Hard to find good contractors

[Brent Beard]

Hi BP,

I have three single family homes all in Gary Indiana and all of them need work. I only can do so much but I have so much more I need done. The hardest part of all of this is finding good licensed contractors that can do the work. Either they're not licensed and bonded or they're schedule conflicts with mine so they cancel the appointment, show up late or sometimes don't show up at all. Maybe it's because these homes are in Gary which may have a stigma to them. 

Another problem is that I'm using credit cards to pay for the work and theses guys want to get paid cash. Am I missing something? It's 2021! Everybody should be accepting credit cards at this point. (at least in my mind) If a job cost $1000, I'm not paying in cash. 

I trying not to get frustrated with this but I thought I'd write this post for some insight from investors with more experience.

[Brad Mistina]

I have been a contractor for many years.  If I can give you our perspective.  

1. Most investors don't want to pay for good contractors, we are not cheap.  They want good work for cheap from guys that are reliable.  They are rare.   If they are good, cheap and reliable they are quickly picked up by someone like me that will keep them busy for years to come without having to give bids and chase work.  Or they will become someone like me and grow their own business.  Either way the dont last too long in the cheap department.

2. The credit card is on non issue, We take credit cards but you pay the fees.  Makes no difference to me.  But we are a bigger company, the small guys are intimidated by this even though they should not.  They just want to work and get paid and not do office work.

3. I know this is probably not helpful to solve your issue but after being in rehab/construction work for over 25 years I feel its fairly accurate.  Even more so when the market is good like it is now.  Its a grind when you are smaller, but keep at it and when you find a good guy, try to keep them busy and treat them right.