Can you be your own general contractor in Kansas?

Having a comfortable and big house is definitely part of the American dream. Once a family has a stable income in Kansas, they start thinking about buying the house of their dreams. Some people go further. They want to build a house that would satisfy all their needs.

When visiting someone’s place, we usually think about the changes that we would make. Thus, many people have a passion for creating beautiful custom house. Some trust professional contractors. However, there are people not being afraid of launching a project by themselves. This starts with construction planning. The final stage is decoration and minor repair work.

The statistics suggest there were over 930 thousand single-family homes in the state. This article will uncover all aspects of having a license for building your own house in “The Free State”.

Who needs a license?

First, let’s see who is considered to be a general contractor in Kansas. Every state has its own procedure. Some require mandatory licensing. It can be rather complicated and you need to overcome many hurdles.

Let’s see what actions you have to take in the case of a Kansas contractor license. In general, one must first obtain certification at the local level. This means from a city, county, or jurisdiction. There is no obligation to have a permit at a state level. The exception is water well drilling and asbestos abatement.

Thus, the first step is to check with your city clerk. If a person wishes to set up a company, he needs to register via the secretary of state’s office. Non-resident specialists register with the Department of Revenue. Specifically, this happens if contracts exceed $10,000.

For example, let’s see what a person needs if he/she plans to work in Johnson county. There is a package of papers to gather.

What you need is to:

• Present proof of liability and worker’s compensation insurance

• Appoint a qualifying individual Bachelor of Science Degree in Architecture, Engineering, Construction Science, or other fields

• Fill in the application form

• Provide evidence that the entity is in good standing

• Pay a fee

There are also numerous useful articles to discover more details.

How to build your own house?

Everything starts from a project. The professionals are good at timing and logistics. So, if you have a decision to make your dream come true, draw a detailed plan. You will be responsible for any defects. Thus, it requires profound knowledge. Moreover, in the case of failure, it may cost you thousands of dollars.

There are a lot of companies that help take care of the paperwork and details. You may also need some subcontractors. The first step is to have a building permit.

For example, in Olathe there is a permit for fence installation, and window or roof replacement. However, the permit is necessary once you repair a plumber or electrical system. Replacing a water heater or air conditioning unit requires paperwork too. Moreover, the permits are valid for 180 days only.

If a person wants to add a room, he/she has to submit a number of documents. First, it’s a residential building permit application. Then, comes a plan showing the location, room sizes, etc. The procedure for a single-family residence or a duplex is more complicated.

Hiring a handyman

Most electrical, plumbing, or home maintenance work is free of license. However, some jurisdictions have some requirements. This means at a state level you can act as a handyman in your house. This refers both to the work inside and outside of the home.

However, professionals, such as electricians or plumbers need to check the local rules. The requirements and types of licenses may vary by city.

Construction fees

Building a house from scratch is not an easy task as well. A homeowner must be ready to face difficulties. Any construction project may have unexpected expenses. Anyhow, a basic home project in Kansas would cost around $100-$140 per square foot. Bear in mind that 50% goes to the materials. Labor costs are around 30-40%. This is the reason if you have enough skills, it’s better to manage your own project yourself.