All Forum Posts by: Bryan Devitt

Check your local FB pages for contractors with dump trailers. A lot of guys will rent them out for the day or a couple hours and are MUCH cheaper than a Bagster

IMO you have two options, be completely comfortable with the math, learn them in and out and then do a deal OR do a deal, hope it works and then ask us after why you lost money. It seems most people choose option #2 unfortunately

It sucks but lesson learned. Hopefully you can find a reliable GC soon so you never run into this again. The reliable ones that aren't over priced or very high end are like a needle in a haystack

Oh ok. That sounds like more than $19k in work.

Having 1/4 due upon completion is actually a very good thing for you. Make sure you are 100% satisfied before you release that. A lot of guys will claim to be finished at 99% and claim that punch list items don't count and they will come back for that after, don't fall for it. That could take weeks, months or even over a year before they do it all with a long list of reasons for the delays. How much was the total contract? Breaking it down to 1/4s for what sounds like a big project isn't enough. I have more payments than that on a $20k bathroom remodel.

If the deposits don't go with the property, then don't buy the property. Let someone else take the hit. Also, if they're that shady, I would question what else they're hiding or trying to scam you on

 He might only use one point of contact, I do it a lot with clients if they contradict each other or hound me about the same things. If he is just ghosting you because he is busy, then you can try to give him an ultimatum of either speeding progress or taking him to court for stealing your deposit without doing the work. You won't realistically have a leg to stand on in court as most laws are heavily in the contractors favor but it is worth a shot. Anyone reputable will be worried about that threat and anyone not worried about that won't do enough work to get more money out of you. Just make sure you never give any payments early and there is a large enough hold back in the end to make it worth it for them to finish. Also make sure that you don't give payment before the punch list is done or they will never come back for it 

Oh ok, that makes sense but I don't know if that would be the best option financially. I assume the management companies would still expect their fees if you decide to pop in for a week or a month. Add that in with the aggravation of having multiple management companies to deal with at higher rates because they only have 1 or a couple properties for you and I think you would probably be better off just renting a place wherever you want to go. It would require doing a lot of math once you get properties though, as right now it would all be speculation.

If the lease is binding after the sale, then this discussion is very premature as a LOT can happen in the housing market over the next year (March, May, whenever it runs out) and then the numbers might not make sense to sell it.

One and only post huh? Quick, watch everyone jump right on that while you put in zero effort or try to do anything to further this community