Here are six tips from Maryam Sarreshteh:
1. Get three or four bids for each job. You'll be surprised at how different they are.
2. Being a general contractor is a full-time job, so make sure you have the time.
3. Try to consider every single item you'll need when getting bids from subcontractors, or else the price could triple later. "We laughed about how any tiny thing can now cost $500," she said.
4. If Sarreshteh does it again, she'll include contract late fees regarding completing projects by a certain time.
5. It's a very intense job, and you're working with a large number of people. "Keep your smile and positive energy when mistakes happen," she said. "Resolve problems in peace."
6. It's smart to have a handyman and carpenter you can count on — like her friend Israel Mendoza Gomez.
