GC who will answer some questions?

Question

I made this post originally on Facebook but I thought it might be smart to post here as well — can anyone recommend to me a great GC who’s super smart, has successfully built up their business, and is willing to/likes answering questions?

My uncle is a carpenter by trade, and he and my aunt have been flipping houses veryyyy slowly, one at a time... he’s super talented and has tons of potential but I think also a little too scared of the unknown/risk averse to hire a crew and go full time with it, even though I think he would do very well if he did.

I don’t know enough about that side of things, but I just want him to talk with someone who can answer questions and explain the process a little better to him. I would be more than happy to pay someone for their time if they would hop on a zoom meeting for an hour or so to help me out with this. Any suggestions??

Aaron McGinnis · Answer

@Elizabeth Pare - I run a design build firm and I've been through the process of hiring in house crews, and the outcome of that.

I'd be happy to speak with you about the growth process. Please feel free to reach out to me.

Marcus Auerbach · Answer

@Elizabeth Pare I wish I could, but this is something that comes from within someone. You can tell someone once to draw their attention to the fact, but if it does not click at that point...

You can lead a horese to water...

Marcus Auerbach · Answer

@Elizabeth Pare I GC my own projects (and I have done a few high end jobs for clients, but that was exhausting). But your question is not a GC question.

Hireing people is scary at first. It is a mindset. The way to get there is to start with 1099 and eventually bring someone one W2.

Before he can do that. His self image needs to be adjusted: how he thinks of himself. As long as he things of himself as a laborer he will not change. Once he starts to think of himself as a business owner, he will see his own time being wasted on labor.

He wont get there in one step, it's a gradual change.

Sue Hough · Answer

@Elizabeth Pare good morning!  I see you want your uncle to change, but I doubt he feels he needs to change, there is a big difference.  If he sees his value as “performing work” I highly doubt he will ever find value in hiring someone else.  (This also is prevalent in people who are more mature in age and most noticeably in many immigrants)  If that is the case, it’s not him who needs to change, but rather you.

You may want to explore other options when hiring a GC, as time is money when you are investing.  A simple conversation with him explaining the value of money vs. time may be required. I can sympathize with you, as this will most likely result in hurt feelings and I can tell that is the last thing you want.

Good luck!

Jim Fleck · Answer

hi Elizabeth

I’ve found the confidence comes from systems. They can give the confidence. We have systems for hiring,  estimating, permitting and beginning, scheduling the construction process, draw schedules, contracts, change orders and closing out. knowing everything is accounted for and is being checked twice a week if not daily depending on the crew can help build confidence. Which may intern help with the mindset and self image as well that Marcus pointed out

Elizabeth Pare · Answer

Right, EXACTLY!! That's exactly what it is - a mindset. I know that there have been things I've wanted to do in my professional life outside of real estate that seemed impossible until I just started taking steps and realized it wasn't all that difficult once I broke it down, it just seemed overwhelming before I really understood what it entailed. So I guess that's more of what I'm hoping to find - someone who could sort of break the steps down for him (i.e. like you said, start with contracted 1099 and then move on to W2 employees), that way it hopefully doesn't seem so insurmountable to him.

You've hit it right on the head with what you said about changing how he views himself. He's still in the mindset of thinking it saves money to do the work yourself, and doesn't seem to be grasping how exponentially much more efficient it could be to hire people and just be the expert managing the job. I know it's not going to be some quick fix, I'm just hoping to help him gain some insight from someone who's been through process already themself. He seems encouraged when I talk with him about it, but I don't have enough experience on that end to be as much help as I'd like to. Let me know if you'd be willing to chat and maybe provide some tips on making that transition and describing the process you went through - I'd be happy to compensate for the time spent.

Bennie Leija · Answer

What are the questions?

Bennie

GC who will answer some questions?

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