed working drawings, help apply for permits, hire the contractors, and supervise the work. A consultant can also be engaged for any portion of this process.
2. General Contractor
The second alternative is to seek out a general contractor who may or may not be able to help with the design and the preparation of working drawings. He will usually take care of getting building permits and hiring and overseeing the subcontractors. He will also provide site supervision through the project.
3. Be Your Own Contractor
The third option is to act as your own general contractor, hiring subcontractors at your discretion, and orchestrating their activities. This option requires you to be available at all times, and on-site regularly and often to answer their needs and insure the quality of the work.
4. Do it Yourself
The last path is the do-it-yourself approach. In this case, the only outsiders involved in your project will be the municipal authorities who will have to approve your plans and inspect your work, and the suppliers who are providing you with materials. Obviously, this path involves the most work but, if you are a skilled do-it-yourselfer, can lead to excellent results and high cost-savings.
Needless to say, there is room to work between these four distinct paths, and everyone must establish the correct blend for him or herself. Each approach has its own advantages and disadvantages.
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