General Contractor Need - NYC and Surrounding Area

[Susan Carman]

Hello BP Family, 

When everything finally falls into place I will have closed my first deal. 

Yet today, I am in looking for a good General Contractor. The property is in the South Bronx - Mott Haven area.

Any recommendations?

Susan

[Account Closed]

I am sure there are some good contractors out there - but it is so hard to determine if they are good or not until after your job starts. You need to get several bids - give the contractor a list of items you want done - get estimates and suggestions from 3-4 contractors - always check out their references - never give them money up front - if they can't afford to start the job without your 1/3 down - you don't need them, let the contractor work on his money before you risk your $$.

Do not give up all responsibility to the contractor - be on the job often - do not accept inferior work - understand the contract that is presented to you - get legal advice - always look at and talk to their referrals.

Check with the BBB and other watch-dogs for complaints.

Be paranoid - questions everything - their personality has nothing to do with what you want to get accomplished! Some contractors are so smooth - you just want to fall in love with them. DON'T! This is about your business and your profit - a bad contractor will eat a hole in your wallet - don't let that happen to you.

You are sometimes better off pay a little more and get a contractor with a great reputation and is honest.

You have a big challenge ahead of you - do it right - take it slowly and get help from those who have experience.

Be careful about additional work orders - contractors make lots more profit from them - We just finished a renovation of a commercial property - the contractor had great references - his office near ours and has been around for a long time - our start contract was for $900,000 the finish cost was $1,200,000.00 - I am so glad the job is finished - just hate fighting with contractors over "change orders"!

Charlie