I’m planning on moving to chicago sometime this summer (hopefully) and looking to move to the naperville area. I’m looking for remodeling work not new construction.
I’d like to get a feel for how things are going up there? Staying busy, slowing up?
what are the “hot spots” in the city that have a lot of work going on, the best customers etc…
also curious about the laws regarding remodeling, is a contractors license required, I assume licened plumbers and electrians what else?
anything anyone could share would be appreciated
thanks Neil
Replies
A friend of a friend just moved back down to Cincinnati from Chicago. I'll see if I can work some info down the chain about the place he used to work at.
thank you any and all info would be appreciated.
i can get you a job picking apples, sept - oct - - just outside of town (not me, a buddy)
best wishes for your move, hope all goes well for you - DOUD
Hey Neil,
Saw your post a few days ago but wanted someone in the trades to answer before I did. I'm not in the business but follow it somewhat closely. The good news is there is plenty of construction, both new and remodels.
New is mostly in the outlying areas with some teardowns in established towns. Some more than others like Hinsdale, Park Ridge. Tear down a 300k house, build a million.
Lots of remodels, additions in established areas also. Typical of other large urban areas there is older housing stock that needs upgrading. People not wanting to move out to cornfields.
The flip side business wise is a large labor pool keeping things competitive. Hispanic, Polish etc. I do not know what the rates are, hpoefully someone else can chime in.
You mentioned Naperville, nice area. It seems that the towns on the commuter train routes are doing well.
On a general note, Chicago is a great place. Everyone and everything is here. Four seasons, great cultural events, weekend getaways close by, midwestern work ethic.
Good Luck, please ask if you have more questions.
J.
thanks, the four season deal thing is nice, I've always liked that, but then I'm from the midwest..
part of the reason we picked naperville is because of the train system, that way the future wife can get to work easily... wouldn't want to make it tough on the one supporting me and all.
anyone else from Chicago out there???
"the four season deal thing is nice"
Neil,
If It's any thing like here, (and Naperville is only 2 hours to the south) It's really 6 seasons. Spring, Summer, Fall, Early Winter, Deep Winter, Late Winter.
BTW, Spring starts sometime in May, and Fall ends early October.
Jon
only 2 hours hunh?
I forsee a short road trip once I'm there...
"I forsee a short road trip once I'm there..."
Neil,
You're more than welcome. Just shoot me an e-mail after you get settled in. Plenty of room in the tepee. Oh, wait, that's Andy. LOL.
Jon
Cag,
Naperville is a HUGE suburb , 200000 + population. over two counties.
There are lots of newer, higher end homes on the south end, and plenty of older historical types centrally located. and a little bit of everything else all around.
My B.I.L. lives on the southern side along with hundreds of other white collar types, In 500-700k homes. Lots of handyman work, decks, basements, etc. With good money to be spent.
No general contractor license required in the state of Illinois, Just plumbers, electricians, and roofers.
Very easy to charge $60 hourly or up.
I live and work 1 hour north with equal rates and easily as many homes.
Naperville is out of my southern work radius. but there is some real good money work half way inbetween ( That's where I spend most of my time. )
Maybe we will cross paths,
Good luck,
Mike
Mike, I'd love to pick your brain.
the major reasons I picked naperville.
1, I know of it because one my dad's best friends owns a few car dealerships out that way, where I picked up my new truck so I'm slightly familar with the area but not really. What I do know is mainly white collar folks with upper incomes to support remodeling.
Not that I have any problem working in the average Joe's house, but if I'm going into business someday soon, I want to make sure it's in an area the people can support my business with sufficent funds, and I'd also like to do higher end work rather then lower, it's just more fun.
licensed roofers? that's a new one me
do you work for someone or run your own business? Just curious what wages are like up there?
and if you run your own show, could you give me some ideas on the insurance and comp costs for the area?
thanks.
You're gonna be a neighbor?!?! Wayyyy cool. If you need plants, I'm your, er, person.
Naperville has some old construction. So does Aurora (where I live). Elmhurst is doing things like Hinsdale and Clarendon Hills( landlocked so they are tearing down and building new but there are still remodeling opportunities). Lombard ditto but not as frenzied, yet. Oak Park has lots of remodel opportunities ESPECIALLY if you are good. Forest Park is starting to get hot. Garfield Park is down from 7 Shepherds to maybe about 4 (may take a few years to get your money back if you invest in a house).
McHenry and northern Lake County has lots of new homes as does the Plainfield area.
This is odd, 'cause I just spoke to a woman today who just moved to this area. She's working at the new Soldier Field and was wondering about a permanent house location (what areas are good etc).It IS possible! To Rhinocoat a windowbox is approx 50-75USD for a box 7-8 inches deep by 7 inches wide by 7-8ft long. Life is good.
don't mention the "New Soldier Field" it's a freaking travesty what they did to that place...
I was up Easter weekend visiting family and while I've been back a few times since it was done, this was the first chance I was able to drive past it...
what the hell were they thinking, it looks like something out of Independence Day, reminded me of what would have happened if Will Smith would have shot down one of the alien space craft, and it happened to land off kilter right at the 50 yard line..
ah...enough about that, as you can tell I'm not a fan, I loved the old place, just wish they could have come up with something a little better for the new one... the designer should have a public whipping IMO.. but there I go again.
I've got kind of a sweet set up to start, my old mans buddy has offered to "get me a job" with one of the few contractors he knows from the local small business club's he is in. so starting out with something is nice...
I can't wait to get there and start my life, Kansas is nice and all, but it's going to look better in the rear view mirror at 80mph...
as for the plants... I'm hopeless, My mom has bought me plants that "even I can't kill" and sure enough, dead... and I tried, I followed the "directions" they just die for me.
I've had my own residential carpentry co. going for six years.
Wages are very good compared to other parts of the state/country, But.. housing is not cheap. what else is new.
As far as insurance rates, Sheesh. I just switched companies, I have two full time employees $60k annual wages $1 mil liability for $875 monthly.
The roofers licensing is a joke, last time I checked It was.." Mail in a $5 dollar check, And you're licensed."
When you're ready to look for leads, let me know.
Mike
CAG! Hooray! We finally are getting you to Chicago.
On another note, for the Chicago folks who'd like to donate a little time and "do a good turn" (and who may have a knack for teaching a little about what they do and how they do it), this might be a worthy project to look into. I used to work for Cabrini Alive way back and I can tell you that 98% of the folks I met in the Green were very nice and way down on their luck.
If you are handy and can explain the simple math, science, art or physics of what you do, it would be a dream come true to some of these teachers and kids. Sounds like they are super motivated too.
jmo
JMO, would you elaborate on what their needs are. I looked at the link and am unclear what they are asking for, besides Nader trying to slam Bush and I'm not going there.
J.
CAG, my mom will be selling her 3 bdrm townhouse in Naperville this summer. Haven't listed it with a realtor yet. You interested?
I appreciate the offer, but we're going to rent for a year to scope out where we want to live, and then buy a run down house for me to play in.
Eck, forget Nadar. It's the kids I'm interested in.
As an ex-teacher, I just naturally gravitate towards the "Wouldn't it be cool if...." (especially since the kids are getting the run around from lots of folks who could help them).
As in, wouldn't it be cool if...
...a number of craftspeople held a workday (similar to "Building Together" where materials are donated by Home Depot or some such place) to help out with some of the repairs and renovations?
...cooler if the craftspeople taught some of the kids how their craft works? (There is a ton of math, science and art in carpentry, heating/cooling, plumbing, electricity, etc.)
...cooler still if the kids could participate in some of the work themselves and taught at the knee of some of these craftspeople?
That's my dream state for today. Waking up now to finishing doing this data entry and paperwork...
Yes it would be very cool to ....all of the above.
I got the impression from your first post that a program was in place and needed people to volunteer.
Are there plans for this?
J.
can't help ya with the Chicago insider info ...
but will say to drive around ... figure out which neighborhoods are the top dollar places ... and try to find work there.
You don't want to work on the average Joe's house ... he ... me ... and U .. can't afford us!
And remember ... the area you are an employee in ... is probably the area you'll get a good rep in ... and have contacts in ... so that's probably gonna be the easiest area to go FT/Self Employeed in .. so ya may as well start at the top.
At least ... move into an area that's a decent commute to the big money communities.
I can tell ya ... as of a coupla years ago ... there was a bar called "Buck's" in Wrigglyville ... as a friend moved into the area from Pgh ...
even been to Wriggleyville before? He hadn't ... thought it a great location for a yound sinlge guy to make friends and catch a ballgame ....
He was right on both accounts!
Seems Wriggleyville is an excellent place for a young single guy ... to meet other young single guys ...
that's right .... I found me a gay ber sporting the family name!
Nice place though ... all the fellows were nice to me the wife ...
even got a coupla free drinks after showing my ID .... I told them I was back and was reclaiming the family stake.
There was a place across the street called "the ManHole" ... looked like the blacked out doors could lock behind ya. .... wasn't "man" enough to try that place ... neither was the wife.
Jeff
Buck Construction, llc Pittsburgh,PA
Artistry in Carpentry
It's spelled Wrigleyville, and the whole neighborhood is not exclusively gay as you are portraying it. If you were by the Manhole, you were on a four block stretch of Halsted Street that has a number of gay bars. Wrigleyville is probably 20 square blocks and 99% of the establishments you will find in this area are not exclusively gay places. A lot of great restaurants, sports bars, and music venues.
Dude ...
relax.
JeffBuck Construction, llc Pittsburgh,PA
Artistry in Carpentry
Jeff,
I've spent my share of time in Wrigleyville (no, not like that!) and you were right on the first time. It's a nice place, but you have to watch your back, if you know what I mean...
Jon Blakemore
If you want to work in the City limits of Chicago or surrounding burbs of Cook County,TONS of work remodeling.
Second floor additions seem to be going on everywhere.
I went to work for a contractor in the late 70s who did second floors and dormers in Chicago.Mostly for Police and Firemen who had to live within the city limits.
At that time new const.was dead.
Worked steady for 5yrs!
When the BOOM came I went Union and the work was everywhere outside Cook Co.for new const.
Du Page Co.,Kendel Co.,Kane Co.
One thing I have noticed lately,and has been mentioned before,is a lot of diverse ethnic const co doing work cheap and having other co.redo or finish work that was messed-up.
People are going for the low price and learning the hard way.
As always word of mouth is the best advertising.
Luck to you and welcome to the land of the most frustrated sports fans in the world!
Hope you have longjohns and Carharts!
when my buddy first moved in ...
he thought it odd getting second looks from his coworkers ...
after he told them where he just moved to.
Then ... he figured it out.
After seeing the area around his apartment .... lotsa great old houses ... usually at better prices than the surrounding areas ... probably due to the stigma ...
that's how he ended up renting there ... paid half compared to other places .. for a bigger/batter apartment.
If I were to move to Chicago ... that's one of the first areas I'd look!
I got no prejudice when it comes to saving good money ......
JeffBuck Construction, llc Pittsburgh,PA
Artistry in Carpentry
Actually, I am not sure when your buddy moved there but that is a pretty pricey neighborhood now, Andersonville. I have done some work in that area, for straight people and gay people and I have to say that they don't mind spending the money to do everything perfect basically. "Boystown" is a great area of diversity and really good money if you can put your own opinions aside. Even the areas just north of there are now becoming pretty pricey and forcing the lifelong residents out because they can't afford the taxes anymore.
As far as work in the western suburds for remodeling I would have to say, "get into Oak Park!" If you can get in there doing work and do a great job there is plenty of work around there. I have only worked over there on one house, but it was a great area to work in. Very large homes with lots of detail work.
As far as in the city, make a name for yourself as a "fixer." There are so many guys around here bidding so low that they do such a hack job with trim it isn't even funny. People here are just like everywhere else, they try and go with a cheap price and then when the guy they hired doesn't finish or does a half baked job they need someone to fix all of his mistakes.
They bid the new construction down so low because they are running without insurance and they avoid the tax man somehow. There is a HUGE immigrant labor pool here so there is no shortage of cheap labor to keep these jobs going and the wages super low if you let them.
As far as finding a job here is the local paper that I know of in the suburbs that seems to carry alot of the ads looking for carpenters:
http://www.dailyherald.com/
good luck with the move.
kinda late for a reply CAG but heres my two cents worth.
the chicago area really has two seasons, road construction and snow.
the oak park suggestions are on the money, add forest park and river forest to the equation and a truly skilled tradesperson setting out on thier own can make a bundle AND collect it.
Licensing requirements vary from village to village but are fairly typical> proof of comp/liability ins., bond required everywhere. Comp rates amongst the highest in the country, you'd think they copied the premium numbers from license plates.
The north side of the city is great if you dont mind parking your trucks a half mile away. Pay attention to river west, bucktown, wicker park, ukrainian village, east village, tri taylor and humboldt park, all neighborhoods within the city experiencing huge growth.
I expect things slowing a little as interest rates begin to uptick, but we're still in a business climate here where clients are waiting 8-10 months in some cases to get thier projects underway.
Pulling building permits in chicago is basically a game of musical chairs, altho they claim they're trying to streamline the process, haha. Case in point: Did a 6 unit condo conversion in wicker park last year, sat in zoning for 2 months and then took another 4 to get the prints revised and approved, and this was using an expeditor.
If you need any help or advice, you can email me direct @ LMS [email protected].
Good Luck
Ed
not late at all, the move is still a few months or so off, Glad to hear the oak park area is a good place as it's close to the general area I want to live.
I know about the road and snow seasons, I lived in chicago until I was 10, and visit at least 3 times a year or so now, usually in the road AND snow season...
not looking forward to the traffic that's for sure.
CAG, I'm a remodeler with an office in downtown Oak Park. We have more work than we know what to do with, & if you're interested in contacting us, feel free. We're always looking for top-flight tradespeople, especially good carpenters. Maybe we can help each other out when you get into the area. Good luck. Greg
Greg I sent you an e-mail from here, let me know if you do not recieve it.
Neil
Hey gregb, - who are you? And CAG, what kind of work do you do? I live out on the "other side of the tracks" in OP and have been having a horrible time trying to find folks who are reliable and do good work here, and do not charge outrageous rates. Get me the 411.
10D
Tenacious, I have a company called Manor Redevelopment. We're currently in the process of finishing up our office on Oak Park ave. & Lake st. We do kitchens & baths, room additions, commercial build outs, etc. If you want to contact us, send me an email from here, or you can look us up in the phone book. Hope we can help you . Greg