All Forum Posts by: Laureen Youngblood

Join the Rental Owners Association...or at least take the classes - they will help with all of the Oregon Rental laws and specifics.

All very funny answers... However, reality must set in eventually.  I have a couple of Blog posts on this topic...also, listening to the weekly podcasts are a great resource as well as checking previous posts in the forums.  Below are the links to my Blog posts.

Contractors - The Final Frontier!

and then:

Characteristics of a Good Contractor

Good luck...Also, the Bigger Pockets book on Flipping Houses is another great resource and information every flipper should have.

Welcome to the community!  great to have another Oregonian here.

My two cents - In my experience with contractors - you only have 2 (maybe three choices)

Cheap = slow, not efficient and not reliable

Good Money = efficient, good... and if you are lucky - fast.  ( it becomes a numbers game)

It is important to recognize the money value of time in a flip.  A more expensive contractor that "get's it" is worth every dime you pay.  That does not mean you should have to pay exorbitant amounts of money for a good contractor either - just good honest prices that show they value their work and time.

@Colton Cook - Licensing is definitely a state by state, conversation.  However, for a General Contract I would tend to be more cautious than not.  Check out what your state requires for GC's and see if that suits your needs.  If they don't require licensing, then be doubly cautious with references.

I wrote a blog on just this topic.. You can read it here

What Makes a Good Contractor!

In my book - local is always better - 

@Brian Pulaski - my local places here deliver for free, also - HUGE plus

@Colton Cook

That is all excellent advice.  In Oregon - licensing is required.  Which is why it's so expensive to hire any type of contractor here.  Even the flooring installer has to be licensed by the state.  That being said - check what is required by your state.  Most good installers will be willing to sign a binding contract and not get paid in full till the job is signed off on.  They may ask for a retainer (deposit).  Everyone here is giving great feedback to make sure you are protected...and still getting a good deal.

I will echo @Colton Cook & @Mike McCarthy.  Self leveling first!  Check references...and make sure he is fully licensed, bonded and insured.  Maybe I should be hiring guys from Florida - In Oregon that would run $7-10sf.

In my area, we have a great Property Management company that will handle evictions for a fee.  They don't need to be managing the property to do that.  You might find a similarly experienced property management company that could handle that for you in your area - my guess is that if they walk you thru the process while they handle it  you  will get experience and make sure it is handled legally within all of the local Oregon landlord/tenant laws.