stuck trying to rennovate

[Rachel Johnson]

I purchased a ;property with two houses.  My intent is to occupy one and rent out the other. I wanted to make some quick renovations that I was told would only take a few weeks.  It has now been 6 months. The guy that I had working on my property did not have contract license and I did not understand what kind he needed. One of the guys that was working with him seemed to have them. Bottom line I got kind of swindled out of my money and the guy who said he was the general contractor is now in jail without bond. This is the first time he did something like this. However, now it seems everyone is afraid to touch my house.  I can't find anyone who is serious and my house is so bad it needs a general contractor to finish it out.  

Any financial and other advice on how to get someone to be serious about getting the right quotes and documents together for me to finish the renovation so that I can move in. I have learned to research the people I am talking to and there are not many in the area that are either willing to give me a correct assessment in writing that I can take to a bank or are willing to take the work on.  There is still work left from the hurricane here.  

It is an old house that needs a lot of work.  However the contractor before left it to the point I can't occupy it.  I am really at a loss of what to do.