All Forum Posts by: Josh Rang

If you don't have experience in construction I would get a GC. There are a lot of issues that could come up where experience can make all the difference. Also, if you can't be there all the time and don't know your subs whose to say if they are screwing around, doing things correctly, etc....

As a contractor in that area I get my windows from either AD Moyer Lumber or Tague Lumber. Your contractor should know theses places if they are local. Price will depend on many factors that I don't know( rot, custom sizes, etc...)

As I'm starting out here with the goal of rehabbing and selling my first house by the end of the summer I know I need to put together a solid team. I'm a contractor so I have that covered and I also have an accountant who takes care of my business so that is covered. I know a few realtors that I would like to talk to but what do I ask? Same with attorneys, wholesalers, etc....? I guess my question is how do I determine the mediocre from the best?

Those are also the ones that need to be done to pass inspections. Paint can be ugly, electrical can't.

@David Krulac

I agree, I would be turned off by electric heat, especially in an old inefficient building.

I charge 1.30 per sf for 4 x 8 sheets on ceilings and 1.10 per sq for 4x8 sheets on walls, a little less per sf if I can use bigger sheets. That is in the suburbs of Philly though where prices are little higher. I also like to prime myself and then I go through each room with a halogen light to look for any small imperfections and I touch them up with mud and resand.

Seems like you're staying away from electric which is good. Electric baseboards themselves are cheap but you need to get wiring to those baseboards, which could be expensive. You may also have to upgrade electrical service itself if the existing is less than 200 amp. Plus as others have said, electric is expensive monthly.

I have an Excel spreadsheet that I fill out when I go through properties for other investors. I break it down by room, exterior elements, mechanicals, etc... and as I go through I fill out the spreadsheet with what needs to be done. After that I use the spreadsheet to do my bid. I also turn on all water and let it run to look for leaks, test outlets , look in electrical panel, etc.... It takes time but when I do a bid I want to be as comprehensive as possible, however there can always be surprises.

I'd stick with removing carpet/flooring, painting, yard clean-up, general clean-up and general labor. Some stuff like demo seems easy until you cut through a electrical line, pipe or cut a structural member of the building.

Get a good contractor that will show you how to do things and learn as much about the trades as you can.

Thanks for the link, that should keep me busy for awhile.