Contractors are not all that bad and 30$ an hour is cheap to deal with the filth usually found in old houses. Most of them only want to deal with new dwellings with reason. And don't forget that the prices they charge don't reflect their take on the job. Only a percentage is their wages, the rest is the materials they have no control of, (I admit that some take a big cut there) and numerous visits to drive to and fuel to get there.
BTW, how much does a P. charge by the hour to deal with the filth in our brains?