JB,
to answer this specifically, I spent probably $40,000,000 to $50,000,000 in building out space for biz, residential improvements, all using State Licensed contractors over the past 15 years, it was a constant on going thing, not a build it and use it-finished done. We were constantly adapting our business offices to fit the needs of our business-we had about 50,000 sqft. Also owned apt buildings and a 80 door Motel(still own that one). I've had about 100,000 sqft of residential dozen living space for myself over that period of time I again had licensed contractors do the work. thats my credentials in vegas alone.
In LA i have almost 10,000 sqft house, which as usual im getting work done on.
Before I moved to Vegas in 91ish I had 2 retail stores I leased as gray shell space and built them out in norcal. So point is i'm far from being a GC but I know my around the trades a bit.
In Vegas universally when you have anything built, work done by any trade based in Vegas you will get the wood put to you-some way some how. I warned Larry about this. The casino's that go up real fast have "juice" and their own inspectors which is a enormous help. the tradesmen who live/work in Vegas are 90% drunk and degenerate gamblers, they are late, no-show, do shobby work and their contractor bosses are just as bad. The smartest thing we could do for jobs was bring in the Trades from LA to do the job and put them in a hotel, that works for a week or two until they get board and go out after that they are shot too.
in stark contrast in LA I make a few calls, get bids and quality work, its a breeze. there is noplace more difficult to get anything done that Vegas, they steal all toe tools too. go to a vegas pawn shop and youll see 40 Saz-Alls in the back(or what they are called).
Even after all those years experience I got robbed for $325,000. I hired a contractor to put in a floor inside a building that had 35' tall lid, so i could have double the sqst. I checked with the contractors board, clean for 27 years. I was making progress payments(I was in Germany so I didnt get verification of work & was in bad shape with my back). Not much work was done, a sub didnt get paid for the steel $140,000 and called me, i knew i was in trouble I had cut that check 3 -4 weeks before hand. In the end he clipped a bar for $700K and me for $325K left town to Utah never to be seen again, no recourse for me. That was a exception cause of the collapse, for a total loss like that. but along the way only once did I have a guy that was ok a electrician, however he robbed my biz partner for $25,000 for work on his house.
its the wild wild west there and even tho i was there for 20 years, didnt matter-nobody can fade it there. I saw Larry getting screwed long before he did and warned him, I wanted to be wrong but i wasnt. Nobody but casino's can get it right in Vegas. they are all bad.
