Fixing tenant damage

[Amie D.]

I have said to myself that I would not rehab another house, just hire it out. I said I would just work ON the business and no longer in it...

Recently had to evict tenants on a house I was going to put on the market. I had fully rehabbed this one about ten years ago. Now it almost looks like a “before” photo from flip I picked up, in fact a contractor asked me if it was. 

First bid is from a contractor my realtor hired for $7450. I said that’s quite a bill, I’d like to get at least two other bids and see an itemized list of what your guy is charging. 

Realtor said... he doesn’t know of anyone else available that can bid the job. His contractor then comes back and said he “made a mistake” in billing and drops the price $2200, still not itemizing. I didn’t even look at the new bid. Btw I’m a woman and out of state so, I think some assumptions are being made here ...

I’ve now arranged other bids myself but this is a lot of piddly stuff, 3ish days of work. Honestly the house is mostly disgustingly dirty. Biggest job is interior painting the whole house (but this is only a 700 sq ft house), which I DID hire out because I don’t like doing it, and refinishing two rooms of hardwood floors, which I also don’t enjoy doing but have done many times before... including this house. I hired a professional pest control company to go through it as well. 

Awaiting the other bids but... the house is four hours away - someone stop me from just spending a long weekend there. 😂 

[Joe Splitrock]

@Amie D. first step, if not done already, is hire a cleaning company to clean the property very well, including wiping down walls. That is the best way to see exactly what you are dealing with. Plus any paint won't stick right if the walls are dirty.

Next step is make a detailed list of what you want done. There may be more than one contractor involved here. For example floors and paint are probably best contracted to two different companies. Lighting is best done by an electrician. Ask whomever bids to bid individually on each line item. If they want to provide a discount for all items selected, that is fine. 

The point is instead of asking for an itemized list, you provide the itemized list and ask them to bid on it. My guess is piecing it out will save you money as different people specialize in different hings.

I am not sure if you being a woman has any bearing here, but if you feel anyone is taking advantage, just move on to someone else. Unfortunately there will be some bad apples out there. I have gotten bids and had one bid 30% higher than the others. I don't know what planet some people live on. I don't even bother trying to negotiate if they are that far off. I think some people just figure they can gouge unknowing owners and I don't work with people like that.