Estimates and contractors

[Don Johnson]

Hey guys,

I am getting started in wholesaling, however I feel bad about having a contractor come out and estimate repairs knowing I won't be using his services. I know estimating really is a process you only learn by doing however for the first few deals I want to be as spot on as possible while I develop my skills. Would you recommend using home advisor's estimate costs tailored to the specific zip code I'm working in to ascertain costs? I'm pretty knowledgeable on what to look for in repairs it's just pricing them out in an efficient manner and with good accuracy I concerned about.

Thanks!

[Account Closed]

@Don Johnson I'd stop by your local home depot and start looking at the prices for materials. I'd also go on amazon and buy the book on estimating rehab costs by J scott. 

After going over all the points/repairs in a book, I'd start calling GC/Subs asking for estimates. Keep in mind estimates will vary widely among different contractors. They probably won't give you an exact quote but they will give you a ball park range which should give you an idea of the repair costs. 

Home advisor's estimate could potentially be on the higher end, mostly because they deal with retail buyers and not investors. Generally speaking, it will be cheaper to bid on an entire job than one individual task.