What is an owner builder? That is a term we don’t hear very often but it is one that still manages to have its own course. An owner builder is someone who does all the building work on a property that they own instead of hiring a building company or licensed builder in order to get the job done. Anyone can be an owner builder but of course there are safety regulations and codes a person must be aware of before they undergo building anything, even if it is on their own property. If you want to save yourself the fees of hiring a contractor and having to wait on them to finish your building project you can take matters into your own hands and take the owner builder course.
As mentioned above, anyone can take owner builder training; it does not require any prerequisites and you can even take the course online. Of course the lessons do take effort, have an affinity for construction, and you do have to study hard, learning all the safety regulations and the processes that a licensed builder must go through. There are also some cases where the person might be exempt from taking the online course such as if they worked in the industry or hold a BSA. Those that have worked in the construction industry before should also be aware that there is a cut off period at times. In addition, once you’ve taken the course you will get a certificate as an official owner builder however you’ll need more than a certification to starting building your project; you’ll need to get a permit.
To get your building permit you’ll not only be required to show that you own the land you are building on, but also that you are qualified to build whatever building you’re going to be constructing. You also will have to deal with restrictions placed on the builder permit so that you can retain ownership once your building is erected.
Getting the required permit for the building you are going to construct, the proof of ownership for the land, the certificate upon completing the owner builder course, and all the required materials for the job such as building materials, blue prints, safety equipment and more can be quite difficult. On the other hand it is often more affordable than hiring contractors and it can open up the door to more building opportunities, and even lead to a career. Legislation can make it a hassle but being able to construct your own buildings is not only liberating but also very cost effective.
If you are interested in constructing your own buildings, or perhaps getting started on construction as a business, a great place to begin is with an owner builder course. It can get your foot in the door and on the path to constructing your own buildings efficiently, and making sure they adhere to safety codes and local legislations.
