How do weekly labor draws work for rehab projects?

We quote your full project price upfront. Instead of paying 30-50% as a deposit, you pay weekly as labor progresses. Each payment is credited toward your project total. Draws start at $4k/week for smaller projects and scale with project size. Materials are separate: we provide detailed lists and you purchase directly, so you control the spend.

Is SLH a project manager or contractor?

We're the licensed general contractor. Our crews do the work: demo, framing, plumbing, electrical, finishes, everything. We're not a middleman coordinating other contractors.

Why do investors purchase materials separately?

Transparency. Traditional contractors mark up materials or bundle them so you can't see what you're paying. We provide detailed material lists with quantities and timing. You buy directly from suppliers at cost. No hidden markup, full visibility.

What payment methods do you accept for rehab projects?

The $150 scope fee can be paid by credit card. All other payments (weekly labor draws, final balances) are wire transfer, check, or cash only. No credit cards for project payments.

How do I qualify for Portfolio Partner pricing?

You qualify with either 3 or more concurrent projects OR a commitment to 5+ projects per year. This gives you 10% off weekly labor draw rates plus priority scheduling and included pre-acquisition estimates.

Do you handle permits for rehab projects?

Yes, as an add-on service. We manage the entire permit process including applications, coordinating inspections, and maintaining documentation. Permit fees are passed through at cost.

How does a draw schedule serve as a project management tool?

The draw schedule combines your weekly deliverables, payment amounts, cumulative budget tracking, and communication framework in one document. Every Friday is a progress review tied to payment.

How much time does weekly draw management take?

About 15-30 minutes per project per week. Review the draw request, compare against the schedule, approve or discuss adjustments. Efficient enough to manage multiple projects.

When should I adjust the draw schedule?

When actual progress consistently deviates from planned progress. Small adjustments week to week are normal. Major adjustments signal a need to re-evaluate the project plan.

What is included in the $150 scope visit?

Full walkthrough, scope of work, cost breakdown, timeline, and the weekly draw schedule that becomes your project management document for the entire rehab.

Can I use draw schedules if I am not working with your company?

Absolutely. The draw schedule concept works with any contractor willing to accept weekly payments for completed work. Start by creating a weekly milestone plan tied to payment amounts.

How Investors Use Draw Schedules to Keep Rehabs on Track

Most investors think of draw schedules as payment tools. They're not. They're the best project management system available to rehab investors. The draw schedule is your timeline, your budget tracker, your accountability tool, and your communication framework all in one document.

The Draw Schedule as a Project Plan

A good weekly draw schedule looks like this:

| Week | Planned Work | Planned Draw | Cumulative Budget | |---|---|---|---| | 1 | Demo, dumpster, rough start | $4,000 | $4,000 | | 2 | Framing, rough electrical | $4,000 | $8,000 | | 3 | Rough plumbing, HVAC rough | $3,500 | $11,500 | | 4 | Insulation, drywall | $4,000 | $15,500 | | 5 | Flooring, cabinet install | $4,000 | $19,500 | | 6 | Tile, countertops, paint start | $4,000 | $23,500 | | 7 | Paint finish, fixtures, trim | $3,500 | $27,000 | | 8 | Final connections, punch list | $3,000 | $30,000 |

That's not just a payment schedule. That's an 8-week project plan with weekly deliverables, budget checkpoints, and a cumulative spend tracker.

Using the Draw Schedule for Oversight

Every Friday, compare actual progress against the planned schedule:

On track: Work matches planned deliverables. Full draw released. Move to next week.
Partially complete: Work is 70-80% of the planned week. Adjust draw accordingly. Discuss what carries over to next week.
Behind schedule: Planned work wasn't started or is significantly incomplete. Hold draw. Discuss the problem and the recovery plan.

This is a 15-minute conversation every Friday. That's all the project management most investor rehabs need.

Budget Tracking Through Draws

The cumulative column in the draw schedule is your real-time budget tracker:

Week 4 planned cumulative: $15,500
Week 4 actual cumulative: $16,200
Variance: +$700 (4.5% over)

At 4.5% over through Week 4, you know there's a mild overrun trend. You can address it now - adjust scope on remaining weeks, tighten up on change orders, or accept the variance if it's within your contingency.

Compare that to a milestone model where you might not calculate budget variance until 60% of the money is already spent.

Communication Framework

The weekly draw creates forced, structured communication:

Contractor submits documentation of completed work
You review and respond with questions or approval
Any issues are surfaced and addressed within the weekly cycle
Nothing festers for multiple weeks without discussion

This beats the alternative: sporadic text messages, unanswered phone calls, and a growing sense of uncertainty about what's happening on your project.

Scaling Across Projects

When you're running 3-5 simultaneous rehabs, draw schedules become your portfolio dashboard. Each project has a draw schedule. Each Friday, you review all of them. The standardized format lets you spot which projects are on track and which need attention in minutes.

At Seller's Little Helpers, every project starts with a draw schedule during the scope visit. It's the document that drives the entire project from start to finish.

Book a $150 scope visit at sellerslittlehelpers.com - get a draw schedule that serves as your complete project management system. Call (708) 536-6700 or email info@sellerslittlehelpers.com.