Would you pay a contractor on an hourly basis to build your home? (price, construction)

[Townandcountrygal]

If you hired a contractor (or more than one) to build your home, would you consider paying him and his crew hourly or is this never a good idea?

[desertsun41]

I been in this biz for over 3 decades and I never heard of such a thing. That don't mean it has never happened but I sure would not want to be the consumer paying for that disaster. Wanna see a house take a year to build? Pay the trades by the hour.

[wit-nit]

Sure, pay them by the hour and watch them laugh all the way to the bank when that $10,000 job escalates to $50,000...

[Pitt Chick]

Originally Posted by Townandcountrygal

If you hired a contractor (or more than one) to build your home, would you consider paying him and his crew hourly or is this never a good idea?

Never heard of that...
never would do that!

[MrRational]

Find something that is already built which suits your needs and taste.

[blazerj]

Jobs are fixed price (not including upgrades) for a reason.

I can imagine when it may be an OK idea. If you have a construction project manager who is really on your side, it could work. However, unless you know a lot yourself, do you know if it takes 10 or 20 hours to do something?

[Coldjensens]

Only with a guarnateed maximum proice and/or with an experience and trusted construciton manager.

[K'ledgeBldr]

"Would you pay a contractor on an hourly basis to build your home?"

I might consider it for this house- and this house only.

[greatblueheron]

Is this really a serious question?? If so, run like the wind from the guy who proposed such a blantant scam!!!

Originally Posted by Townandcountrygal

If you hired a contractor (or more than one) to build your home, would you consider paying him and his crew hourly or is this never a good idea?

[ferretkona]

We often do it in commercial work. Usually called T&M, time and material not to exceed $.

Often homeowners will call a carpenter a contractor. I have worked on homes by the hour. Just do the work and move on the to next job. Your reputation will proceed you.