Should you owner-build?
Two minutes, eight honest questions. You’ll get a straight answer, your specific risk flags — and if the answer is “no”, we’ll say so. That’s the whole point.
- Free, no sign-up needed to see your result
- Built from real advisory sessions, not marketing personas
- “Not yet” is a result we actually give
Question 1 of 8
How much time can you genuinely give the build each week?
Owner-building is a part-time job. Be honest — the build will be.
The honest version
Who owner-building is right for — and who it isn’t
The right fit
- You have 10–15+ hours a week and a job flexible enough to take trade calls
- You want control over quality and detail — the savings are the bonus
- You’re comfortable chasing people and having hard money conversations
- Your finance is checked against owner-builder lending terms
- Your household knows exactly what the next 12 months look like
The wrong fit
- You’re doing it purely because a builder’s quote “felt like a rip-off”
- You can give it evenings and weekends only, and your job is inflexible
- Your budget is a number from an online cost guide
- Conflict makes you fold — trades will price-test that within a fortnight
- Your partner is lukewarm and you’re hoping enthusiasm arrives later
Not sure which column you’re in? The quiz answers this ↑
What to expect
The realistic shape of an owner-build
From first spreadsheet to handover, most owner-builds run 18–24 months end to end.
Phase 1
Research & decision
1–3 months
Phase 2
Design & documentation
3–6 months
Phase 3
Finance & approvals
2–4 months
Phase 4
The build itself
9–15 months
The pre-permit roadmap
When to get the permit (later than you think)
The most common early mistake is applying first. The permit is step 6, not step 1 — here’s the order that protects your money.
- 1
Confirm your finance works under owner-builder lending terms
- 2
Lock the design and get documentation quote-ready
- 3
Price the build properly — real quotes, not cost-guide numbers
- 4
Complete your state’s owner-builder course requirement
- 5
Line up insurances and your certifier
- 6
Apply for the owner-builder permit
← The permit comes late, not first. Everything above it is cheaper to fix.
- 7
Engage trades and schedule the first inspections
Want the answer pressure-tested against your actual numbers?
The Go/No-Go Session: 60 minutes with an ex-builder and site engineer, a written go/no-go summary, and the roadmap for your state. $240 — and it credits toward your Pre-Start Review.