Looking for General Contractors, & Inspectors in Knoxville, TN

[Lance Thibault]

Hello BP community.  

I've used the realtor I'm currently working with to get a list of inspectors and also reached out using Angies List for inspectors. But the more time I spend looking at that market of SFH, and Condo's within 10 minutes of the UT Knoxville campus, I'm finding that there is a good chance I'm going to need a GC. As an out of state person looking to buy something for my daughter that will be attending Law School there this fall (acceptance pending), I want to put her somewhere close, safe, clean, & comfortable that I can then hold and use as a rental after she moves out a couple years down the road.

Assuming her acceptance comes in before the end of March, I'm looking to close on a property in March, April, or May.  Assuming it will need some GC work, that gives us about 2-3 months to complete the work before she moves in in July.

Please let me know if you know any good GCs and inspectors in the area. I'm using a HELOC to fund the purchase and any potential repairs. The HELOC was approved last month, I'm only waiting on the UT School of Law acceptance. I've analyzed close to 50 properties (MLS) in the last month or so (and will continue to do so) and the ones I thought were good deals have indeed sold fast. Several of the ones I thought were over priced are still sitting there.

I'm primarily looking within the 640 corridor, in west and north (not so much east) and maybe south of the river if the house or condo is close. The Condo HOA's are killing me because most of them are not adding much other then cost to the equation. Having said that, there are a few condo complex's I would still consider buying into, but most of what I've seen make sense is in the small SFH market.

Please let me know if you know reliable GC that would be willing to talk with me or if you think there is anything else I should know/consider regarding this out of state adventure I'm about to dive into.  

Just for context I currently own 1 rental home in Colorado Springs (where I live).