The trouble was finding a contractor within budget.

Looking to have some repairs done and need to find local contractors that I could hopefully build long term relationship with.

These are my options:a) Expensive contractor - wants $8,500 to demo and cap the two stacks plus some other brick repairs/repointing. 

Get the Certificate of Insurance for the electrical contractor in case there is an issue during installation and also thereafter. 

@Michele RichardChicago neighborhoods and suburbs are ideal for rental properties and Building Reconstruction Redevelopment (BRRRRR) due to proximity to major development projects, affordable multi-family units, and strong rental demand.

I am a 45 year old contractor and have been in construction all my life.

you have to find an off market deal that is distressed but not too distressed, buy it and close on it, have a contractor that you trust lined up to rehab it, oversee the rehab to be sure it stays on track, get it rent ready and then rented out, and then / in parallel refinance.how will you execute those steps in any market? 

One of my problems is that I've been a contractor all my life and im not very computer savvy.

Mainly my realtor as my boots on the ground checking the job done by the contractor, and my contractor who was doing the work.

I have talked to my contractors and think I am doing that part well.