All Forum Posts by: Cole Walker

Plan on fixing all of that. Now that you know about it, it could be a safety hazard. Not much money to fix now and negotiate down the price vs the problems that COULD come from these issues.

If I were in your position, I would find an electrician on yelp or angies list or some reference in addition to using the sellers recommendation.

Just my two cents.

Maybe this new wave of information will weed out the lazy real estate agents and encourage those that really do bring value to the table. Seems positive to me!

Hey good posts here... .now I have some numbers to call :)

@Brandon Turner Hey thanks for that video. Very informative!

@Emerson Miranda I agree with @Jon Holdman.

I would add that if you have a contractor with you and it becomes a specialty problem like a foundation for example, he should recommend bringing in a company that specializes in foundation repair (depending on how bad it is). Or maybe its asbestos, then he would want to have an abatement company with him so he can have a firm number to give you.

@William Allen I generally ask that question to get a feel for what kind of work the owner wants. If I ask a customer what kind of budget they they have in mind for.... say.....the kitchen project we are standing there there talking about (for example). That tells me a few things. 1- If the budget is fairly high I can price out nicer counter tops and appliances etc. I do tell the owner if they don't like the price then it can be changed by downgrading finishes like appliances, crown moulding, back splashes, etc. 2- if the budget number comes in low in my point of view for that particular project that means its prob a person that doesn't really want nice cabinets and granite. They want it to work and they don't care how efficient the cabinet layout is... cheap cheap cheap. 3- if the number comes in really low that may mean the owner wants me to try and work with that budget, which I will if it is at all realistic, or they want me to hit an unreal number and that means they probably don't have any money. Which means they are wasting both of our time.

To help out your contractor I would tell him (when he asks if you have a budget) that you are looking for a really  nice bathroom to blow people away, or you are wanting to make sure everything works just to sell. You want cheap siding, like vinyl, or stain grade clear cedar. You don't necessarily have to give him the number.

@Grant Taylor welcome to the site!

I agree with @J Scott . It takes experience for you local area. Could be worth bringing a GC in to help estimate... even if you told him you were just looking for his estimates, hey may only charge you a small fee, unless he knew he was getting the work for sure.

I agree with @Raven Parmer . I would hire a GC if you have little experience. 

That being said, after a few jobs working around the GC you can get to know the process of sub contractors and possibly try to take on more of the management yourself.

Just a thought!

I agree with @Walt Payne . You could do that but there is no guarantee he won't try to come back after you for more money. It also depends on how much the total is, if its less than a certain amount small claims court may be an option.... not a good one but an option. The bright side to that is I bet he wouldn't show!

Another thought my be just to not pay him. Send him a letter saying you have paid for more work that what has been completed and agreed upon (verbally) ( and send with the letter a copy of times you were with him and when you saw him working, the $140 you gave him for materials, etc), so as of right now you don't owe him unless the work is done. This may cause two things tho, one he may dump more trash at your house at night or something worse, two, he may want to come back and finish the job..... talk about awkward.