Is it that hard to find good contractors?

I am in California and contractors are busy! Knowing what you want done ahead of time makes a lot of sense before talking to a contractor. They can pick and chose these days. Drive around and look for projects happening now, in your area. Stop by, introduce yourself, get the name of the owner, do some recon online about him, and then give him a call or leave your business card at the job site. Usually if you can explain what you need done, they will tell you their timeline. If it doesn't fit yours, ask who else he knows. 

You can also ask the Realtor who helped you buy the place or call the real estate office if you bought wholesale. All real estate offices have a list of vendors they frequently use. Best of luck!