Looking for General Contractor in Cleveland OH

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Looking for General Contractor in Cleveland OH

Mike York
Investor · Valparaiso, IN · Member since 2014 · 193 posts · 49 votes

Have some possible fix and flips in the Cleveland OH area in the future and looking to find quality licensed contractors.

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Eric Kleinsasser
Specialist · PA · Member since 2026 · 43 posts · 10 votes
6d

Mike, I spent years in construction before getting into software, so here's what I'd line up before you need someone. The two markets check contractors differently. Ohio has no state license for general contractors, but the City of Cleveland requires GCs to be registered, bonded and insured with Building & Housing, and you can call the city to confirm a contractor is registered. Georgia licenses residential and general contractors at the state level for jobs over $2,500, and you can search them on the Secretary of State's license lookup (roofers, painters and drywall guys are exempt there, so check those by references). Since you'll be out of state, I'd also ask: who pulls the permits, and will they send you the permit numbers so you can check status yourself? Will they price a scope sheet line by line so each draw ties to finished items with photos? How many jobs are they running right now? Get two investor references and a past job address your agent can drive by, and if you can, start them on a smaller job before handing them a full rehab, I've had some awful experiences working with contractors that I didn't vet before giving them work.

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  • Eric Kleinsasser
    Specialist · PA · Member since 2026 · 43 posts · 10 votes
    6d

    Mike, I spent years in construction before getting into software, so here's what I'd line up before you need someone. The two markets check contractors differently. Ohio has no state license for general contractors, but the City of Cleveland requires GCs to be registered, bonded and insured with Building & Housing, and you can call the city to confirm a contractor is registered. Georgia licenses residential and general contractors at the state level for jobs over $2,500, and you can search them on the Secretary of State's license lookup (roofers, painters and drywall guys are exempt there, so check those by references). Since you'll be out of state, I'd also ask: who pulls the permits, and will they send you the permit numbers so you can check status yourself? Will they price a scope sheet line by line so each draw ties to finished items with photos? How many jobs are they running right now? Get two investor references and a past job address your agent can drive by, and if you can, start them on a smaller job before handing them a full rehab, I've had some awful experiences working with contractors that I didn't vet before giving them work.

    2Reply
  • Ashish AcharyaBusiness Member
    CPA, CFP®, PFS · Sarasota, FL · Member since 2017 · 5k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    6d

    Mike, finding a reliable GC before you actually need one is definitely worth doing, especially if you're planning multiple flips.

    I'd vet them on more than price. Ask for references from investors they've worked with, verify licensing and insurance, and make sure they're comfortable with detailed scopes, budgets, timelines, and change orders. I'd also want to know how they handle unexpected issues once the walls come open.

    For flips, having a contractor who can give you reliable numbers before you close can make a huge difference in whether the deal actually works. Happy to connect!

    [email protected]941-914-7779
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    1Reply
  • Ryan BakerBusiness Member
    Lender · Strongsville / Cleveland, OH · Member since 2026 · 134 posts · 34 votes
    6d

    Hey Mike, Cleveland is a solid flip market, but contractor quality varies a lot, so it pays to vet people before you have a deal under contract. Ask for their city contractor registration, proof of insurance, a couple of recent flips you can drive by, and a line-item bid with a draw schedule tied to completed work rather than a big upfront deposit.

    I'm based in the Cleveland area, do investor lending, and have a local construction and property management team, so I'm happy to talk through rehab budgets and financing for your first deals here on a quick call. My direct line and email are on my profile.

    (Drafted with AI assistance.)

    [email protected]330-548-3340
    1Reply
  • Mike York
    OP
    Investor · Valparaiso, IN · Member since 2014 · 193 posts · 49 votes
    5d

    @Eric Kleinsasser @Ashish Acharya @Ryan Baker Thank you for your feedback! I had a duplex in Cleveland and sold it last year and I agree, contractor quality varies a lot. I have a realtor in Cleveland already but doesn't have any recommendations for GC's so I like that idea of calling the city to verify. Just hoping to get some recommended names to start with instead of just picking from a list.

    1Reply
    • Eric Kleinsasser
      Specialist · PA · Member since 2026 · 43 posts · 10 votes
      4d

      Your welcome. I hope you find some good contractors to work with.

      If you ever need any software or app to manage your Real Estate projects, feel free to reach out to me, I'd love to help.

      0Reply
  • Arman AhmedPro Member
    Real Estate Agent · Columbus Cleveland Dayton, OH · Member since 2024 · 2k+ posts · 972 votes
    5d
    Quote from @Mike York:

    Have some possible fix and flips in the Cleveland OH area in the future and looking to find quality licensed contractors.

    Hey Mike, happy to connect! I have a network of reliable local contractors in the Cleveland area and would be glad to introduce you to a few who may be a good fit for your upcoming projects. 

    [email protected]614-418-6081
    0Reply
  • Mike York
    OP
    Investor · Valparaiso, IN · Member since 2014 · 193 posts · 49 votes
    5d

    @Arman Ahmed That would be wonderful! Thank you!

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