Contractors in Fresno Area - What's your story?

Question

Hi All,

I have been mulling the idea of hiring a contractor or doing the renos/remodels on my own. I am currently thinking of doing basic work such as floors, cabinets, tiling, and bathrooms so projects I believe I can tackle on my own.

But what are some of the stories you have when using a contractor in the Fresno area, what drove your decision, what did you use them for, and who would you recommend, or never hire again?

Thank you! I'm very excited to hear what you have to say :D

Rosy

Jay Orlauski · Answer

I have some stories about contractors , but that could take a whole thread  -  I've had them not for show up for days at a time while promising to come over "tomorrow"  -  I've had them lave tools at the job site to get stolen ,  I've even had them steal money from me  - I've learned to put a time limit and a schedule together and have them sign it - make them responsible for completing tasks on time or get paid a reduction on the agreed to price. I've used this successfully in the past - but also lost a contractor who thought he could complete the job , but was too busy and ultimately walked away when he knew he would not finish in the time frame agreed upon.

Personal referrals are best since you will be dealing with someone who has a known track record.   We have a few contractors that come to our meetup group - they are a great resource for helping to price out rehab jobs and time frames. My favorite contractors are the ones interested in investing in real estate - they tend to look at the project through a different set of eyes.

Be careful of "contractors" who don't have a licence - they may seem cheap up front but can cost you thousands of dollars if things go upside down - also - you can only recover up to $500 from a handyman who is not a licensed contractor  ( at least here in California) - so if they muck something up - your not going to have an easy time recovering your money.

ALWAYS  get at least two quotes until you are comfortable with your guy and can trust his estimate - otherwise always get a second opinion - maybe even a third opinion. Once you've worked with your contractor long enough and have seen his estimates play out  - you will have a better idea of how close he is to the mark - many contractors will low ball you just to get the job - then once he is knee deep in it - more expenses suddenly rear their ugly head ...this happens to all contractors - but the good ones will have accounted for the unknowns up front and should come in close to his bid unless something major has been discovered -

best of luck to you - let me know if I can connect you with anyone

Manolo D. · Answer

@Rosy Bruno I value my time at $100/hour, I work 3-6 hours a day. I pay employees at $18-35/hour. If I can swing a hammer, I'm only doing it for $25/hour, that's what commercial clients pay and a few select home owners (or what they say). Investors dig deeper and want 15-18/hour, if you're an investor and you think paying yourself that is worth it, then you can do it yourself. If you think you can find more deals that could yield you 50k within a year, then you almost break even with less hammer swinging.

Jay Orlauski · Answer

I've hear it said many times that why not just pay someone $60 / an hour so you can continue on with more valuable tasks to do with your time - after all - we didn't get into this business to stick our heads in the toilet. That being said - I have a hard time giving up control and money to someone else for doing a job that I know damn well I can do myself. If I have the time and know how to do something - then I will do it. The other day I  gutted the sink and garbage disposal to get to a clogged drain  - what could have cost $100 and time scheduling appointments and 24 hour notice - I just fixed it with about 45 minutes of work and it was no big deal  - plus i got the satisfaction of knowing I didn't need to call anyone to do it for me.  Could I have been making $500 an hour instead? possibly - but was I?  no. Not at that moment I wasn't -  I had some free time and so I rolled up my sleeves and did it. (hint: it didn't even require a tool)

There are times though when it makes a lot of sense to let the professionals do their thing - I will install fans , electrical outlets , toilets, garbage disposals, shower heads and other menial tasks  - but when it comes to outdoor ( high voltage) electricity , large trees, A/C work, and things of that nature  - I let the pros do the work.

I generally will use contractors for contracting work - stuff like installing sinks and cabinets , rehabbing house and framing work  - installing AC units or hot water heaters ( though i did this once myself)  - basically for general construction.

Hope that help some -

Rosy Bruno · Answer

@Jay Orlauski

Amazing information as per usual! Thank you for explaining your thought process and logic behind your decisions. I definitely believe that a contractor is an investment and you can't be cheap with your investments.

What did you typically hire contractors for? Are you a fan of valuing your time over doing the work yourself? How do you value that?

Thanks again!

Contractors in Fresno Area - What's your story?

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