Question regarding GC?

[James Walker]

My wife and I are purchasing our first investment property SFR and the GC we are talking to is meeting all of the subs at the house and handling the estimates and putting together the final proposal for us during the option period on the property. He asked me if we would be willing to pay him $600 for this work to be credited to the project. Is this normal or is it usually free to have this stuff done and just understood to be a part of the business? I have built new construction when bids are free but this feels different almost like a home inspection on steroids.

[Jamie Rose]

Sounds like a fair request on his part if he is a good GC. You don't own the property yet - which to him signals a higher risk that you won't be able to hire him - and the desire to give you a free bid is tempered by this request for a "useable credit" towards a bill for work. I would go for it if I were confident in the property and the use of a GC.