How to work with a GC on a MAJOR rehab

How to work with a GC on a MAJOR rehab

Investor · Dubai, UAE · Member since 2021 · 6 posts · 0 votes

Hi BP. I am attempting a BRRRR on a property that needs an extensive rehab. A '30's carpenter house with a ton of character. The house needs the works, updated plumbing, electrical, new roof, floors, the kitchen needs to be opened up and a new bathroom will be added to the other two that also need to be totally overhauled. To complicate things, I live on a different continent from the house. At the moment I have taken bids for the FULL project to get a sense of whether I can find a GC who can handle the whole project. I am at the stage where I am breaking down the project into phases with the GC i think I am confident in going with, a person I have used on other smaller jobs on a past property. Now, I have never taken on something this big before and have not attempted a BRRRR. I would love some advice on how to proceed from this point, especially on how to structure a contract with this GC. Specifically: 1) How many contracts should I break this project into?; 2) How should I structure terms with the GC, meaning, should I allow them to work their margin into each contract without transparency (I think common sense is obviously no) or should the arrangement be on a flat fee basis for each contract or the whole project or should I pay a percentage of the value of the contract or whole project? 3) What basis should I use to calculate a flat fee or % for the GC, meaning, is there a rule of thumb i can use to calculate a number or % on which to start the negotiation? 4) Does anyone have advice on how to incentivize the GC to bring the contracts in under budget?...... Thanks in advance for the help! I feel like this one may be interesting to most.

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  • Specialist · Johnson City, TN · Member since 2021 · 139 posts · 146 votes
    4y

    First question; Why? Is this the highest and best use of your time and investment dollars? Are you in love with the house? This has all the ingredients for disaster. Carefully reconsider.

  • Investor · Dubai, UAE · Member since 2021 · 6 posts · 0 votes
    4y

    @Don Gouge - why would I not? It’s a great house and with great potential and all the numbers pencil out. I’m now getting down to the granulars of developing specific schedules, SoW’s and contracts. These are the areas I am green in and where I need my reps. If you have anything helpful to say I would appreciate it.

  • Rental Property Investor · Boston, MA · Member since 2017 · 25 posts · 17 votes
    4y

    The GC usually operates under their own billing structure. We bill "Cost plus", meaning we simply collect a flat percentage of the cost of work (Materials, sub contractors, etc). As far as the contract goes, I've seen some gut rehab/deeply distressed projects split into two phases - 1. Demolition, clean out and make safe... and phase 2. The actual rehab from the clean slate, on. In this case, each phase is usually put out to bid separately.

    This sounds like a difficult project to oversee from a distance given your inexperience in the construction phase. I'd carefully vet your contractor(s). I would collect references from past customers of your contractor, of projects of similar size. A rehab of this size has many layers and moving pieces. A house built in the 30's, you never know what you're going to find when you start opening walls. 

    Just my opinion! Best of luck on the venture, I hope you knock it out of the park!

  • Developer · Boulder, CO · Member since 2018 · 530 posts · 365 votes
    4y

    @Ben Dunlap Ben, it appears that you have two central options available to you if you elect to go forward with the project.

    You either step into the GC role or you hire one to run the job for you.

    The complexity of the job involves a wide range of subcontractors. Finding and supervising them from 1/2 way around the world seems like a stretch that will most likely cause you a pile of problems you neither want or need.

    Hiring a GC seems like the most practical thing to do. I strongly recommend that you consider engaging the GC using a GMP contract.

    A GMP is a Guaranteed Maximum Price Contract in which the GC quotes the maximum you will have to pay for the execution of the contract documents.

    There are refinements that can be added to stipulate things like a cost savings split between you and the GC to incentivize the GC to produce savings.

    Under your specific circumstances I would NOT execute a cost plus contract for GC Services. It will expose you to a whole lot of change orders.

    Even with a GMP based on the age and scope of work that needs to be done, you can probably expect the GC to discover a number of “hidden conditions”.

    The costs associated with Hidden conditions are almost always covered by the developer.

    Please feel free to contact me if you need any help in sorting this out.

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