We were picking up a tool at the local rental shop on Saturday, and asked the fellow working there “how’s business — is the economic situation hurting you?” And he said “for sure. All the people (e.g. contractors) we talk to say they’ve got work through mid-November, but after that, nothing. Their phones aren’t ringing.”
This is in Bellevue, WA, just east of Seattle.
Just wondering how things are elsewhere?
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Pretty close to you geographically here... I know some guys with a fair bit of work (most of it signed a while back) and some guys with nothing. I know some with projects either tabled or cancelled midstream. With the fecal material hitting the ventilation device like it has, no one is waving money around.
What's a backlog?
Seriously, one week.
I am booked about 4 mos. out (very busy for me). I've been turning work away, but don't want to hire help with this economy.
Several contractors here have hung up the tool belts though.
I'm fortunate to be booked up for a couple of years with clients that already have the money in hand. All word of mouth. I have not advertised in about ten years. I'm in a very rural area. I was turning stuff away, but had to put the major project off till spring, so may take on a new thing or two to get through the winter. Now if the major project falls away, I'll be in trouble, but she has the all funding in CD's. We were going to do the foundation work this fall, but she was nervous about having the project open over the winter, and the design is not yet fully developed, so it is just as well.Steve
I mostly repair and replace windows and doors, so most jobs are two days or less. This is seasonal also, so it's hard to say going into this fall. I mostly have a 3 to 4 week backlog, but I fit smaller stuff in, here and there, to make people happy.....broken windows and stuff.Now I'd say I have a 2 to 3 week backlog. Less calls, definitely. Google Analytics says my website hits are way down, so people don't seem to be googling window and door work in this area.I've been pouncing on every lead, quoting, and trying to get the order at a faster pace.So, we'll see what happens!.View Image
We're moderately busy. This time of year we would typically be 2 or 3 weeks out, but we're roughly 10 days at the moment. And that's AFTER they shut down one of our 3 plants. We're still doing quotes and still plugging along. So for the time being, it looks fairy stable. Once the snow hits, all bets are off....
I am logged in, therefore I am.
"fairy stable"I won't even touch that...But I might poke at it with a stick...My work dried up in July...a couple of small jobs here and there.I am subbing for another remodeler who is quite steady.But the K&B place that was keeping me busy is slow....
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"After the laws of Physics, everything else is opinion" -Neil deGrasse Tyson
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If Pasta and Antipasta meet is it the end of the Universe???
Steve, if you ever nead a day or 2 of work email me. I have some stuff I could use a hand with
Dave
Thanks for the offer, Dave. I'll keep it in mind.Steve
Don't know. Haven't built a fire yet this season.
Slim to moderate. I have about 2 months in front of me. I do have a big extremely high end job (not counting that in the 2 months,) that I'm pret-ty sure is gonna come through, and that will take me well into the spring & summer. Not counting my chickens though.
Frammer said in a post some weeks back that you should never stop trying to get work, even when things are flush.
Sound advice that.