Need cost efficient contractor to fix up Oakland investment condo

Need cost efficient contractor to fix up Oakland investment condo

Member since 2021 · 30 posts · 6 votes

Any recommendations toward (or advice on how to find) a cost efficient general contractor to remodel/rehab/fix-up a 1 bedroom investment condo in Oakland, California (zip 94612)?

Since this condo is an investment, every $1 I invest into its remodel/rehab/fix-up must make it worth (way) more than a $1. I reached out to a handful of general contractors on Yelp and I did not get the sense they knew how to do work with this concept in mind; they seemed to specialize in remodels/rehabs/fix-ups where the owner will live in it indefinitely, in which case it would not really matter if each $1 spent made it worth over a $1 more.

The general contractor I'm looking for should also know cost efficient ways to make the condo look beautiful/luxurious, but hard for renters to damage. For instance, a marble countertop may look great, but it seems like marble is a somewhat delicate material a renter may easily damage without meaning to. I figure it is best to use a material for the countertop that looks like some sort of marble/natural-stone, yet is as damage proof as possible.

Thanks everyone!

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Pomona, NY · Member since 2016 · 375 posts · 217 votes
4y

@Matt A. No one, contractor handy man etc is going to watch out for your best interest in cost savings, especially right now when contractors are in high demand and hard to come by. Your best bet would be to find someone who has an eye for updating and current trends, work with them to decide on a plan and go buy your material, then go find someone to do the work.

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  • Walnut Creek, CA · Member since 2015 · 3k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    4y
    Quote from @Matt A.:

    Any recommendations toward (or advice on how to find) a cost efficient general contractor to remodel/rehab/fix-up a 1 bedroom investment condo in Oakland, California (zip 94612)?

    Since this condo is an investment, every $1 I invest into its remodel/rehab/fix-up must make it worth (way) more than a $1. I reached out to a handful of general contractors on Yelp and I did not get the sense they knew how to do work with this concept in mind; they seemed to specialize in remodels/rehabs/fix-ups where the owner will live in it indefinitely, in which case it would not really matter if each $1 spent made it worth over a $1 more.

    The general contractor I'm looking for should also know cost efficient ways to make the condo look beautiful/luxurious, but hard for renters to damage. For instance, a marble countertop may look great, but it seems like marble is a somewhat delicate material a renter may easily damage without meaning to. I figure it is best to use a material for the countertop that looks like some sort of marble/natural-stone, yet is as damage proof as possible.

    Thanks everyone!


     Message me I can likely help out

  • Realtor · Oakland, CA and a Real Estate Investor with Multi-Family Units and a Self Storage Facility · Member since 2016 · 2k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    4y

    Generally the contractors out here realize there is only so much that can be done to force appreciation on a 1 bedroom condo.

  • Member since 2021 · 30 posts · 6 votes
    4y
    Quote from @Brian Garlington:

    Generally the contractors out here realize there is only so much that can be done to force appreciation on a 1 bedroom condo.


    Thanks Brian. Do you have a contractor recommendation that would be a good fit for my needs?

  • Matthew Irish-JonesBusiness Member
    Real Estate Agent · Buffalo, NY · Member since 2017 · 2k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    4y

    @Matt A. Cost efficient general contractors and not worth the money they save you lol.

    What you are asking for is a contractor that is skilled enough to be able to force appreciation while being cheap enough so the margin all goes back to you. Plus you want them to understand material finishes and their impact on ARV. Good luck finding that guy!

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  • Oakland, CA · Member since 2021 · 5 posts · 2 votes
    4y

    If you're not going to be pulling permits why not try looking for a handyman in the area? Maybe you can select the materials and make it a little more cost effective that way? Good luck man! 

  • Bruce WoodruffPro Member
    Contractor/Investor/Consultant · San Diego / Phoenix · Member since 2021 · 12k+ posts · 15k+ votes
    4y
    Quote from @Edwin Machado:

    If you're not going to be pulling permits why not try looking for a handyman in the area? Maybe you can select the materials and make it a little more cost effective that way? Good luck man! 


    Handymen in CA are not allowed to do any work with a total value of more than $500. With or without permits. So a Handyman is out of the question for the OP. Unless he is going to do everything on the cheap and sleazy.....which I doubt because then you lose all value.

    OP, you want a cheap and talented Contractor, and there is no such thing....

  • Member since 2021 · 30 posts · 6 votes
    4y

    Hey Bruce, I guess "cheap" and "cost effective" were the wrong phrases for the type of general contractor I'm looking for. I should have used different wording.
    What I'm looking for is one that deeply understands how to maximize renovation/remodeling "return on investment" and can build things in a way that make it hard for renters to inadvertently damage. These skills don't matter when working on units owners intend to live in indefinitely, but mean everything when working on investment units.

    Any recomendations toward a general contractor (or how to find one) with these skills that can do work on a condo in zip Oakland, CA zip 94612?

  • Pomona, NY · Member since 2016 · 375 posts · 217 votes
    4y

    @Matt A. No one, contractor handy man etc is going to watch out for your best interest in cost savings, especially right now when contractors are in high demand and hard to come by. Your best bet would be to find someone who has an eye for updating and current trends, work with them to decide on a plan and go buy your material, then go find someone to do the work.

  • Bruce WoodruffPro Member
    Contractor/Investor/Consultant · San Diego / Phoenix · Member since 2021 · 12k+ posts · 15k+ votes
    4y

    @Michael Gessner has got it. Develop your own special products and materials list and then incorporate it into the Scope Of Work that you want a bid on. Asking a Contr to do this is going to lead to miscommunications and possible problems....IMO

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