Getting Detailed Estimates from General Contractors

[John Moon]

Hello friends,

I need your help by critiquing on my process of reaching out to general contractors

Right now, the most difficult thing I'm going through is getting an itemized bid from contractors. They always say, "yah i'll have an itemized by the end of week." But I never... ever.. hear from them again.

Here's how most of my conversation starts. I reach out to people i find through the listing services. I tell them I need an itemized estimate on my scope of work. They agree, and then I bring them out.

We meet at the house, and I walk through the house with them telling them what I want. They always measure each room and write notes, and we go through the BA, BR, Kitchen, etc. 

I'm trying to do the least amount of work because these are rental units, and I want to make it livable but not a palace.

The contractors sometimes comes back with a estimate, but no itemized list. It's really frustrating to not get what I asked for initially and what they agreed to.

What is going on?

Thanks<3
John