 here do you get these skills if you don't have them? Read. Take an owner builder class. Volunteer on some projects, ask a lot of questions and take notes. Or work for a builder for a while. The amount of experience necessary for a successful  owner builder project will take some time to acquire if you don't already have it. We strongly recommend that you spend the time getting experienced so that you can do the job right. If it's your plan to do some or all of the physical labor, there is much more to learn. You may need special licenses to do your own electrical and plumbing work. Check with your local building department.
TEMPERAMENT
If you have been around many job sites, you know that building is a messier and less precise project than many. Obviously, the home should be built to exacting tolerances, but "exacting" in home building is different than "exacting" at a machine shop. If your profession thus far has been an engineer or a medical professional, your standards for precision and cleanliness are certainly more refined than those needed at a job site. If you try to maintain those standards at a job site, you will be constantly frustrated. If that degree of precision and cleanliness is in your nature, you just may go crazy before the project is over!
 We are not saying that job sites should be messy and tolerances should not be taken seriously. In fact, we're sticklers about having a clean job site because we know that everyone works better, the site is safer and people are in a better mood if things are clean and organized. We are also sticklers for doing the job right, and that means square and level and well built.
The best temperament for a successful owner builder project is one that comes from being experienced with building. When you know what a good job looks like and know how and when to anticipate problems accurately, you can relax and enjoy the process. While not sacrificing your high standards, being friendly, kind and fair goes a long way.
Over the years, we've had several owner builder clients. Some have been more successful than others. In every case we have tried to be as forthcoming about the realities of owner building to our customers as possible. We've talked many out of doing it all together; usually because of their lack of experience. Some have had the time and experience and went ahead with our blessing. Others were committed to proceeding against our better judgment.
As a result, we've seen a wide range of owner building experiences. We've noticed that those who aren't comfortable and experienced with building tend to second guess the subcontractor and get agitated about things they perceive as being problems. More often than not, a problem doesn't actually exist, but between the time that they identify what they fear is a problem and when they learn that it isn't, they can cause delays and hard feelings in every direction. Those who tend to have a short fuse are worse. And those who have a somewhat accusing, untrusting nature are worst of all!
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