If you're looking to build something new or add-on to what you have, you can save a ton of cash by acting as your own General Contractor. However, this comes with several issues. You should have a general understanding of how the building process and industry works and how scheduling and interaction with subciontractors should flow. The scheduling piece is most important to avoid costly change orders along with delays. Another issue is that you will have to devote a ton of time into the porject. You will spend many hours planning (filing permits, solicting and approving bids, working with lender, etc.), scheduling, making sure labor and materials arrive when they are supposed to, subcontractors don't get in each others way, etc. Another good piece of advice is to hire a knowledgeable and experienced Architect. Hiring the right person can save $$$ and produce big dividends when construction begins, especially if the plans are well detailed and presented in a logical manner. Good luck with the project.