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.

Where is the best place to find investor-friendly contractors?

REIA meetups, supply houses, active job sites in your target area, and local investor Facebook groups. The best investor contractors are found through the investor community, not consumer review sites.

How do I evaluate a contractor referral?

Ask the referring investor how many projects they have done together, whether the contractor was on time and on budget, and whether they would use them again. One good project is not enough data.

Should I test a new contractor on a small project first?

Yes. Start with a cosmetic refresh or small project. Evaluate performance on low-stakes work before trusting them with a large gut rehab.

What is included in the $150 scope visit?

Full walkthrough, scope of work, cost breakdown, timeline, and weekly draw schedule. Skip the sourcing and vetting process and work with a team built for investors.

What should I look for in an investor-friendly contractor?

Willingness to work on weekly draws, line-item bids with separated costs, understanding of deal math and holding costs, timeline discipline, and references from other investors.

How Investors Find Reliable Contractors (Non-Obvious Ways)

Stop searching Yelp. Stop posting on Angi. The contractors on those platforms are optimized for homeowners, not investors. Your needs are different, so your sourcing strategy should be different.

Where Investor Contractors Actually Are

1. REIA Meetups

Your local Real Estate Investor Association is the single best source. Other investors have already done the vetting for you. When three different investors recommend the same GC, that's worth more than 100 five-star Yelp reviews.

2. Supply Houses

Go to your local plumbing supply house, electrical supply house, or lumber yard. Ask the counter guys: "Who are the busiest contractors coming in here?" Busy contractors are in demand. In demand means they do good work.

3. Active Job Sites

Drive your target neighborhoods. When you see a quality rehab in progress, stop and introduce yourself. Ask who's doing the work. Get the GC's number. You just found a contractor who's actively working in your area, producing visible results.

4. Investor Facebook Groups and BiggerPockets

Local investor groups (not national ones) are gold mines for contractor referrals. Search "[your city] real estate investors" on Facebook. Post: "Looking for a GC who works on weekly draws for investor rehabs." The responses will filter for investor-friendly contractors immediately.

5. Your Existing Network

Every contractor knows other contractors. Ask your electrician who they recommend for general contracting. Ask your GC who they recommend for plumbing. Good tradespeople network with other good tradespeople.

The Referral Evaluation

A referral is a starting point, not a finish line. When someone recommends a contractor:

"How many projects have you done with them?" (One project isn't enough data)
"Were they on time and on budget?" (These are the only metrics that matter)
"Would you use them again?" (The ultimate question)
"What payment structure do you use?" (Tells you about the contractor's business model)

The Trial Project

Don't hand a new contractor your biggest, most complex deal. Start small:

A cosmetic refresh ($15K-$25K)
A single-room remodel
A turnover between tenants

Evaluate their performance on a low-stakes project before trusting them with a $60K gut rehab. If they perform, scale up. If they don't, you learned cheaply.

The Weekly Draw Test

Propose weekly draws to any new contractor. Their response tells you everything:

"Sure, that works." Good contractor with a healthy business.
"We prefer deposits but can work with that." Acceptable. Test them.
"We require a deposit. No exceptions." Walk. They need your money to operate.

Why We're Different

At Seller's Little Helpers, you don't need to source, vet, test, and manage a contractor relationship from scratch. We're the investor-focused contractor that's already built for weekly draws, separated costs, and timeline accountability.

But if you're building your own team elsewhere, use these strategies. The right contractor is out there. They're just not on Yelp.

Book a $150 scope visit at sellerslittlehelpers.com - or if you're still building your team, come see how we work. Call (708) 536-6700 or email info@sellerslittlehelpers.com.

How Real Estate Investors Find Reliable Contractors (The Non-Obvious Ways)