A business degree is a good all-rounder but even better IMO is the "harder" degrees: Engineering, Computer Science, Science degrees.

These guys took it down with a hammer and then told me they'd burn it back at their place.

I only had damages once, a burned carpet, the parent was a doctor and he simply said let me know how much and I'll send you a check, which he did, no questions asked.

For instance, this past month I caught them burning a couch in the driveway?!?!  

Napoleon Hill says all you need is a burning desire so you're half way there!

v=pX6l8upgXMQ&list=U...Now all rough with AC and foundation repair has been done.. just awaiting inspect and down hill slide to finish.. the conversion process was a feat of mental engineering with the city. 

For laminate/engineered/vinyl install you can probably find $1/sqft labor plus materials. 

A picture here would really help.It's worth having a licensed engineer review the situation.  

These consultants or contractors many times do not want to risk a mortgage as next year they may have to pick up and move to another location in order to stay employed and the last thing they want is to have to worry about selling a home and buying a new one or having two mortgage payments.Then you have many that were burned in the housing market and just do not want to lose on purchasing a house again.

As far as the whole issue of paying contractors, I know a lot of investors who have been burned by contractors and a lot of contractors who have been burned by investors.