Free bids from contractors?

[James Warren]

Hello all. I'm looking to get started wholesaling soon, and have been studying Brandon Turner's "The Book On Investing In Real Estate with No and Low Money Down". In the chapter on wholesaling, he states that many wholesalers include detailed bids from contractors in their proposals to potential cash buyers. I'm curious to know what people's personal experience has been getting such bids for free. It does make logical sense that a contractor would have incentive to do this for free or at a very low cost, but I figure it can't hurt to ask. Can I really count on this not costing me money? If not, how much should I expect to pay?

[Brian Pulaski]

I find Contractors give free bids when they have the chance to get the job... if you don't own it, and have zero intentions of owning it (wholesaling) I doubt many contractors would give you a free bid. Contractors need to make money, and if they are doing free bids for guys who aren't even buying houses, they aren't making any money.

@Amy Kendall are these houses you are thinking of buying, or are they houses you are looking to wholesale out to someone else?