Contractors
Market News & Data
General Info
Real Estate Strategies
![](http://bpimg.biggerpockets.com/assets/forums/sponsors/hospitable-deef083b895516ce26951b0ca48cf8f170861d742d4a4cb6cf5d19396b5eaac6.png)
Landlording & Rental Properties
Real Estate Professionals
Financial, Tax, & Legal
![](http://bpimg.biggerpockets.com/assets/forums/sponsors/equity_trust-2bcce80d03411a9e99a3cbcf4201c034562e18a3fc6eecd3fd22ecd5350c3aa5.avif)
![](http://bpimg.biggerpockets.com/assets/forums/sponsors/equity_1031_exchange-96bbcda3f8ad2d724c0ac759709c7e295979badd52e428240d6eaad5c8eff385.avif)
Real Estate Classifieds
Reviews & Feedback
Updated almost 3 years ago on . Most recent reply
![Avinash Dongarwar's profile image](https://bpimg.biggerpockets.com/no_overlay/uploads/social_user/user_avatar/2087884/1677173725-avatar-avinashd1.jpg?twic=v1/output=image/cover=128x128&v=2)
Need contractor help to detrmine Fixer/upper's repair costs
Hi All, Hope everyone is doing well. I'm a newbie and want to buy a fixer-upper in East bay. I was hoping that some general contractor would be able to help me to determine ballpark repair estimates either by looking at Inspection reports or by walking the property in case their schedule permits. Contract obviously will go to them. DM for more details. Thanks for reading this and god bless.
Most Popular Reply
![Brian Garlington's profile image](https://bpimg.biggerpockets.com/no_overlay/uploads/social_user/user_avatar/521060/1644554608-avatar-briang72.jpg?twic=v1/output=image/crop=2080x2080@0x301/cover=128x128&v=2)
- Realtor
- Oakland, CA and a Real Estate Investor with Multi-Family Units and a Self Storage Facility
- 2,389
- Votes |
- 2,350
- Posts
You will need to PAY the contractor for going out there to do an estimate. The good contractors that I work with cover primarily Oakland, Pittsburg, Antioch, Hercules, Richmond, Berkeley and Vallejo. All 6 of them have told me they refuse to go onsite to give an estimate based on the fact that someone "might" buy a place if they are not getting paid.
Pro Tip. If you do find a contractor...make sure t is convenient for the contractor, not you. Asking a contractor to come out at noon on a Saturday for this is a flat no go. You will need to meet them EARLY in the morning when the sun is just coming up before you go to work so as not to interfere with the project(s) that they are already working on and getting paid for.