Author Topic: getting miles from rebuilding my house (Read 3566 times)

Reuven E · « **on:** February 09, 2014, 10:15:21 PM »

Hi everyone, my story starts last June when I had a fire in my house (Baruch Hashem we were not home!) As the long process of insurance is coming to a point where they should be sending the first portion of the money for rebuilding my house, I wanted to see if anyone had some good ideas on how I can get miles out of this. It is a rather large project. Without posting the exact amount, I will say that it is over $500,000. I currently have cc accounts with amex rewards plus, capital1 and us bank(has advantage). Any advice as far as which one of my existing cc's to use most and/or is there a different cc that you would advise me to sign on with for this project.
Thank you in advance for any helpful advice.
Reuven

meshugener · « **Reply #1 on:** February 09, 2014, 10:30:24 PM »

Quote from: Reuven E on February 09, 2014, 10:15:21 PM

Hi everyone, my story starts last June when I had a fire in my house (Baruch Hashem we were not home!) As the long process of insurance is coming to a point where they should be sending the first portion of the money for rebuilding my house, I wanted to see if anyone had some good ideas on how I can get miles out of this. It is a rather large project. Without posting the exact amount, I will say that it is over $500,000. I currently have cc accounts with amex rewards plus, capital1 and us bank(has advantage). Any advice as far as which one of my existing cc's to use most and/or is there a different cc that you would advise me to sign on with for this project.
Thank you in advance for any helpful advice.
Reuven

apply for the UA Club card, you'll end up with 750k UA miles.

menachem_m · « **Reply #2 on:** February 09, 2014, 11:00:05 PM »

I believe Amex has a Lowe's business card.

jj1000 · « **Reply #3 on:** February 09, 2014, 11:09:33 PM »

Talk to rots5 just went through the same thing.

Dan · « **Reply #4 on:** February 09, 2014, 11:11:31 PM »

Buy home depot or Lowes gcs from m Staples on Chase Ink?
Gonna need lots of Ink cards though...

menachem_m · « **Reply #5 on:** February 09, 2014, 11:17:19 PM »

And lots of staples.

BigDanFan · « **Reply #6 on:** February 09, 2014, 11:57:52 PM »

Quote from: menachem_m on February 09, 2014, 11:00:05 PM

I believe Amex has a Lowe's business card.

In addition, I'd try to pay some of the bills with new, referred SPG cards to get some bonus points.
(Good for hotel stays for some of the weeks/weekends while they're still building..)

meshugener · « **Reply #7 on:** February 10, 2014, 12:48:38 AM »

Quote from: BigDanFan on February 09, 2014, 11:57:52 PM

In addition, I'd try to pay some of the bills with new, referred SPG cards to get some bonus points.
(Good for hotel stays for some of the weeks/weekends while they're still building..)

again with the referral. I said stop.

Reuven E · « **Reply #8 on:** February 10, 2014, 08:25:45 PM »

Thank you all for your helpful advice!

Moishel · « **Reply #9 on:** February 10, 2014, 08:28:45 PM »

Quote from: meshugener on February 09, 2014, 10:30:24 PM

apply for the UA Club card, you'll end up with 750k UA miles.

Why UA club over all other cards?

meshugener · « **Reply #10 on:** February 10, 2014, 08:35:39 PM »

Quote from: Moishel on February 10, 2014, 08:28:45 PM

Why UA club over all other cards?

Because you get 1.5 PPD.

Reuven E · « **Reply #11 on:** February 10, 2014, 08:49:32 PM »

What do you think about the Citi Bank Executive American AAdvantage promotion? I shouldn't have any problem reaching the threshhold

CS1 · « **Reply #12 on:** February 10, 2014, 08:52:35 PM »

Quote from: Reuven E on February 10, 2014, 08:49:32 PM

What do you think about the Citi Bank Executive American AAdvantage promotion? I shouldn't have any problem reaching the threshhold

+1
It will depend on whether or not your contractors take credit cards.. Also, as Dan said:

Quote from: Dan on February 09, 2014, 11:11:31 PM

Buy home depot or Lowes gcs from m Staples on Chase Ink?
Gonna need lots of Ink cards though...

.... if you get the building tools, materials, tile, carpet, appliances from Lowe's yourself,
then what you do it use the Lowe's GCs that you bought at Staples, Office Depot, or OM,
and then you get 5X the points on your Chase Ink UR (+the 50K bonus sign-up points)

Reuven E · « **Reply #13 on:** February 10, 2014, 08:56:43 PM »

My contractor said he will let me pay his fees with my cc. He is also willing to purchase building materials as well as pay the sub contractors with my credit cards (until the plastic melts)

CS1 · « **Reply #14 on:** February 10, 2014, 09:05:44 PM »

Quote from: Reuven E on February 10, 2014, 08:56:43 PM

My contractor said he will let me pay his fees with my cc. He is also willing to purchase building materials as well as pay the sub contractors with my credit cards (until the plastic melts)

+1
perfect! So, do you have a business that you can apply for a Chase Ink Bold (or 2-3) wife, teen child/sibling...?
You can get 300,000 Chase UR points from just the cost of a few appliances via purchasing GCs from office supply stores!
Here are 2 sample threads -- of Dan's: http://www.dansdeals.com/archives/26402
http://www.dansdeals.com/archives/39612

Reuven E · « **Reply #15 on:** February 10, 2014, 09:11:25 PM »

My wife and I are both co founders and administrators in a special needs school. Can we use a business card for personal purchases?

menachem_m · « **Reply #16 on:** February 10, 2014, 09:18:10 PM »

Seriously, how practical/smart is it lugging around $50,000 or $150,000 of Gift cards? $:-\$

Even if you break it down into 5 or 10 parts, that just mean you gotta head out to Staples AND Lowe's that many times.

CS1 · « **Reply #17 on:** February 10, 2014, 09:23:59 PM »

Quote from: menachem_m on February 10, 2014, 09:18:10 PM

Seriously, how practical/smart is it lugging around $50,000 or $150,000 of Gift cards? $:-\$

Even if you break it down into 5 or 10 parts, that just mean you gotta head out to Staples AND Lowe's that many times.

300k UR points can be earned by spending only $30K in GCs (x5 = 150K points) and 150K in bonus points from 3 ink cards

so, only spending $30K in gcs would be 2 ovens, 2 dishwashers, 2 sinks, cabinets, tile, and carpet.

menachem_m · « **Reply #18 on:** February 10, 2014, 10:00:25 PM »

I'm not sure if you caught my point.
I'm not suggesting that it would be hard to do the spending /get the points, I'm saying it might not be safe walking down the street with that sort of cash.

Crazy tools · « **Reply #19 on:** February 10, 2014, 10:21:19 PM »

Most people building or remodeling a home do not get any thing from Lowes or Home Depot. They usually get better quality and cheaper by using local dealers (at least in NY NJ)
Don't think the gift card idea is a good one.