All Forum Posts by: John Carpenter

I paid out $4800 cash my money this week to get materials (part of the money was my wife's)
last deal from a contractor who is running on a shoestring and had to cover checks
I was told I would get my money back in cash today
So naturally he calls and said it would be Monday or Tuesday so here we go again
A lot of jobs we do the holdup is materials so I try to find them at a steep discount
The man I work for is super slow at getting supply's usually gets 1/2of what's needed and
Lots of the time it's wrong stuff and sizes

he says just buy what's needed and he will cover it (sometimes its months if ever to get paid back) I get shafted on a lot of minor amounts
So I try to handle it , because when we don't have materials some of the help don't get the hours and for the most part they think they work for me not him

I quit once before and within a day or two I got what was owed me and any others
And he bumped my pay and raise for several others as part of my conditions to return
Then he goes right back to old ways little by little
I told him if I don't have my money in cash that I paid out in cash tomorrow PLUS a Bonus We are parting ways

I work for an investor. I am mr fixit for him
past twelve years I have been either handyman or running a crew when some are working other jobs usually its me having line it out and I always have to babysit every minor thing
Can do electrical and all plumbing
Past five or six years I figure all materials on jobs and handle 90% of things that crop up
And when we need something done quick I find the guys to do it
He has other help and part time
Several of the better ones will follow me if I decide to diy

How much do you save if you choose DIY ?

Do you think 30% or 40onaverage? Some cases is it 50%?
don't have mega bucks to jump in with
one benefit of knowing how its done is knowing when someone is trying to take advantage
If I own a property free and clear and time is not an issue(I understand it actually is as far as with help it could be flipped or rented faster ). but lets imagine its not

I am trying to decide if its worth it
Can do brick block and rock and everything up to shingles on roof
And am friends with hvac and a plumber and several electricians where I cannot diy
I think that DIY is the best option for me to get into investing as its the only part of the game I know
Lots of things to read and think about here at bigger pockets
And I have to start somehow

Hello
I am new first post.
I work for a man by the hour for over twelve years I get $15 per hour use own tools
So far this week I have saved him several thousand in materials,today it was at least2250/2300 on the lumber and plywood ,
Monday it was about 1600/$1800 and we have another lined up for the weekend (I hear about or get offered deals I call him and see if he wants it if so...I pay for it and end up having to wait and have remind him several times to get paid back and he stays behind on purpose.
I have been telling him he needs to give me a percentage to continue this.He thinks my pay should cover it. After today's deal. When I mentioned % he laughed, needless to say I wasn't happy

What's fair?

A little background......
He purchases property's generally we look them over and decide what to do
I figure materials needed and usually find best prices he purchases them
Minor things I work alone or run a crew, if problems crop up on other jobs I am not involved in they discuss it then its getting to where its always how would I handle it so I have to go there and deal with it
(He thinks my driving time and gas is free)
In areas where we have to have electricians and plumbers I deal with them and know inspectors
When we are not fixing up a property I am mr handyman for the rentals do every thing but collect rent

Have been Thinking about quitting for several weeks got serious about it today ,but only have a few thousand bucks put back
Have some materials and lots of electrical and plumbing

Think financially would be better off doing my own fix ups (On some projects I know purchase price the materials and labor costs permits taxes and later what price and terms it sold for and /or what it rents
It boils down to I think my piece of the pie should include something besides the crumbs
Just don't know if I should save up more and start collecting more materials or go for it
If I had the cash I would have quit today