All Forum Posts by: Steve Gress

With 20 years experience in construction and contracting, I have seen great projects from finish to end, and I have seen atrocious projects that never want to end because the contractors/installers are dragging their feet, or incompetent, wasting thousands of the owners’ hard earned money. I prefer to be on the winning side of projects, allowing me to move on to the next one. 

Here is my 5-step plan for choosing the right contractor:

- ALWAYS get at least 2 estimates! Preferably 3, unless you have used the contractor before.

• Even if you like the 1st Contractor, Get another...this will keep them honest!
• You will gain new & different ideas for the project
• 3 Estimates will give you an idea of the true cost of the job 

- Ask a lot of questions, as if you are interviewing them for a job!

• Why is their cost so high/low?
• What are they thinking for the project?
• Why are they suggesting a particular course of action?

- Do your research!

• Ask for referrals!
• Is the contractor able to complete the project in time?
• What problems in the project pose a challenge?

- Crunch the numbers & data

• Is the lowest bid including all aspects of projects?
• Is the highest bid there because the contractor doesn’t want the job?

- Final Meeting to Pick your Contractor

• Bring all contractors back to the project one last time
• Pick the BEST ONE!!

What do you do to pick the right contractor? I believe this is one of the most important tasks when you’re rehabbing a property!

@Clifton Kaderli Thanks for the reply. I learned a long time ago that win-win scenarios create positive business relationships. I would love to connect with you to see how I can utilize my construction knowledge and experience to help buyers/sellers in the Winchester area.

@Todd Krzeminski - Good morning, Yes, I am definitely looking to flip properties locally, been looking around for awhile trying to get the lay of the land here in Winchester. If you need any help at all, let me know, always here to help. 

Hello Fellow Members,

I am so far fascinated with this online platform for real estate professionals. After picking up Brandon Turner's book The Book on Investing in Real Estate with No (and Low) Money Down, I jumped on this site and immediately found a wealth of knowledge, and interesting discussions. Thanks for setting this site up, I am confident it will be great to connect with like-minded individuals, learn from them, and offer my expertise in real estate construction.

My wife and I are currently living in our 3rd "Investment" home, buying properties that were run down and fixing them up has become a passion of ours. My wife has the vision, and leaves it to me to get the job done. 

I now have a goal of buying my first fix and flip in the next couple of months, while looking for investment opportunities with my brother in law. We are currently looking at a property in Michigan. This week we got the info on the property, and this weekend I will be using a couple of the tools on this site to analyze the property. 

As I mentioned, I would also like to be a source for those with construction/contractor questions. If you are in this situation, feel free to reach out to me and I will try to help you out.

Have a great day!

Steve