All Forum Posts by: Chris Brown

Hi @Robert E Bogino, I have a crew that works out of Cartersville. Give me a call and I can see if we can help you out on your project. 

Hello all, I am working on a 1920's bungalow in downtown Atlanta. I usually work in the northern suburbs and I almost always replace the tub/tub shower combo with a nice, tiled shower with a frameless glass enclosure. I have found most people do not need/want a tub in the master as long as there is another tub on the same level of the house. On this project I am adding a new master suite as part of an addition and I cannot decide if I should include a stand alone tub and shower or just do a really nice shower. 

What has everyone else been doing, especially in in-town areas that are higher end (mid $400's)?

I'm not familiar with Syracuse, but here in the North Atlanta suburbs, I know the buying pool for houses not in a neighborhood or development is smaller. Most people want neighbors, sidewalks, amenities, etc. Also schools in outlying areas are generally less desirable. There are buyers and people who are only looking for homes outside of developments, but they are fewer. I tend to shy away from homes outside of neighborhoods or even ones with no HOA because I feel the pool is smaller. But when I do a project like that, I will play up to those attributes in listing. "Acreage. Room for RV. Privacy" etc.

If you can find solid comps and the numbers look good, it may be a good deal. I would just build in extra time to be on the market because of the smaller buyers pool. Again, I don't know anything about the Syracuse market. 

Best of Luck.

@Luke Mitchell, If the numbers look strong from the outside, I would definitely get a good GC to take a look at it with you. Worst case, it is too far gone and you pass, but having an opportunity to look at it and get a feel for the issues and numbers can be invaluable for your own knowledge base and future deal evaluation. I will almost never pass up an opportunity to look at a deal that has good numbers from the outside, regardless of issues. 

Investing is a risky business and as such you have to take CALCULATED risks to be successful. I would not let a burned out property scare me off if I have a good understanding of what it will take to revive it, the costs and am comfortable the numbers and my, or my contractors ability, to pull it off. 

Best of luck. 

Almost every old house has some mold in it somewhere. If you take the correct steps to address the existing mold, either professionally or DIY, and remove the source of moisture, then it should be good. I have had several homes with mold issues and have hired licensed professionals to do remediation and watched their processes closely, and I have addressed it myself, both with the same results. Now I am talking surface mold, if it is so bad that framing has to be removed, that is another story entirely. One that can still be doable, but you are now talking reframing, etc. 

If the numbers make sense, then the smell of mold smells like money to me. Most people wont mess with it and I can get the price down. Get multiple quotes to get comfortable with numbers and go for it if they work.

Best of luck. 

Hi @Austin Longshore, give me a call and tell me you've got going on and and I will see if I can help.

I do not know how your partnership is structured, but you said you want to be hands on, so with that said, this is what I recommend. I would make sure you have a detailed list of work that will be completed per week so you can review and insure all the work is in fact getting completed, if not, why, and then reschedule for the next week. You may see things your partner does not or may have missed. Early in a relationship like this, I would want to make sure I am looking at everything. Once you have done a few deals and see how he works, maybe you can pull back a bit.

If you have some experience and some contacts and his or his subs numbers do not jive, then I would use that experience and contacts to verify you are getting the best value. Contractors at times will use who they know and not always look for the best value. 

Make him accountable and set expectations, both for weekly and project targets. Most of the guys that work for me like having set expectations because it gives them priorities when the inevitable issue pops up. You do  not have to micromanage, but a clear list of items to be completed in a week, instead of over the whole project, makes everything go smoother in my opinion. 

Ask questions. 

Provide kudos to the GC, his workers and any any subs that are doing good work or perform above expectations. Everyone likes to feel appreciated and it will make them want to work harder and smarter for you.

Let the GC be in control, that is why he is there. Do not undermine his business, but do provide nudging if required. If you do not agree with something he is doing, tell him something like "Man, that is a really good idea, but I was thinking about doing x,y,z. What do you think about that?". Managing people is just as important as the numbers. 

Best of luck!

Try to make sure you have as accurate number as possible for your rehab costs...then ad 10%. Don't forget about the little things like hings, door knobs, light fixtures, plumbing fixtures, switches and outlets, cabinet handles and knobs, permits, etc. Sounds like you have a good handle on it. 

Best of luck!

Hello all, I am looking for a good reputable foundation repair company in the downtown Atlanta area.  

I don't know if that is allowed, so I'll not link it at this time, but it can be found easily enough by googling it. It was written and maintained, nicely I might add, by member @David Robertson.