Besides looking through the Better Business bureau does anyone have any tips for finding a dependable and inexpensive general contractor or subcontractor...or should I just go through lowes or home depot installation services.


Thanks!

Never use a home center. They have no screening process for their sub contractors. I have done work for Homedepot. It is a 3 ring circus. Your best bet to find a dependable contractor believe it or not. Call you home owners insurance Co. They have a list of qualified contractors that they use for emergencies. Like trees falling through roofs, cars running into buildings etc. These contractors are at least screened. Most dissatisfyed homeowners don't take the time to file with the BBB. If your home owners can;t help you. Call your local municipality, They can supply you with a list of registered contracotrs in your area. ALWAYS ask for refferances. I always supply as many as they want. Ask to go see the work. ASK questions.

1. Job cleanliness ??
2. Contractor On sight when work to be done ??
3. What trades the contractor subs out ??
4. Get more than 2 quotes.
( don't show bidders your quotes )
5. Ask if his workers speak english. Unless of
corse you speak more tham 1 language.


I am a general contractor for 20 years. The biggest problem I face is trying to convince people I am not there to rip them off. They hardly ever ask for referances, they just care about bottom line. Thanks to all these shows on TV.

What part of the country you from??

I'm in North Atlanta.
The foreclosures out here are plentiful..but the market is super saturated. We don't have a "bubble". The market is just overflooded, even for the winter.

We have some sweet spots where if you get a flip in the right suburb and school district you should be fine.

I'm hoping to complete my first flip soon. I'm just terrified at the thought of getting a bad contractor.

I may start with a condo or townhome do a cosmetic fix up...
Thanks for all your info.

Believe it or not,

I used to work in the corporate headquarters for home depot here in atlanta. As a matter of fact I worked in the complaints and resolution department. My whole day was resolving home depot installations gone wrong. For example, 50K kitchen renovations done at home depot expo and the contractor didn't show up or the seam for the silestone countertop looks stupid. Cabinets missing, home depot tile orders broken or missing.

I know first hand that the contractors are crap but i was thinkin'about going back b/c the work by home depot is almost guaranteed. If you take the time to complain with the corporate office they will see to it that the store management gets involved and they will see that the done semi right or they may refund you some of the cost of installation. When you have your own contractor there is no guarantee or recourse other than going to court.

I might still try HD but I'll ask the store management who the contractor is for the service and then go forward with asking for references and such like you suggested. If they don't pan out i'll find my own contractor.

No problem. For the right price I could come down for a week and get your project started on the right foot and help you out. What you will learn from me is priceless. I'm in south eastern Pa. Another note!!

Stay away from a company called Lumber Liquidators.

Lumber Liquidators? I thought they were just a distributor? Are their goods bad?

Their prices are cheap for a reason. I have used their stuff in the past. Color varies form carton to carton. Deff not grade 1 material.

Hey miamibrown, where in north atlanta are you? Also, what area doyou think is the best to flip a house in atlanta?

daretheygo - I'm a novice flipper and am currently looking for a general contractor. I'm in Pa myself and was hoping to get a hold of you. Possibly start a mutually beneficial arrangement. I have a house and will most likely start on within a month. My email address is steven_pak@verizon.net Thanks

I have e-mailed you Steven. Depends on the scope of work my friend. As a solid well reffered GC I have plenty of work and even have to turn down smaller jobs. I am currently adding a 3 story addition to an 1870 farm house in Quakertown.

Well Steve and I came to an agreement just before Xmas. His Flipp is well under way. I will post before and after pics when the project is done. We really just got under way a week ago. The demo is all done. Most of the new framing is all done. I expect to hand him the keys March 1st ready to list. The house was built in 1893. It has been a fight so far.

Here are some pics of Steve's flipp in progress.. We have hit quite a few snaggs on the way. But we are over the hump already. We have hauled out 47 Yards of debris and I expect to fill another 30 yard can. Thats 77 yards of Debris out of a 1,000 sq/ft twin. For those keeping track 1,600.00 in debris plus 3 men 3 days to haul it out. 900.00 for labor. 2,500.00 for debris removal. They never show that on flipp this house !!

http://photos.walmart.com/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=234505...10208215/t_=10208215

We'll Steves flip has hit a few snags. We are dealing with a code enforcment agent that feelis like we need to bow down to her every request. She has already cost us over 5,000.00 in extra work. I feel more extra's are coming. If I didn't know better I would think she is buying the house when it's done.

Steves Flip is done. I just haven't taken the after pictures yet. I will this week. The house is on the market for almost 2 weeks now. All total I think the local municipality cost me about 4 weeks of time.

here are the before and after photo's. Even with the township holding us up for a few weeks for the most pasrt is was done in 8 weeks.

http://photos.walmart.com/slideshow/AlbumID=23450554/Pi...10208215/t_=10208215