Hire a contractor or be the contractor???

[rarebreed]

So I live in South Carolina just south of Charlotte NC and I have been trying to get estimates on adding a third bay (15 x 24 w/ scissor trusses) to my existing 2 car attached garage. It will need to have ceiling height for a future 4 post lift. A few contractors have not called back. Not sure why, maybe because they don't want the job or they are too busy making money off roofing / siding jobs from the recent hail storms.

Anyway, the first and only estimate I have so far is $24k, which I think is way over priced. The next guy came by a few days ago to give an estimate and asked what the first guy quoted and says that is actually cheap and he could not meet or beat it.

So what are your thoughts on these prices and should I be able to contract it out myself and save a lot of $$$ ???

 

[Stuart in MN]

There's another current discussion on the same topic here: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=252708 There are some good responses, basically that it can be done but it's not easy and won't necessarily save much money.

 

[DekeT]

It's only a WAG from here if you cannot answer it there.

 

[rarebreed]

I realize I put this in the wrong section now. :-(. Anywho, is the price the first guy gave me completely out of line? I can't see paying $24k to add one bay when I could sell my house and hopefully retain my equity and build a new house with the third bay already on it for what the extra I would be paying him.

 

[bobbyu]

I am on the downhill side of 18'x36' 3rd garage here in central Nebraska. Concrete with about 15' in front and a 4' sidewalk all around is going to run around $6500.00. The rest at just under $16000.00. I had the ceiling inside done with osb and I did the electrical. I had a 9'x14' door on one end. One walk out door. One double door on the other end so I can pull my lawn mower in there with out having to move something to get it out. I will finish the rest of the inside with insulation and osb. I had a tough time getting bids. Only got one out 3 came to take a look at the framing part. I already knew who I was having do the concrete.
The reason it is 18' wide is because I couldn't go any wider due to needing to be 12' off the property line. It is 36' long because that is how long my house is. 24k include concrete and finishing the inside? It seems high but man they all seem busy and that is what supply and demand does I guess. Good luck.
Bob

 

[rarebreed]

That cost includes everything but finished interior walls. I told the contractor to not have them finished as I would put up plywood on the studs for hanging shelves and or cabinets. The extra bay would be used to store one of the cars I am restoring and eventually a 4 pot lift. The main 2 bay would be used for the other restoration I am already working on.

I am just having a hard time accepting that it costs that much for this.