All Forum Posts by: Jason White

@Emmy Ifarinde

You want a restoration specialist contractor. Fire damage is a different beast. I can’t help you with a specific recommendation, but google fire damage restoration contractor and interview a few of them. And don’t go with a national brand go with a local guy. My two cents

@Grace Ronquillo

Ballpark, $75k-$150k. Totally depends on a lot of things. If we are talking most likely best case I would say in the $90k-$100k

@Brendan Flannery

I’m a general contractor in California. I use a standard BNI home improvement contract, it protects me and the homeowner. https://www.bnibooks.com/product/form-101hi-prime-pdf

Not sure if they do other states or not.

@Ryan Mikhael

From the sound of it the contractor is not a restoration contractor that is used to working with insurance companies. Am I right? If I’m wrong then this guy sucks at his job.

This is a good example of why as a homeowner or a landlord using a restoration contractor that specializes in fire, water, structural damage is the best way to go in these situations because we are used to not getting all of our money until everything is submitted to the insurance company and we do all of that paperwork on behalf of the homeowner, so they get their money, so we get our money from the homeowner.

Also a good example of why a good contract with a good scope of work with the correct payment schedule is a must.

@Greg Dickerson

It is so hard for me to wrap my head around the idea that you don’t need a permit for all that stuff. In Southern California we have to have a permit for everything, you can’t change your windows, do your roof, do your siding, Remodel your bathroom, or remodel your kitchen without multiple inspections. You can paint and put floor covering down that’s about it. We even have a drywall screw inspection, so after you put up your drywall the inspector comes out and make sure you have enough screws in your drywall before you mud and tape. Must be nice to live and work in the free world.

@Stephen Tanquary

I don't have any OC house hacking experience, but with the new ADU laws there are a lot more options for the house hacking strategy. If you can get the right house in the right area and then convert the garage or build a new unit in the back yard, you could get around $2000/m from the back unit or $2500/m from the front and live in the new back unit. Not sure where in Fullerton you are but the neighborhood that spans from FULLERTON college all the way to cal state FULLERTON is a great option for this. I have two acquaintances that are doing that in the area. I'm a contractor in the area, so if you need any help in that arena I'm here for you.

@Clint Bradley

Unfortunately I’ve seen my share of hoarder house fires. Hoarding is a mental illness basically, and part of their problem as a hoarder is that everything has “sentimental value” so they can’t get rid of stuff. Your best bet will be to go about it through the pending tax sale angle. They are almost always a bit unstable and LOVE their stuff, you need to be very empathetic in your conversations about the house and his stuff. Hope that helps even a little bit. Good luck.

@Jeremy VanDelinder

As usual Jeremy is right on.

I’m glad you are working on the restoration company, that is the way to go, fix for them or fix it for yourself, best of both worlds in my opinion. You will have two tools in the belt for helping people out of a tough spot. Lets actually make that phone call happen, I want to hear about how you are doing with the startup. Maybe we can help each other out from halfway across the country.

@Nathan Killebrew

“The person who knows HOW will always have a job, but the person who knows WHY will always be his boss.” John Maxwell

“I am looking for a lot of men who have an infinite capacity to not know what can’t be done.” Henry Ford

“The heights by great men reached and kept were not attained by sudden flight, but they, while their companions slept, were toiling upward in the night.” Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

You can call me too, I flip fire damage houses here in LA and Orange County like @Jeremy VanDelinder