Why does nobody talk about skipping the general contractor for a small build?

Willow Hill · 2026-03-12T14:20:09.070273+00:00

We built a 600 square foot guest house in Phoenix last year and decided to hire each trade directly, from the framers to the electrician. Everyone said we were crazy and it would be a mess, but we saved over 20% and the schedule was actually tighter. I found a good plumber through a local supply house and he recommended the drywall crew. Has anyone else managed a project this way, or did we just get lucky?

ericp676mo ago

Phoenix heat makes crews move fast, unlike @thomas291's birdhouse glue.

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jones.alice7mo ago

Honestly, the birdhouse guy is why people think you're crazy. My cousin tried to be his own GC for a shed and ended up with the electrician and the roofer in a screaming match over who blocked whose truck. How did you avoid that, just pure charm?

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thomas2917mo ago

You said everyone called you crazy, but that's the secret. My last DIY project was a birdhouse and I still managed to glue my hand to the roof.

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