Itimized bids for rehab

[Olivier M Ouedraogo]

Is it common for contractors to refuse to provide itimized bids? 

[Bruce Woodruff]

Quote from @Olivier M Ouedraogo:

Quote from @Steven Goldman:

Hi Oliver, No!  I would never use a contractor who will not give you a detailed scope pf work. That is what is required by every rehab lender. If you do not have detailed itemizes proposed scope of work than a unscrupulous contractor can inflate the pricing and claim that it was not within the scope of original agreement. One of the major reasons rehabs fail is disputes about the scope of work and extras with the owner. It always help to have a sketch plan created if you are moving walls. It makes the scope of work clearer. Good luck.

 Thank you Steven. It's our first rehab and the contractor we are working with doesn't want to give us a detailed scope of work. He says he uses a $/sft which is fine for the estimate but we want to know where the money is going. 

Get rid of this guy yesterday. What a crock. He's at least lazy and might be crooked. Insist on a detailed breakdown of all work, everything he's going to do should be itemized and have a price attached to it. Like @Scott Mac said.

Have you signed a contract with him yet? Let me guess, he doesn't do contracts either?

You are leaving yourself WIDE OPEN for trouble. How will you know what he did?

And make sure he has a State Contr License, a Bond, liability insurance and Workers Comp for his employees/ Also get a release before you pay any sub-contractors.

I've been doing this for decades and this one smells like trouble.