Project Manager Recommendation

Hi everyone,

I'm looking to owner build my new home (inner eastern suburb in Melbourne), looking at the risks engaging any building companies nowadays. However, I won't be able to put in full time into it. I'm wondering if anyone has engaged a reliable Project Manager who can oversee and and give sound independent advice all the way from start to finish. Any good recommendation is much appreciated.

I'm currently OB and the amount of decisions to be made is sometimes overwhelming. The problem with OB is you can have anything. You are not stuck to a brand, a retail outlet, or contract so everything is fair game. Unless you prepare very very specific documents to itemise everything, if you want to go the manager route, just pick a house from a builder.
But, with all the pain, the gain is a much better built house, more tailor made to my specific requirements and my wife's tastes!! There is a little money saved sometimes, but usually spent elsewhere in the end.

Hi Ardo,

Thanks for your insights. That’s what we were thinking too. We’ll probably be able to spend more on better quality and fancy items.

Did you really not save much or at all going owner building? That is if comparing apple to apple quality materials.

The bigger factor is not being bound to a builder and not knowing they are able to complete a build without going bust these days. The headache if that happens is the ultimate nightmare.

It's hard to say if I saved. Technically I have, in that alot of times I can get a discount because of bulk, but I'm sure a locked in builder would get better. Funnily enough, bunnings with the price match have come through alot of the time.
I initially went through a builder. They couldn't use the cladding product I wanted because of their contract, windows, doors etc. No builder could fit in what we wanted so OB was the only choice. Heaven forbid if I compromised. I've hired by the hour carpenters, which is a nightmare. They break things, mis-cut and redo work all the time. But Im a tradie myself, this happens on every site. it's very hard to change this in my area of limited trades unless I want to wait 6 weeks for someone to be available. Just grit my teeth, fix what I can move on.
Atm we are trying to decide what kind of baths. Solid, acrylic, oval, fluted, corrugated.... arg. But can we get basins to match!! It's tough.

If you do go owner builder. If you go for a loan MAX out your quotes, highest prices for everything. Think of as much junk as you can, or as your budget will allow. When it starts, thats when you penny pinch. I sorted my loan out at the end of 2020. By then quotes were 6 months old. Started may last year, prices up 20% on average. Ive been very lucky with initial overestimation. On track.... just.

If you need to pay for a project manager you would be well advised to just engage a builder who would take full responsibility for the build.
As opposed to you OB where you take full responsibility.