Anyone running out yet………………
Been thru it when my daughter was sick……………slowly running out of money………and having to take smaller and smaller jobs that paid quicker……..but usually less money………….until finally I was doing little more than subcontracting day jobs………….becuase there was no oney in my personal account and barely enough to get the truck and tools to work for a week.
ANYWAY…………need a few things done around my place…………but it seems as if a lot of the usual suspects ahve moved to smaller hit and run jobs that don;t pay much but pay right away………………………………..and a lot of them have the symptoms of running out of money.
Replies
it's starting to really hit everyone i know
Been struggleing since Nov.
Back went south on me, weather sucked, and main customers scaled back.
Got a busted van and barely enough $$ to fix it.
Sucks.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
"If Brains was lard, you couldn't grease much of a pan"
Jed Clampitt
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I said Im down to seeds and stems in front of my daughter. She said, Hey Dad what did you just say???. Never mind its just a saying i heard once i am not sure what it means;]
BTDT.
Planted a BIG garden with the seeds I did have..LOL.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
"If Brains was lard, you couldn't grease much of a pan"Jed Clampitt
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Eet grow right out of de ground, mon.
Seeds and stems? I don't get it.
Just pulling your chain. I'm from BC.
Down to clones and stems again?
Things have been a bit slow here. Between the strong Canadian dollar, increased border security and less digressionary spending to the south. Still managed to beat forestry and tourism for the number one industry in the Province.
LOL!
Family.....They're always there when they need you.
i think the honeymoon period for the economy is coming to an end for a big chunk of people. Unemployment, retirement/Roth/401K accounts and savings will be exhausted soon. Kind of like that giddy feeling before a hurricane hits.
Hate saying it, but i'm predicting an ugly summer and fall.
Kind of like that giddy feeling before a hurricane hits.hurricane repair only thing keep us running, we are kinda praying for another hurricane.
Yeah they're praying for one somewhere else, just not where I live.
robert,
I probably will run out around the end of August as the two good jobs I had are coming to an end and the phone isn't ringing for future ones. I am also going to school and tuition and books are outrageous so thats buring alot of my cash.
Mike
I did. DanT
I'm taking up the slack for my son-in-law, who was unemployed for about two months. He's finally landed a job, finally gets his first paycheck next Friday. A couple of years ago, I would have been critical of him for being out of work - now, I understand. They're newly married, and there are guys with three kids out there competing for the job he was looking for.
Changing oil at Wal Mart ain't so bad after all.
My money seems to disappear very quickly these days, and it's been that way for about a year. I had to really struggle to pay property taxes last year, now December is looming pretty large once again.
Greg
Same here, my SIL managed to QUIT his electrician job, with a wife and 2 kids..and NO plan, or savings. I wanna strangle him.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
"If Brains was lard, you couldn't grease much of a pan"Jed Clampitt
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For you guys in Georgia,
Ft Benning is currently experiencing a building boom.
Not sure how hard it is to get in, but they have like 300 homes to build yet.
explain this idea of "capital"?
I've heard tell of such things.
Luckily ... things are as normal as ever here.
IE ... no capital!
didn't start with any, never had any ... now that everyone else is in a panic, I'm on cruise control. Can't miss what ya never had.
Jeff
Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
robert
I have plenty of work.
yesterday I came home to about 4 messages about work.
June is shaping up to be too much work and not enough time.
But then smaller and smaller jobs that paid quicker........is all we have ever done for the last 20 years.
I always figured I would move up to the bigger jobs, until I realized the guys in new construction were cutting each other's throats, and then they got stung out by the HO or the bank on payments.
So I stayed with smaller more profitable, quick paying jobs.
Just the view from IA.
Rich
>>So I stayed with smaller more profitable, quick paying jobs.
I might oughta print that out in reverse and tape it to my forehead, so I see it every morning.
david
My old boss told me (about 20 years ago) the guys in his home town were out of work. That meant they were reduced to doing remodeling jobs.
Sometimes the attitude is that bigger is better and new construction is where the successful guys work.
I still think that, but the fact of the matter is that cash flow is more of a problem and everybody wants a piece of the action. So they are more competive, but may not always know their costs real well because they want to work where they percieve it is more profitable.
Have a good day David
Rich
Hey cargin-glad to see things are good for you.Every year some of my leanest times are when I take on a big(for me anyway) job for somebody who has plenty of money.I have to piece together a bunch of small jobs from broke folks like me to keep the lights on while fat cats go through payment process.I always thought I could outsmart the system by scheduling my billing better, but some bean counter in an office somewhere always throws a wrench in the works.If Gladys in payables doesn't write checks until the 25th, then there is no force on earth that's going to get you a check. On the other hand, I've had people who saved for a new $150 steel door for a year insist on stuffing their cookie jar money in my tool belt while I was tearing the old one out.
Craig
I would rather hang storm doors for old ladies than try to get money out of the national office of some retail chain.
I have been strung out for months by those folks. And for little repairs. And then later some one will call wanting to know if the work really needed to be done.
I am helping a church right now deal with an insurance office. Their insurance estimator was below cost on almost every item, and that didn't even acount for markup or labor.
I have my money, but the church is still wrangling over the final payout.
Rich
Every year, I bump some jobs to do a rush job for some local government entities, then fight for money that's been in their budget for a year.This year I said no and it's been an enjoyable summer.
Craig
I've been down that road.
Local Mental Health office sent our proposal for bids.
Remodel office while they stay in the office.
Work to be finished within 6 weeks of getting the proposal, not accepted, just from the date it showed up in my mailbox.
Would prefer we work on weekends.
Payment schedule to be negociated.
List of materials to be approved by local inspector.
and sign confidentialty pledge.
I thought, life is too short for this, in the trash
Rich
..Sounds all too familiar. We should put in a bid that's triple and do the job, but it'd still be a pain.
Craig
They called back and wanted to know if I was interested in the project. City owns the building.
I already know the city is a slow payer. They do not pay anything up front.
And if you get in the wrong part of the payment schedule it can add a month to the wait time.
I have too much work to chase after jobs like that.
Rich
I agree. A guy gets tied into those things and ends up hating what he does for a living.
June is looking good if I can wrangle gas money to get to the jobs. Seriously, I had to break into the remaining change for tomorrows morning Slurpee. At least the collection agencies give me someone to talk to on the way to work everyday.:>(
Family.....They're always there when they need you.
I had to break into the remaining change for tomorrows morning Slurpee.
Old habits die hard....
I still empty my change into a jar like I'm sving it for the day no paycheck comes in.
I've always saved change. Used to travel for work and i'd come home every weekend with a bagfull.
Family.....They're always there when they need you.
Hi Robert,I'm OK because I've got a whole-house remodel/addition job that'll will probably take about 12-18 months that will be starting in July. But it's on a handshake, albeit one that we've been working on for a couple of years now. I was supposed to start last fall but but homeowner got cold feet getting too close to winter. She's got the cash in hand. Has had a loan for the project sitting in the bank for years. I am finally getting the decks cleared of everything else so we can concentrate 100 percent on it for a while to instill trust.But if that job fell through, I would be out of money fast. I started my own LLC two years ago with 2K in the biz bank account. I've got it built up to about 15K now, but that would disappear n a heartbeat without money coming in.Steve
Looking like the switch I made last June to rejoin the dark side of corporate engineering was a lucky call.
It's interesting, because someone here (JeffBuck?) said once that being self-employed is like interviewing for a job every day.
I'm more aware of that than my fellow corporate lemmings; I tend to think of being productive of tangible output every day, because of my near-decade as the sole guy in my company.
Frankly, I'm kickin' dey butts.
Plus, I'm nice and clean and cool and not sweaty and gross at work.
Forrest - traitor
you may not be sweaty...
doesn't mean you can't be gross
<G>
Edited 6/5/2009 7:13 pm ET by Shep
Admit it,
You miss it.
I still do...........but not enough to jump into the ring with the current champs of cutthroat bidding going on around my area.
A related question is how much do I have to have ratholed before being fairly confident I won't run out of capital?
Thirty years ago, before I got married if I had a grand tucked aside that would take care of any medical problems, new transmissions etc.
Now it seems like a have an almost unlimited exposure to the things that crop up just when you think you can take a breather.
Over the perspective of the long haul, very few people aren't broke.
I think you just hit the nail on the head.
Like I said, I need a few things done and can actually afford to pay for them.......But the guys I know and would like to have do them have scaled back so much that they aren't equiped or capable any more.
One's wife even admitted that he wanted the work, but was embarrased to ask for the bulk of the money up front...........Like I would have cared.
In the early 90's I know guys in New Jersey who sat it out for as much as a year......and still had a few bucks left to get back in the game.
But this time, a lot of guys I know are just packing it in, having reached the bottom of the piggy bank.
The increased cost of business, the slimmer profit margins and a large list of "Essentials" to pay for seems to have taken their toll.
I did and then we just sold 60k worth of roofs this week and expect to sell 60k next week too.
jim
so you are going into the roofing business?
If framing is taking a dive then a guy will do whatever pays the bills.
Rich
Yes, I am now 100% doing roofing. I've partnered up with a young successful business man that I've spoken about several times here in various business threads. His name is Don Anthony and I can safely say that he is a very talented business man that can sell. I'm riding his coattails right now for the mentoring period.
Our website is at Donanthonyroofingusa.com
jim
St Clair MI ????
What is going to be your role?
Are you going to be a project manager.
If I remember right you don't have the back to be doing the roofing yourself do you?
congratulations on the new move and God Bless
Rich
jim....don't forget to work on your golf gameMike Hussein Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
Mike, that is one of my mini goals for the season. I'm sure I'm going to be a bit overwhelmed right now and I'll be trying to streamline the office stuff so I can find some time.
I'm heading up the Texas division. I'll be anchoring Austin but I'll be looking for people in all the major cities in the Central Texas area.
You are correct, I will not be installing any of the shingles personally. There is far too much back office stuff to do when you are rolling those kinds of numbers.
The whole roofing thing both intruiges me and scares the hell out of me all at the same time.
There always seems to be decent roofers available who don't have the interpersonal or sales skills to seel the jobs.
SO a good salesman and manager coud make decent money.
But ya gotta know about roofing....or at least hire someone who does.
I worked for large roofing company in several different capacities. We had every job within 75 miles wrapped up.new...reroof....commercial................and eventually the company got too big.
It outgrew the available supply of competent roofers and/or job supers/foremen.
And now the owner is tied up in lawsuits that go all the way back to the 80's.
Be careful out there.
I have two remodels coming up that include roof replacement, and a third roof that I could sell if I simply priced and presented it. Problems are, carps that I work with don't want to do a lot of roofing, and my insurance company REALLY doesn't want me doing much. These jobs require showing up with a fair amount of manpower and either a dump truck or trailer. They're not a great fit for me (typical remodeling company) but we can do some if we have to.
I like the part about wrapping up all the jobs within 75 miles.
As far as knowing about roofing....I read the wrapper LOL!
Don is a Master Roofer as recognized by GAF. I will be doing everything that I can to get certified in any of the training programs offered by the manufacturers...time permitting.
You should be intrigued. You need not be scared. Its "only" a roof.
I'm an outsider--just a would-be homeowner, trying to get my prospective builder to prepare the doggone contract so we can sign it already. Was gonna ask if you folks are all in small towns, but I'm in Atlanta, GA and builders are all going under here, so it's not like a bigger market necessarily yields more business."MY" builder is the third one we've tried in almost 3 years now. All highly recommended, clients loved them. First one lied in a major way, apparently to get the business. Said let him design my house, like a trial marriage. Then if we liked his design, he'd build it. We get ready to sign on the line for the design and the Agreement also binds us to him building it. Called my lawyer, who said 'no way'. Trust was broken; besides, when I told him we'd get a real designer and would he like to build it, he pouted and said no. Good riddance. Big name archy here recommends him; 3 of his clients loved his work.Second builder went bankrupt before we got the contract details even worked out. Cost us six months time and $7500. he was to spend on a draftsman and survey. We got a survey and the surveyor coming after us for his bill. We were low on the list of creditors going after a handful of nothing.Current, #3. Great guy. Not to mention, only true custom builder I can find in this entire city, apparently. Doing a negotiated bid; working on it with him since Feb 08. Early Feb. 09 gave him final plans and specs we'd agreed on. He'd already gotten bids from subs for most everything; promised a final price in 2 weeks. Got that price 11 weeks later. It was $75K over what we were expecting. Had a freaking heartattack (just kidding, but I could have). Had a mortgage approval in writing, BTW, just waiting on him.3 days later I gave him plan & spec changes to reprice. Call the mortgage lender to ask if he knows any other financially sound custom builders; says not really--they're all dried up. #3 says he'll have a new price in 2 weeks.5 weeks later he schedules a meeting to discuss new price. I said, if it's under $650K, just bring the contract ready to sign. He says it is. During the 5 weeks, BTW, he's gone to Europe to a conference, and gone out of town parts of 2 other weeks, at least 1 on vacation.He cancels the planned meeting 2 hours before it's due, last week. Says both his Project Mgr. and a Site Super are on vacation, so it'll push him to get the contract ready. I guess so. Oh, and his house was broken into the night before while he was out with friends. (Which I confirmed with a cop I know in his county). And can I please give him till next week, and he'll meet with me anytime at my convenience.Now, I know I'm not his most important client. That would be the big archy whose personal residence he's currently building, followed by the media mogul he's doing a remodel for. I assume he wants my pocket change, though, or he wouldn't have kept spending time. He just doesn't NEED it. Why don't I drop him? Only because I know he does fine work, and is honest, and I can't bear to start over. And there are no other custom builders available that I can find. So, this current housing problem is a problem for us homeowners too. Think he'll show up with the contract on Monday???
Edited 6/6/2009 12:26 pm ET by MtnBoy
I think if you thought he was honest you wouldn't be questioning a cop about did his house really get broken into.
and about the first guy, most design builders i know require you to use them if they design it they disclose that up front just as he did, no big deal.
did it ever occur to you it could be something you are doing not them?
could be why he keeps putting you off, and the price was $75,000.00 ,more to make it worth the headaches
geesh, mtnboy....sure wish i was in your neck of the woods.... sounds like a nice project
we're design / build.... our contract says you can have anyone you want build it... BUT
they can't use our plans.... (liability reasons )... so you pay us for the design.... but we're the only one who can build from the plans.... my thinking is ... we own the liability if we build it... but i don't want to be liable if someone else builds it
i think you haven't found the right builder yet.... a $650K house is a nice project... don't let this builder use you as a doormatMike Hussein Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
Thanks. I think it's a pretty interesting project for a builder, especially since I've been very open to incorporating his ideas. It'll be "green", which might be a PITA to some builders, but this guy builds that way all the time and it's a point of pride. He's undertaking a LEEDs Silver home for the archy I mentioned.Wish you were here too. In this economy, I'm happy to be putting some money out there to support guys whose work I admire. A local cabinetmaker will be making all my cabinetry, including the cases. Stuff like that. Craftsmanship; love it.
have fun... no reason you and the builder can't see eye-to-eye
what did ronnie usta say ?... "trust but verify"Mike Hussein Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
"trust but verify
sorry to disagree with you mike ,if you are verifying you are not trusting.
simple as that you can't have it both ways but i would say some times you must verify before you can trust but not vise versa
Good point. But I had reached the point where I was starting to doubt my own intuition about him. I was really not trusting myself. That's when I decided I'd better verify. If he'd lied, I'd have ended the business relationship right there. You know, the question was had I misplaced my trust, trusted someone who wasn't trustworthy. I had to know; I've got too much skin in this game.
I understand. Hope all works out well.
Thanks. Trust is an interesting, complicated thing. Sure want this guy to come through for me tomorrow. He said his concrete sub had been begging for work. Must be somemore subs out there, and suppliers, who'd like getting some cash spread around. No point blocking that coming their way!
i know it sounds contradictory... but it works
i'm a very trusting soul... i give my trust easily
it turns out that not every one is worthy of my trust... that usually means the end of our business relationship.... or....
it means that i no longer accept their word at face-value
i base my business model on relationships... i like dealing with people whose word is their bond... but how many of the people we do business with can really fit that high standard ?
i have to remain on guard just to make sure that i remain trustworthy...
so.... i guess what ronnie was really saying iwas " i'm a trusting person.... but reality requires that i verify the facts"Mike Hussein Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
Your a good man mike!
i usually extend trust to the untrusted so that they may become trustworthy...
about 40% prove that they are... and it's never the ones you'd have bet on to be...
p
I didn't explain that what the first guy meant was that he would design it and IF we liked it, he'd build it. If not, we'd both go our own ways. Our conversation included that exact wording, which is what I meant by trial marriage.It is totally possible that I'm the problem here. But aside from that, I was trying to point out that the current housing crisis has created a problem for homeowners as well as builders and the trades. I think it pushed the first guy into the position of deceit to get the job. (I asked him about the going our own ways understanding. He said "yeah, I did say that. But since I'm not a designer I can't hold myself out as one." Whatever that meant.)Current guy just has to tell me to go away. We have nothing in writing. Why would he continue to hold these meetings and let me work to find cheaper selections, redesign for less square footage, etc.? He said he was convinced this house could be built within our budget and he'd work with us to get it there. Now I'm practically begging him to do let me sign the contract. I think he's just very, very busy and doesn't schedule his own travel or employee vacations with that in mind. He's carrying the load for all the builders who aren't in business anymore.I understand it; it's just frustrating. In a different time, I'd have several builders bidding on this project. Not now, and that's no good for any of us.
Capital,
what's that? Oh, I remember,yea capital, I have fond memories of that.
Vince Carbone
Riverside Builders
Franklin,NY
Edited 6/5/2009 8:32 am ET by VinceCarbone