House Flipping Questions

[Kyle Rosseau]

I am a new real estate investor and new to bigger pockets. I am getting ready for my first flip and have a few questions for the BP community. Apologize if these have already been asked but I haven't been able to find them.

1) When interviewing possible contractors what questions should be asked? Is it possible to get an idea of their billing fees? I would like to weed out the good from the bad and have a couple teed up once I purchased.

2) Once a home is purchased and the remodel has begun how do you all know what colors to paint the walls, appliances to purchase, fixtures to purchase and general landscaping ideas. I am pretty creative but not in this way.

3) For the Bay Area residents are there any discount retailers you go to to purchase appliances/fixtures other than Home Depot? I have heard there are some retailers that sell paint, tile and other material at a discount due to excess supply?

Thanks,

Kyle.