Home remodeling has become one of the fastest growing segments within the building industry largely due to the last several years of low interest rates and property values soaring wildly into the stratosphere.
So for many folks it makes sense to stay put and maximize their newly found high-end property by updating their homes overall look, adding more living space and designing a home to fit their lifestyles.
But when you look at the rapidly growing costs of materials – especially lumber and concrete = that dream home is going to cost you more than perhaps you had originally thought.
So now you look for ways to cut those costs and this is where some homeowners believe that if they become their own general contractor – that is, owner-builder – for their home remodeling project, they’ll save money by cutting out the contractors’ cost and profits.
And the truth is they can IF they know what they’re doing and have some experience in construction or are particularly well versed in a number of trades. Even those who are quite handy around the house may feel they can tackle the job of hiring and supervising a contractor as well as the specialty trades (sub-contractors).
Some may consider hiring a contractor to supervise the job, thinking that will take care of their time involvement, fill the void of having little experience in home remodeling and still save money.
But even if you hire a general contractor to help oversee the project, you as the owner/builder are still the responsible party if anything goes wrong, not the contractor.
There are also liability issues such as what if someone gets hurt on the job. Who pays? You do. You also may be considered an employer which would subject you to tax obligations such as state and federal income tax withholding, social security and workmens compensation insurance to name a few.
And having said all that I can tell you that there are a number of owner-builder projects that have been performed in my community alone and it’s highly doubtful that any of these people registered as employers, paid taxes or obtained workmans insurance. And there is no one knocking down their doors threatening to fine and punish them for being an owner builder and not following the letter of the law.
Heck, most people don’t know this part of the law and what their obligations are so how are these government entities going to know you haven’t done your due diligence? Let’s be honest here, the government can’t even control those licensed contractors who violate the contractor’s license laws and they think they can control the private citizen? (I’ll let you percolate on that one but I just couldn’t help playing devil’s advocate!)’
One last thing to be aware of is the contractor who tries to talk you into being an owner builder for your remodel, using the bait of “you’ll save a ton of money” if you obtain your own permit and he’ll oversee the project and supervise the subs.Know that it is a frequent practice of non-licensed persons, including revoked licensees, to have the property owner obtain the building permit as “owner builder” falsely implying that the owner is supplying his or her own labor and materials personally.
Know that it is a frequent practice of non-licensed persons, including revoked licensees, to have the property owner obtain the building permit as “owner builder” falsely implying that the owner is supplying his or her own labor and materials personally.
For states that require licensing for work performed by someone other than the property owner and is valued at a certain dollar amount set by that state – in California that amount is $500 including labor and material – the licensed contractor should obtain the permit. Building permits are not required to be signed by property owners unless they are performing their own work personally.
So for those homeowners who are opting to act as the owner-builder for their home improvement project with the idea of saving money take heed: There are some very real risks and liability issues you need to be aware of.
If the people you hire are not licensed and are not immediate family members, you may be considered an employer and with that subject to local, state and federal tax laws and will need to register with these entities as an employer.The following is an excerpt from the California Contractors State License Board on owner/builder. The language, with the exception of the dollar amount, is very similar in other states that have licensing requirements so be sure to check out your state’s laws:
• If you employ or otherwise engage any persons other than your immediate family, and the work (including materials and other costs) is $500 or more for the entire project, and such persons are not licensed as contractors or subcontractors, then you may be an employer.
• If you are an employer, you must register with the state and federal governments as an employer, and you are subject to several obligations including state and federal income tax withholding, federal social security taxes, workers’ compensation insurance, disability insurance costs, and unemployment compensation contributions.
• There may be financial risks for you if you do not carry out these obligations, and these risks are especially serious with respect to workers’ compensation insurance.
For more specific information about your obligations under federal law, contact the Internal Revenue Service at (800) 829-1040 [and, if you wish, the U.S. Small Business Administration at (800) 359-1833]. For more specific information about your obligations under state law, contact the Employment Development Department at (916) 653-0707, the Department of Industrial Relations at (415) 703-5070, and the Franchise Tax Board at (800) 852-5711.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding owner builder permits, contact your state’s regulatory agency (California consumers can check with the Contractors State License Board or visit their web site at www.cslb.ca.gov) as well as your local building department.
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