Baltimore Gut Rehab and Move In

[Khalil Sleiman]

Hi everyone,

I recently moved to Baltimore and am considering buying a property that would need significant work. Basically a full gut, including an addition and adding a full bath. Currently a 3/1.5, 1130 sqft; aiming to turn it into 3/2.5, ~2000 sqft. I am looking to gain some recommendations for a GC that could help estimate the rehab cost and do the work. 

Thank you in advance for your help,

Khalil

[Dorothy Butala]

@Khalil Sleiman It doesn't sound like you have a trusted crew, or have a background in construction....if that is the case, I would highly advise against doing a full rehab that includes adding additional spaces UNLESS you have lots of money, lots of time and lots of patience.  If you don't have all three of those things, I would recommend finding something that is more of a lipstick rehab to get your feet wet.  In Rehabs you are the director and the script writer, your GC and their crews are the actors.  If you can't be on ground every day, or at minimum every other day, things are not going to go as you expect.  It can take years to find a good GC that YOU trust.  People may be able to give you recommendations, but until you work with someone, you won't know if you will click, and if you don't click, that is just more time, more money and more headaches for you during a large renovation.  Others reading this may disagree, and if they do, I would ask them how many large renovations they have done successfully from the start, without a construction background or a trusted GC in their pocket.  Many people try to do large undertakings like this and most fail.  I see people even try small renovations and run into all of this and fail.  Save yourself the headache and the money, go with something to get your feet wet - gotta crawl and walk before you can run.  What you are looking to do sounds like a marathon, but you haven't run a mile in your life.