Advice with upgrading an old house

[profhoff]

If you are planning on doing all that without a GC, I hope you don’t have a full time job.

[briansd1]

You can do it without a general contractor.

It’s not that hard. I did it.

You have to take things in stride and not get emotional. Remodeling a house is not like buying a TV at Best Buy.

It’s easier if you don’t live in the house or if you have it only sparsely furnished.

I would start with removing the pop-corn ceiling before you move in.

One thing that I find with contractors is that the faster you want it, the more you will pay. I have a good contractor who will do things whenever he’s available to fill down time, but he will charge accordingly but when something better comes up, he will not do my job.

For example when my dad remodeled his bathroom, it took about 3 months to finish it. But he didn’t care because he was not using it.

[briansd1]

You can do it without a general contractor.

It’s not that hard. I did it.

You have to take things in stride and not get emotional. Remodeling a house is not like buying a TV at Best Buy.

It’s easier if you don’t live in the house or if you have it only sparsely furnished.

I would start with removing the pop-corn ceiling before you move in.

One thing that I find with contractors is that the faster you want it, the more you will pay. I have a good contractor who will do things whenever he’s available to fill down time, but he will charge accordingly but when something better comes up, he will not do my job.

For example when my dad remodeled his bathroom, it took about 3 months to finish it. But he didn’t care because he was not using it.

[briansd1]

You can do it without a general contractor.

It’s not that hard. I did it.

You have to take things in stride and not get emotional. Remodeling a house is not like buying a TV at Best Buy.

It’s easier if you don’t live in the house or if you have it only sparsely furnished.

I would start with removing the pop-corn ceiling before you move in.

One thing that I find with contractors is that the faster you want it, the more you will pay. I have a good contractor who will do things whenever he’s available to fill down time, but he will charge accordingly but when something better comes up, he will not do my job.

For example when my dad remodeled his bathroom, it took about 3 months to finish it. But he didn’t care because he was not using it.

[briansd1]

You can do it without a general contractor.

It’s not that hard. I did it.

You have to take things in stride and not get emotional. Remodeling a house is not like buying a TV at Best Buy.

It’s easier if you don’t live in the house or if you have it only sparsely furnished.

I would start with removing the pop-corn ceiling before you move in.

One thing that I find with contractors is that the faster you want it, the more you will pay. I have a good contractor who will do things whenever he’s available to fill down time, but he will charge accordingly but when something better comes up, he will not do my job.

For example when my dad remodeled his bathroom, it took about 3 months to finish it. But he didn’t care because he was not using it.

[briansd1]

You can do it without a general contractor.

It’s not that hard. I did it.

You have to take things in stride and not get emotional. Remodeling a house is not like buying a TV at Best Buy.

It’s easier if you don’t live in the house or if you have it only sparsely furnished.

I would start with removing the pop-corn ceiling before you move in.

One thing that I find with contractors is that the faster you want it, the more you will pay. I have a good contractor who will do things whenever he’s available to fill down time, but he will charge accordingly but when something better comes up, he will not do my job.

For example when my dad remodeled his bathroom, it took about 3 months to finish it. But he didn’t care because he was not using it.

[UCGal]

I haven’t used Angie’s list because it costs $$

That said – I would do due-diligence on all (sub)contractors you plan to hire.

Look up their license:
https://www2.cslb.ca.gov/OnlineServices/CheckLicense/LicenseRequest.asp

Things to look for:
– Obviously you want active status.

– Do they have any complaints showing (BIG red flag.)

– Do they have workers comp. If no, are they representing to YOU that they have employees. If they have any employees they HAVE to have workers comp – but a lot of contractors cheat on this.

– Look at the bonding and the insurance information. Call the bonding company to verify. Ask if any claims have been paid out or are under investigation. Call the previous bonding company (if any) and ask the same questions.

Run the company name AND the principal’s name through the court records for civil suits.

http://www.sdcourt.ca.gov/portal/page?_pageid=55,1056871&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL

If there are civil lawsuits – google the opposing party and talk to them. We wish we’d done this last step on our first contractor… turned out he abandoned two jobs before he abandoned ours – and one showed as active litigation. If we’d made the phone call we would have saved ourselves the current legal battle we’re in.

BBB is useless. Businesses pay to join. If a customer complains the business is given the chance to deny… It’s pretty much set up to favor the business in any dispute.

Check Ripoffreport.com. If you get a hit, investigate it.

And, obviously, call the references given to you. But keep in mind that contractors will only refer you to customers that didn’t have any problems. It’s more interesting to see how contractors deal when there is a dispute.

[UCGal]

I haven’t used Angie’s list because it costs $$

That said – I would do due-diligence on all (sub)contractors you plan to hire.

Look up their license:
https://www2.cslb.ca.gov/OnlineServices/CheckLicense/LicenseRequest.asp

Things to look for:
– Obviously you want active status.

– Do they have any complaints showing (BIG red flag.)

– Do they have workers comp. If no, are they representing to YOU that they have employees. If they have any employees they HAVE to have workers comp – but a lot of contractors cheat on this.

– Look at the bonding and the insurance information. Call the bonding company to verify. Ask if any claims have been paid out or are under investigation. Call the previous bonding company (if any) and ask the same questions.

Run the company name AND the principal’s name through the court records for civil suits.

http://www.sdcourt.ca.gov/portal/page?_pageid=55,1056871&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL

If there are civil lawsuits – google the opposing party and talk to them. We wish we’d done this last step on our first contractor… turned out he abandoned two jobs before he abandoned ours – and one showed as active litigation. If we’d made the phone call we would have saved ourselves the current legal battle we’re in.

BBB is useless. Businesses pay to join. If a customer complains the business is given the chance to deny… It’s pretty much set up to favor the business in any dispute.

Check Ripoffreport.com. If you get a hit, investigate it.

And, obviously, call the references given to you. But keep in mind that contractors will only refer you to customers that didn’t have any problems. It’s more interesting to see how contractors deal when there is a dispute.

[UCGal]

I haven’t used Angie’s list because it costs $$

That said – I would do due-diligence on all (sub)contractors you plan to hire.

Look up their license:
https://www2.cslb.ca.gov/OnlineServices/CheckLicense/LicenseRequest.asp

Things to look for:
– Obviously you want active status.

– Do they have any complaints showing (BIG red flag.)

– Do they have workers comp. If no, are they representing to YOU that they have employees. If they have any employees they HAVE to have workers comp – but a lot of contractors cheat on this.

– Look at the bonding and the insurance information. Call the bonding company to verify. Ask if any claims have been paid out or are under investigation. Call the previous bonding company (if any) and ask the same questions.

Run the company name AND the principal’s name through the court records for civil suits.

http://www.sdcourt.ca.gov/portal/page?_pageid=55,1056871&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL

If there are civil lawsuits – google the opposing party and talk to them. We wish we’d done this last step on our first contractor… turned out he abandoned two jobs before he abandoned ours – and one showed as active litigation. If we’d made the phone call we would have saved ourselves the current legal battle we’re in.

BBB is useless. Businesses pay to join. If a customer complains the business is given the chance to deny… It’s pretty much set up to favor the business in any dispute.

Check Ripoffreport.com. If you get a hit, investigate it.

And, obviously, call the references given to you. But keep in mind that contractors will only refer you to customers that didn’t have any problems. It’s more interesting to see how contractors deal when there is a dispute.

[UCGal]

I haven’t used Angie’s list because it costs $$

That said – I would do due-diligence on all (sub)contractors you plan to hire.

Look up their license:
https://www2.cslb.ca.gov/OnlineServices/CheckLicense/LicenseRequest.asp

Things to look for:
– Obviously you want active status.

– Do they have any complaints showing (BIG red flag.)

– Do they have workers comp. If no, are they representing to YOU that they have employees. If they have any employees they HAVE to have workers comp – but a lot of contractors cheat on this.

– Look at the bonding and the insurance information. Call the bonding company to verify. Ask if any claims have been paid out or are under investigation. Call the previous bonding company (if any) and ask the same questions.

Run the company name AND the principal’s name through the court records for civil suits.

http://www.sdcourt.ca.gov/portal/page?_pageid=55,1056871&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL

If there are civil lawsuits – google the opposing party and talk to them. We wish we’d done this last step on our first contractor… turned out he abandoned two jobs before he abandoned ours – and one showed as active litigation. If we’d made the phone call we would have saved ourselves the current legal battle we’re in.

BBB is useless. Businesses pay to join. If a customer complains the business is given the chance to deny… It’s pretty much set up to favor the business in any dispute.

Check Ripoffreport.com. If you get a hit, investigate it.

And, obviously, call the references given to you. But keep in mind that contractors will only refer you to customers that didn’t have any problems. It’s more interesting to see how contractors deal when there is a dispute.

[UCGal]

I haven’t used Angie’s list because it costs $$

That said – I would do due-diligence on all (sub)contractors you plan to hire.

Look up their license:
https://www2.cslb.ca.gov/OnlineServices/CheckLicense/LicenseRequest.asp

Things to look for:
– Obviously you want active status.

– Do they have any complaints showing (BIG red flag.)

– Do they have workers comp. If no, are they representing to YOU that they have employees. If they have any employees they HAVE to have workers comp – but a lot of contractors cheat on this.

– Look at the bonding and the insurance information. Call the bonding company to verify. Ask if any claims have been paid out or are under investigation. Call the previous bonding company (if any) and ask the same questions.

Run the company name AND the principal’s name through the court records for civil suits.

http://www.sdcourt.ca.gov/portal/page?_pageid=55,1056871&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL

If there are civil lawsuits – google the opposing party and talk to them. We wish we’d done this last step on our first contractor… turned out he abandoned two jobs before he abandoned ours – and one showed as active litigation. If we’d made the phone call we would have saved ourselves the current legal battle we’re in.

BBB is useless. Businesses pay to join. If a customer complains the business is given the chance to deny… It’s pretty much set up to favor the business in any dispute.

Check Ripoffreport.com. If you get a hit, investigate it.

And, obviously, call the references given to you. But keep in mind that contractors will only refer you to customers that didn’t have any problems. It’s more interesting to see how contractors deal when there is a dispute.

[sdrealtor]

Good general advice:
1. First get a dumpster and get rid of everything you never want to see again.
2. Work from the ceilings down.

[sdrealtor]

Good general advice:
1. First get a dumpster and get rid of everything you never want to see again.
2. Work from the ceilings down.

[sdrealtor]

Good general advice:
1. First get a dumpster and get rid of everything you never want to see again.
2. Work from the ceilings down.

[sdrealtor]

Good general advice:
1. First get a dumpster and get rid of everything you never want to see again.
2. Work from the ceilings down.

[Author]

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