[look 171]

You need good subs or specific trades folks and do not believe them when they say they can do it all or perform other trades (some do, but it must get pass me first). The problem with home owner acting as GC is the subs you hired may not work hard for you. They know it is a one time deal just to finish the house you are building. If another GC calls for them in the middle of your project, they may pack up or leave a person or two and go off to the other job because they know they will be called upon for repeated work. I have seen this hundreds of times. Be mindful of that. I like to think most are good and responsible people but that's reality a home owner acting GC will encounter.

Make sure to have the following on the contract:
Terms of payment.
Deposit, pay on completion for a certain task and do not pay
unless it passes (rough) inspection then pay after final inspection AND
COMPLETION OF THE PUNCH LIST BETWEEN OWNER AND SUB.

Guarantee Maximum Price:
The actual Cost of the Work shall constitute the Guaranteed Maximum Price of $XXX.XX
In the event the Contractor shall produce the work in excess of the Guaranteed Maximum Price, the Contractor shall pay 100% of the excess out of his own funds.

Contract must state the date stamped on the approved drawing drawn by XXX and approved by xxx, city. This way if subs do not stick to plans, they don't get pay.

Again, DO NOT PAY WHEN THEY ASK FOR MONEY. STICK TO THEIR SCHEDULE OF PAYMENT.

Good luck.