I am currently planning to relocate to the western side of Montana. I would greatly appreciate anyone in the construction trade who is presently working there, no matter how small a company or job you perform to give me some details as far as available work. I would prefer to work part time for a small company if at all possible. Presently I own and operate a remodeling business and would rather work for someone once I relocate. I am far more comfortable with saws, routers and hammers than with horses and cattle so please ranchers don’t get your hopes up. lol
Thanks to all who reply
Edited 9/30/2002 4:02:33 PM ET by GaryR&R
Replies
Don't worry about finding work in Montana if you know how to swing a hammer. Every god-awful Baby Boomer in the country seems to be moving here, buying sprawl lots and erecting log-cabins-on-steroids with the last of the old growth. There's plenty of work in the home-building trade.
and it all pays five bucks an hour. Lived in Great Falls for a few years. McDonalds was one of the higher paying employers in town at the time, unless you were a doctor or in the USAF.
gus'girl- what happened to you?
Let the thunder crack and the waves roar.
We're going on.
Ah yes, the voice of many words.
Let the thunder crack and the waves roar.
We're going on.
Sorry about your broken heart. That's something I can't fix tho. Strap on a new toolbelt and fill it with tools and go on. You'll feel better, but after a time. I always wanted to go to Montana too, but never did.
Nixobilly,
Can I assume you live in Montana? and if so were? I am planning a trip out to Montana next summer. Just going to scout things out. I have done detailed research on the state and of some areas. I would appreciate any first hand knowledge. From what I have learned the pay and cost of living don't add up, but I believe that is do to the fact of prices being determined on out of state people coming in with $$.
Gus'Girl,
I have all the skills and tools to building new homes and remodel old homes and I am multi-talented, having worn many hats in my life. I have never repaired a broken heart, but I do know my tender heart can sooth one.
"Whoso loves Believes the impossible"
Yes, I live in Montana. In Helena, to be precise.
And no, the wages and cost-of-living don't add up. You more or less hit it on the head: out-of-staters moving here with money and driving up costs. To be fair, many things are still affordable such as food and gasoline. It's no more expensive than the rest of the country.
However, the state deregulated its utilities a few years back and the costs of heating a home over the winter have skyrocketed. Real-estate costs are outrageous. The 2000 Census shows more Montanans work 2 jobs just to make ends meet than the workers of any other state.
On the good side, the price of a fishing license is still low--and Montana probably has the best trout fishing in the lower 48.
Living here is a trade-off. You get to actually live your life in a beautiful place filled with generally good-hearted people. The downside is you will never get rich and you have to deal with the awful scum who retire here and generally degrade the place with sprawl development, disparate income and a bad attitude.
If you're planning a trip (not a vacation, but a trip to decide where you might like to relocate) out here I would recommend you look in three areas of Montana where the greatest amount of growth is taking place and thus the greatest possibility of finding work in the home-building field: the Flathead Lake area, the Bitterroot Valley south of Missoula and Bozeman.
They are also the three most expensive places to live in Montana. Best of Luck.
Have any of you Montana people been to the Yellowstone Club. Hear you need $2 million to join. Would think that there would be some good paying jobs in that area of your fine state?
Maybe my perspective is off on "cost of living adding up to wages" as I live in one of the most expensive areas of CO and have the option to buy a studio for $150,000 or rent the rest of my time here...so when I look into real estate in the Kalispell/whitefish area, where I am thinking of moving, and see houses for $70-90,000, I think that is reasonable even if I make less than I do here...but how low exactly are wages in construction up there- say for instance in project management? Is it so low that people have a hard time buying the real estate I see?
thanks
The thing about wages in the construction field is that there's a lot a ground between the highs and the lows. Some guy working for his dad's company that focuses on $1 million-plus homes is going to do just fine. Some guy who gets hired because he claims he knows how to mud drywall won't make jack.
Unless you already know some people and have connections up here, I'd caution you about how much money you should expect to make. Especially with this recession getting worse and worse. After a few years, if your work is good and you build a solid reputation, your income will go up, of course.
Another thing to consider is that Whitefish is full of people who never left. They have uncles, cousins, friends from elementary school and people from their church all over town. And construction is probably a defacto closed shop. You gotta know the right people.
And unless you have a good-sized downpayment saved, making mortgage payments on $90k isn't fun when you're earning $10 an hour.
I don't mean to get down on your plan, it just sounds like kind of a risk to me. But then, what's the point of living if you don't take some risks, right? I would just plan to be flexible about work. In Montana, people make incredible sacrifices to live here. People with Masters Degrees have been known to bag groceries.
Beware:
It's been snowing for three days here in Western Montana and the high today is 12 degrees in Helena. Tonight's low should be 4 degrees. I had to use four-wheel-drive to get up the hill to work and it's not even November.
I love it.
NixoBilly,
I only wish I had the winters you experience back here on Long Island. I have a web site of Montana Cams which gives me a glimpse of your weather. Winter is my favorite time of the year and is the only time I really enjoy the outdoors. Up North from me is the Adirondack Mountains where conditions get server in winter. Average snow fall is over ten feet and temps could drop down to -40°. I love multi day winter back country ski trips up there. You get to enjoy the entire forest alone. One day I will experience the beautiful country that Montana has to offer. Well it's 6:30am and got to get going. Enjoy the weather!
Gary
**Happy Birthday**
I don't ask God for much, so therefore don't receive much. However, He let me share your life for a short time. During this time you made an everlasting impression, leaving fingerprints on my heart and memories of *gold*.
Live life with intensity. Follow your dreams.
If I had one wish to give you on this special day, it would be *Montana*.
Knowing you was my pleasure.
As I exit your life, I whisper; "goodbye to you my good friend" - Augustus McCrae
This is kind of an old thread, but I am in need of a good carpenter (or two) who is "Montana bound."
Gonna teach them the finer points of arbitration ?
; ) A good heart embiggins even the smallest person.
Quittin' Time
Now that's funny... Not nice but funny!