Appliances

[Jahan Habib]

I am under contract on a Condo in RI and need some advice. 

This is a small 1 Bedroom place that has been run down due to the same tenant living in the property and the owner not doing maintenance.

I am planning on re-doing the kitchen, putting in new flooring, windows/doors.

I have a few questions regarding the work:

- Where is a cost effective place to buy materials in New England? I have a good contractor however he working on labor only. I'll buy the materials.

- Stainless steel appliances/granite countertops/hardwood flooring: Are they worth the investment?

Definitely excited to pursue this deal. Will upload transformation photos once I am done.

[Rick Wang]

Depends on how much you want to spend, and also the layout. Your contractor should be able to guide you, or rather he should give you some guidance. 

Here's a tip though; trying to save a few hundred dollars by providing materials yourself can often be detrimental for your timeline, especially if material places are far away. There are always bits and pieces that is harder for investors and homeowners to comprehend, and even many contractors get wrong. 

Make sure whoever you get to do the windows knows how to do proper flashing, and whoever you get to do floors really knows how to do floors.  Even if you don't learn how to do it yourself, at least learn to see how it should be done, so you know that its done right.

Also make sure there are no rules for the Condo- some require contractors to carry insurance. This is especially important if your unit isn't on the first floor- you have to secure waste disposal, possible lead/asbestos, and other issues, such as tarping/taping the floors, protecting common area walls, handrails, lights...