The Contractor’s Estimate Isn’t Always the Answer

An out of state investor sends a contractor to a property.

The contractor comes back with a $12,000 estimate.

Now what?

Do you automatically accept it?

Do you get another estimate?

Is everything on the estimate actually necessary?

Is something missing?

After decades around construction, I’ve learned one thing:

A contractor’s estimate is an opinion—not necessarily the final answer.

That doesn’t mean contractors are trying to take advantage of anyone.

It means the investor needs someone who understands what they’re looking at and can ask the right questions. That’s where an independent set of eyes and ears is valuable.

How do you handle this?

You don’t have to live in Ohio to invest in Ohio. You just need someone you trust on the ground.