Most hired hands are going to burn out fast after they have to chew out a misbehaving sub the third or fourth time.Let me give you an idea from my perspective -We are a design build firm and handle projects including plans, design, permit, material logistics, payroll, book-keeping, ground/assembly management, scheduling, rescheduling, vendor management, quality control/assurance, and every other aspect of construction.We typically have about 5 'ground active' jobs, and 5-7 more in the hopper in some phase of planning, design, or permitting.To accomplish this, we have a meager staff of 2 designers (one of whom is a 20 year architectural veteran), a full time office manager, a full time site manager, a helper who splits time between being a carpenter's assistant and a gopher for materials, and someone who does scheduling and material takeoffs.

I also think that others will make the argument that CAPex, refurb, vacancy will chew-up cash flow. 

Maybe I need to do more homework and pay some more dues before I bite off more than I can chew.

@Will Bert,A lot of people have been chewed up and spit out by the job market as a result of the economy, especially in the time frame you mentioned.If due diligence leads you to believe they are trustworthy even with their history, I'd recommend compassion.My $0.02...David J Dachtera"Success is not a destination.

Ideally I wouldn't want any dogs/cats in the place because of the hardwood floors (urine) and whatever else such as chewing on corners of doors, etc. 

thanks guys i had a similar discussion with my contractor.i'm making a first time loan for hard money on a gut rehab. 160k. i might have been born at night but it wasn't last night. what would happen if thieves took all the materials. i'd be struck with an unfinished property and an unpaid debt. i told him not on the first one start small and work my way upmoral of the discussion don't bite off more than you can chew.

She was going to chew her tongue off before admitting to me that she was a wholesaler, and that really bugged me.Good luck with your deal!

Do you really want rodents in there building nests, chewing on things and pooping everywhere?  

Don't bite off more than you can chew in the first go....buy a house in YOUR name to get started.

So we have a 4 family Citibank REO under contract. It is two detached duplexes(upstairs/downstairs units) on one 5000sqft lot.  Each of the 4 units, are 3 bedroom and 1 bath. It is not in a floodzone, two blocks from ...