Do you dream of the perfect home, one that showcases your personal flair? Because your dream home is so much a part of who you are, you want to begin from the ground up. Or, you may want to alter an existing home to reflect your expectations. But how do you deal with the high cost of building or renovating? You can save thousands of dollars simply by contracting the building or renovating of your home yourself. After all, the general contractors is ultimately responsible for the project. Here`s how to do it! In Be Your Own Contractor and Save Thousands, building expert Jim Shepherd guides you step-to-step, showing you the professional ins and outs of being your own general contractor. Packed with hands-on strategies used by the experts, Be Your Own Contractor and Save Thousands shows how you, too, can serve as general contractor and save a bundle. You`ll find insider tips on how to secure complete plans and specifications; solicit competitive bids for labor and materials; create a timely construction schedule; benefit from newer steel framing; select cost-effective windows and doors; and profit from making the renovations that add the most value.