Middletown, NY · Member since 2021 · 3 posts · 2 votes
Good morning All, my name’s Franklin, and I’m a new landlord. I bought a duplex in Lorain, OH; just outside of Cleveland. It came with tenants already, so that was nice. Now i need to do some improvements to the home, but i’m having a hard time getting contractors to call me back. Does anyone have any recommendations? Thanks, Frank
Good morning All, my name’s Franklin, and I’m a new landlord. I bought a duplex in Lorain, OH; just outside of Cleveland. It cNe with tenants already, so that was nice. Now i meed to do some improvements to the home, but i’m having a hard time getting contractors ti call me back. Does anyone have any recommendations? Thanks, Frank
@Franklin Obando, @Kyle Jones shared some good suggestions. Since you're managing the property from another state, I'd also ask local property managers for contractor referrals, especially ones who have experience working in occupied rentals. That could make coordinating repairs a little easier.
I'm a real estate attorney, broker, and investor based in Maryland, and I work with landlords on contracts and rental property matters. I've seen how important it is to have the work, payment terms, and timeline clearly written out before hiring someone. I'd also make sure there's a plan for coordinating access with your tenants so everyone knows what to expect.
Thanks for sharing this, @Franklin Obando! Finding reliable contractors can be frustrating, especially when you're not nearby. Hope you find someone good, and happy to stay connected!
Frank, the thing I'd worry about is that contractors often skip calls when the job sounds vague, especially from an owner who isn't local. A clear ask gets a lot more callbacks.
- Write a short scope before you call anyone: each room, what you want done, and rough sizes. Even a one-page list makes you look like a real job instead of a tire-kicker.
- Ask your tenants if you can get photos and a short video of each area you want worked on, plus the furnace, water heater, and electrical panel. Send those with your first message so a contractor can tell right away if it's their kind of work.
- Bundle the work. One bigger visit is easier to say yes to than three small trips.
- Look up permits pulled in Lorain and nearby towns. Contractors who pull permits there are active, licensed, and easy to check.
- Ask local property managers and the investors in this forum who they use. Contractors who already work for landlords know how to work around tenants.
- When bids come in, make sure everyone is pricing the same written scope, and look at what each one leaves out.
Good morning All, my name’s Franklin, and I’m a new landlord. I bought a duplex in Lorain, OH; just outside of Cleveland. It cNe with tenants already, so that was nice. Now i meed to do some improvements to the home, but i’m having a hard time getting contractors ti call me back. Does anyone have any recommendations? Thanks, Frank
@Franklin Obando, @Kyle Jones shared some good suggestions. Since you're managing the property from another state, I'd also ask local property managers for contractor referrals, especially ones who have experience working in occupied rentals. That could make coordinating repairs a little easier.
I'm a real estate attorney, broker, and investor based in Maryland, and I work with landlords on contracts and rental property matters. I've seen how important it is to have the work, payment terms, and timeline clearly written out before hiring someone. I'd also make sure there's a plan for coordinating access with your tenants so everyone knows what to expect.
Thanks for sharing this, @Franklin Obando! Finding reliable contractors can be frustrating, especially when you're not nearby. Hope you find someone good, and happy to stay connected!
Frank, congrats on the Lorain duplex. Beyond the scope-and-photos advice above, I'd also ask any contractor up front about their schedule for jobs on occupied rentals, since that's often why calls don't get returned. I run a local construction and property management team in Northeast Ohio, plus I do lending, so I'm happy to talk through your improvement list and whether it makes sense to finance any of it. Happy to walk through it on a quick call, my direct line and email are on my profile. (Drafted with AI assistance.)