RehabFAQs

how to become your own general contractor for gut rehab in chicago

by Carolyn Yundt Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago

How to get a general contractor license in Chicago?

The City of Chicago Department of Buildings will request you to provide the necessary information and documentation to accompany your application to determine if you are qualified for a general contractors license. This requires several decisions to be made by the applicant. To adequately prepare your application for a general contractors license in Chicago, you will have to: 1 Provide a description of the work and services you aim to perform. 2 Specify the classification of license you are applying for. 3 Clarify your business structure and provide additional company information. 4 Identify and verify by affidavit that the applicant or member of your business entity is financially stable. 5 Provide a certificate of insurance to the City of Chicago naming the City of Chicago as an additional insured. The insurer who provides liability insurance must also be authorized to insure in Illinois.. 6 Sign and complete application. 7 Pay all licensing fees.

What is required to register a business in Illinois?

Businesses that operate within Illinois are required to register for one or more tax-specific identification numbers, licenses or permits, including income tax withholding, sales and use tax (seller’s permit), and unemployment insurance tax. Contact the Illinois Department of Revenue for more information about business registration ...

What is the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation?

The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation provides a database to lookup and verify any professional license in Illinois by license number, business name, and personal name.

Who is Catherine Pondel?

But there are success stories out there. Catherine Pondel, a Glencoe designer with the firm Barbara Melcher Interior Design, estimates she saved "lots of money" when she acted as the general contractor for her own remodeling project four years ago.

Do it yourself homeowners?

Even homeowners with considerable do-it-yourself experience can run into difficulties with scheduling, deliveries and coordinating the work of all the subcontractors. Also, many subcontractors will charge more to a homeowner than they will a general contractor with whom they have done business before.

Who is Gwen Moran?

Gwen Moran, co-author of the forthcoming "Build Your Dream Home on a Shoestring" (Penguin, 2005), estimates that she and husband Henry Nonnenberg, a real estate app raiser, are saving between 30 and 35 percent--or $30,000 to $40,000--by acting as the general contractors during the construction of their new home in New Jersey.

Who is Joan Stephens?

Joan Stephens, president of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry in Chicago, agrees that money can be saved. But she says the tradeoff in time, aggravation and quality of the final product may not be worthwhile.

Who is Laurel Lipkin?

Laurel Lipkin, a Chicago consultant in community development and urban planning, successfully took charge of remodeling a four-flat for investment. But first she oversaw remodeling parts of her Chicago home. She took the project on because she "wanted the hands-on experience.". - Be honest about your time.

How we service business owners

Most business owners don’t own the property that they are occupying, but lease space to house their business. These businesses could include a restaurant, beauty salon, barber shop, daycare, office, and retail space. We are very experienced in these working environments and understand that improvements are costs you will bear, not the landlord.

Do you participate in the FHA 203K Renovation Loan program?

Yes. The FHA 203K FHA Program is an excellent program offered by the Federal Government through FHA approved lenders to allow first times buyers to purchase a property and renovate the home all in one loan for only 3.5% down of total cost.

About Us

We’re a licensed, insured and bonded general contractor that specializes in project oversight of redevelopment, full renovation’s and new construction projects for new and seasoned investors.

Why Choose Us

We will assist with securing lender financing and also are familiar with the 203K construction loan process.

What Our Client's Think

I found Karee' on Linkedin after interviewing and walking through the house with her and three other contractor's, I chose her team. Throughout the time that we worked with her, I never regretted my choice. From that very first meeting, Karee' paid attention to every single detail, every single thing that I mentioned that we wanted or needed.

What is contingency reserve?

A contingency reserve is a percentage of the repair/renovation amount (0%-20%) and its purpose is pay for any potential cost overruns or unexpected repair items. A contingency reserve is required for the Standard 203k but not required for the Limited 203k, but it is recommended to have one.

How long does it take to close on a 203k?

If the borrower passes the lender’s credit-worthiness test, the loan closes for an amount that will cover the purchase or refinance of the property, the remodeling costs plus any required contingency reserves, any allowable closing costs, and mortgage payments (only on Standard 203k ... up to 6 months).

Is a 203k loan the same as a 203b loan?

An FHA 203k loan is basically the same as a regular FHA (called a 203b), but with a twist. An FHA 203k loan permits borrowers to include repair/improvement money into their mortgage used to repair, improve, or upgrade their home. With this loan option, borrowers can quickly and easily tap into cash to pay for property repairs or improvements, ...

How tall should a kitchen countertop be?

The rule of thumb for estimating countertop needs in a house is: 1 Counter: 8 linear feet per 1,000 square feet of living area 2 Counter width and height: 25″ wide x 36″ high

What is a drainage system?

The drainage system consists of sewer laterals, drainage pipes and vents. It’s common for pipes in older homes to break or become clogged. Older homes have cast iron drain lines, which rust out after about 70 years. In some cases, the pipe diameter will be less than required by current codes. If you see cast iron and perform any plumbing, codes may require you to update the drain as well.

How much does it cost to repaint a house?

Estimate painting costs: A typical cost to repaint a house exterior with one coat of paint at 2 painter hours and 1gallon of paint per 100 SF (1 CSF) can cost around $160/CSF, or $1.60/SF. You will then need to add costs for height, as well as painting trim.

Do you need to paint the outside of a house?

Before doing so, one should consider whether it is necessary to paint at all, and whether a simple power wash will achieve the same effect.

What is BTU in heating?

A common update is to add forced air heating and cooling to an older home. The Btu capacity of a residential heating system depends on climate, window size and orientation, insulation and square footage to be heated.

How much does it cost to install an exterior door?

Exterior doors can cost between $200 for a basic slab door, to $2,000 for a stylish Oak or Mahogany entryway. You can expect to pay about $1,500 to cut a wall opening and install a slab door.

Can you refinish a hardwood floor?

If a wood floor is smooth and free of large cracks, refinishing may put the floor back in like-new condition. Most hardwood floors can be sanded and refinished several times.

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