Trying to get a decent roofer in the island,

[aviator]

called four roofers, only two actually went to the property, the other two looked at a satellite image and gave me a quote, one of them I asked him, "Did you notice there are four skylights up there, is that going to make a difference on price? I don't like surprises in the middle of the job", "Oh yeah, that's $2,000 more then", why "We have to replace them" why, they are only four years old. he came in at $37K, the other guy who didn't go wanted $28K, not replacing skylights and when you look at the reviews a big WARNING red sign came on. On to the third who never showed up either $32K, he is not giving me what I want, I said Aluminum, not steel, I'm a couple blocks from the ocean , so he updated the price to $37K, Last one today, great reviews, long time in business $33K with skylights and aluminum, he did go up to look at it. I'm trying to get a few dollars off, he's going to call me back.

The roof is only six years old, heavy duty asphalt and fiberglass shingles but a few of them broke off during the 2022 hurricane that flooded the island, I'm trying to limit my liability should another huge storm hit, I don't have to storm insurance in that house and a standing seam metal will not come off the roof unless the wood on the roof comes up and that's not going to happen as long as doors and windows stay put and they are hurricane proof. I paid $30K for my house in Miami which is bigger a few years ago but this is an island where rich people go in the winter.

[Johnny]

I have some friends who own a vacation home on North Captiva Island in Florida. If that's anywhere near you, I can drop them a line and see how they do it and who they recommend. Captiva is a real island, with no road, so everything has to arrive by boat. I'm sure it's all very expensive.

You're not alone with your contractor frustrations. We live in a very rural and very poor Michigan county. Good contractors generally don't want to work here because there's no money. The only place they'll go is to the wealthy lake properties. Many of the contractors who will service our area are hacks. I honestly don't blame them. If I were a contractor, the last place I'd be looking for business is down a dirt road, like where we live.

How do we handle it in rural Michigan?

1. If we find a good contractor, we're exceedingly patient with his timeline, pay whatever he wants, and don't get fussy with the work. On rare occasions, we'll even pay them extra. We were very pleased with a tree service, electrician, and Amish roofing contractors. Our well drilling contractor was awful.

2. About 90% of the work, we do ourselves. We have to. There are so many hacks out there who will leave you with shoddy work. As I type, I'm in the middle of repairing our 1950's era septic tank drain field. I have about a week into the project and will likely wrap it up today. I've become good with a chainsaw, a tractor, and rough carpentry. My wife has learned all about plumbing and heating. She actually saw the septic tank drain field issue while our tank was getting pumped out. The septic tank contractor just blew it off. One thing that really helped me was hiring a contractor to build a barn on our property a few years ago. As part of the deal, I worked alongside the guy doing a lot of the dirty work. I learned so much. It was like taking a college-level class on carpentry. Forget about hiring locals to do any sort of manual labor. I've found that no amount of money can motivate young people to get their hands dirty.

This is probably more of an answer than you wanted or needed.

[Sanders]

Seems like everything's a grift now days. It gets harder and harder to find an honest business where you can agree on a job with a handshake and know it will be done at the estimated cost on the estimated schedule, barring any unforeseen problems.

[aviator]

I have some friends who own a vacation home on North Captiva Island in Florida. If that's anywhere near you, I can drop them a line and see how they do it and who they recommend. Captiva is a real island, with no road, so everything has to arrive by boat. I'm sure it's all very expensive.

You're not alone with your contractor frustrations. We live in a very rural and very poor Michigan county. Good contractors generally don't want to work here because there's no money. The only place they'll go is to the wealthy lake properties. Many of the contractors who will service our area are hacks. I honestly don't blame them. If I were a contractor, the last place I'd be looking for business is down a dirt road, like where we live.

How do we handle it in rural Michigan?

1. If we find a good contractor, we're exceedingly patient with his timeline, pay whatever he wants, and don't get fussy with the work. On rare occasions, we'll even pay them extra. We were very pleased with a tree service, electrician, and Amish roofing contractors. Our well drilling contractor was awful.

2. About 90% of the work, we do ourselves. We have to. There are so many hacks out there who will leave you with shoddy work. As I type, I'm in the middle of repairing our 1950's era septic tank drain field. I have about a week into the project and will likely wrap it up today. I've become good with a chainsaw, a tractor, and rough carpentry. My wife has learned all about plumbing and heating. She actually saw the septic tank drain field issue while our tank was getting pumped out. The septic tank contractor just blew it off. One thing that really helped me was hiring a contractor to build a barn on our property a few years ago. As part of the deal, I worked alongside the guy doing a lot of the dirty work. I learned so much. It was like taking a college-level class on carpentry. Forget about hiring locals to do any sort of manual labor. I've found that no amount of money can motivate young people to get their hands dirty.

This is probably more of an answer than you wanted or needed.

it's a three island chain, Sanibel and Captiva are joined by a bridge, North Captiva is only accessible by boat or small plane, they have a 2,000 ft grass strip, they went through hell with hurricane Ian too, that area is expensive yes. It's a place where rich folks come to run from the cold from all over the world.

I have this company I'm talking to, he's got good reviews and a good rating with Building Zoom, a company that tracks permits, but it's $32K with a material that supposedly will stand ocean environment for 25 years, Aluminum is good for 40-45, $5K price difference. I won't be here in 25 years but my son and daughter might and they will keep the house, I'm sure, they go there more than I do. So I'm looking at $37K and replacing the skylights included.

Sanders, I know, nobody trusts anybody anymore, forget handshakes, legal contracts. One of the guys that gave me an estimate had a crew used the wrong plywood and a worker crashed through the attic and landed in the kitchen and the company refused to make good on it, they are now in court. I did my homework and even checked court records, licenses, how many jobs done in the area, how long in business etc, even where the owner lives. For almost $40K I will cover my ass.

[Johnny]

Good to hear you may have found a decent contractor. No easy task.

Trading 40K for a roof that will last you a lifetime is money well spent. You've busted ass your whole life and most likely lived frugally. Now's the time to ease up on that financial discipline. My wife and I are the same. In August we purchased an adjoining 16 acres our cabin property. We didn't need it. The only reason we purchased it was to keep someone from doing the same and disturbing our privacy.

The guy I know on North Captiva is very wealthy, but doesn't act it. He started in the trades and moved up rapidly to lead the construction of huge multi million dollar projects; mostly hospitals. He still proudly maintains his trade certifications, even now that he's retired. I think he spends most of his time on the mainland and just visits the island property on occasion.

[aviator]

Good to hear you may have found a decent contractor. No easy task.

Trading 40K for a roof that will last you a lifetime is money well spent. You've busted ass your whole life and most likely lived frugally. Now's the time to ease up on that financial discipline. My wife and I are the same. In August we purchased an adjoining 16 acres our cabin property. We didn't need it. The only reason we purchased it was to keep someone from doing the same and disturbing our privacy.

The guy I know on North Captiva is very wealthy, but doesn't act it. He started in the trades and moved up rapidly to lead the construction of huge multi million dollar projects; mostly hospitals. He still proudly maintains his trade certifications, even now that he's retired. I think he spends most of his time on the mainland and just visits the island property on occasion.

I live in a simple house, drive a 12 year old car (my wife gets the new one) I believe in saving money, I don't owe anybody anything.

I think I'll go with the $37K quote and get the job done right.

[Johnny]

I live in a simple house, drive a 12 year old car (my wife gets the new one) I believe in saving money, I don't owe anybody anything.

I think I'll go with the $37K quote and get the job done right.

Similar situation here. Zero debt. No mortgage. We live in a small 2 bedroom house. Wife's car is a 2014. She loves it and won't part with it. I tried!

[4thIDvet]

Similar situation here. Zero debt. No mortgage. We live in a small 2 bedroom house. Wife's car is a 2014. She loves it and won't part with it. I tried!

Reporter asked Jim Moran who started South East Toyota a billion aire a few times over $$ why he drove a 10 year old car. "I love my car nobody but me drives it. What the hell do I need a new car for it does everything I need?"

[Sanders]

Reporter asked Jim Moran who started South East Toyota a billion aire a few times over $$ why he drove a 10 year old car. "I love my car nobody but me drives it. What the hell do I need a new car for it does everything I need?"

I remember reading a study in the 90s where millionaires were surveyed for their lifestyle habits. One of the things that surprised a lot of people is that at that time, the typical millionaire's car was not a limo or an expensive foreign luxury car, but a 5 yr. old Ford Taurus.

[aviator]

I remember reading a study in the 90s where millionaires were surveyed for their lifestyle habits. One of the things that surprised a lot of people is that at that time, the typical millionaire's car was not a limo or an expensive foreign luxury car, but a 5 yr. old Ford Taurus.

I had a client-turned good friend who owned several apartment buildings and several rental homes in the city of Hialeah, just north of Miami,, By my accounts the guy was making a couple hundred thousand dollars a month in rental income, he drove an old beat up work van full of tools and supplies he insisted on doing all the maintenance himself , dressed like a construction worker, dirty shirt, dirty pants, old work boots. I remember selling him a building and I'm all dressed up in a suit and one of the tenants asking me if I was buying the place, "No sir, that man there is your new landlord" The man could not believe it. He enjoyed his money, traveled all over the world, gave his two kids a good education and was married to his wife for over 60 years, He died a few years ago. The only time I saw him in a suit was at his 50th anniversary party that the son did for them. He was a customer of mine on my previous business and was instrumental in getting me into real estate.

Then you also have guys who want to look rich and don't have a dime in their pocket.

[4thIDvet]

[QUOTE=aviator;n18802

Then you also have guys who want to look rich and don't have a dime in their pocket.[/QUOTE]

That's me Fred. When I go to a nice restaurant and their is a wait. I always tell the host 'Yes Dr. Tim a window table if you would please. Oh here this is for you." Slip em a $5.00 bill but crumple it up a bit and stick it in their pocket. Hopefully they won't notice your a lying cheap prick till you already have your table.

[Johnny]

Reporter asked Jim Moran who started South East Toyota a billion aire a few times over $$ why he drove a 10 year old car. "I love my car nobody but me drives it. What the hell do I need a new car for it does everything I need?"

Back in the 90's I was stationed at Ft. Hood, TX. One day I had some work at the Corps headquarters. I remember looking our the window at the fleet of expensive cars in the staff parking lot and noticing a beat up old pickup truck parked among the German luxury cars. Come to find out, that old pickup belonged to the III Corps Commander: LTG Funk. Some staff officers told me LTG Funk didn't like flashy cars and preferred more humble transportation.

He was that kind of guy. One day, seeing a young woman in tears in the Corps HQ building, he stopped and asked her what was wrong. She was the wife of a private you hadn't been paid in months. Every office she visited, she got the run around. The HQ building was her last hope and they did the same thing to her. She was on her way out the door. LTG Funk basically, put all Corps operations on standby until this woman had a check for the full amount in her hand. The private's chain of command and finance people were literally "called on the carpet" over this incident. I heard it was an epic level ass chewing. He loved soldiers and had no use for officers, DA civilians, and NCOs who weren't taking care of their troops.

[aviator]

That's me Fred. When I go to a nice restaurant and their is a wait. I always tell the host 'Yes Dr. Tim a window table if you would please. Oh here this is for you." Slip em a $5.00 bill but crumple it up a bit and stick it in their pocket. Hopefully they won't notice your a lying cheap prick till you already have your table.

you give them a $5?, wow...I wish I could do that. That's almost a gallon of gas....

[Pogo]

Sky lights is risky in my area. A hail storm could take them out.

[aviator]

Sky lights is risky in my area. A hail storm could take them out.

These are double pane glass, shatterproof, hurricane proof. The ones there withstood hurricane Ian that almost destroyed the island, even the roof held up, only two shingles broke off. Having been through a major hurricane before having all my shingles and paper blown off and getting my house flooded I want to protect this one as much as I can and a metal roof it is. Especially when I'm self-insured.