8 Contractor Interviews... 0 quotes

[Eliot M.]

Really wanting to get moving on this flip but I can't seem to get any contractors to call me back.  I met with 8 general contractors 11 days ago at the house I want to flip and no one has gotten back with me, even after trying to follow up.  I don't even have any cost estimates yet, let alone a timeline for when work can begin.  This is not a small project, but not a huge project either, and so I figured it would be right in someone's wheelhouse to jump on.  Getting really frustrated and wondering what some other options are.  

I do have 2 or 3 guys I could call to "manage" the project for me, but they are unlicensed and uninsured (more like "handymen" that I would work with on my rentals no problem, but I'm not fully comfortable doing a flip that I want to retail).  Up til now I have wanted to do everything very professionally and only work with 1 fully licensed and insured General Contractor so that I have insurance against liability and legal recourse in case something falls through the attic or something - but jeez now I'm wondering if I should go with my handymen to do it if the big boys won't call me back.  Can I go with handymen to "manage" the project as long as THEY use licensed subs??

Has anyone been through this before?  What am I not doing right?  I had wanted to go with general contractors so they would pull the right permits, do the right inspections so that I could turn around and not have any hiccups when listing for sale.  

To give some context, what I'm needing done is as follows: roof repair, 3-5 floor joists replaced or "sistered", surface mold remediation, 3 bathrooms remodeled, hardwoods sanded/buffed/finished, exterior and interior paint, drywall repair, granite countertops and new appliances in kitchen, new HVAC and ductwork, branches cut away from roof, gable vent repair, insulation.  That should give a rough idea.

[Eliot M.]

So far I've been dealing with the expensive, "organized" guys.  The ones that friends have recommended because they are licensed/insured and did a good job.  But am very tempted to go with the smaller guys if they are the only ones who give me the time of day.  Again, I never once gave any indication of what $ I expected to pay.  Completely silent on the issue and wanted them to throw out the first number.  The funny thing, on this particular project I actually have the room to do everything correctly, up to code, etc and can pay a little more.  On my other rentals, yes I would cut some corners, do things myself, and gone with the cheaper guys, but on this flip I want everything done properly and on time so I can flip for a good retail price.