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For the last two years I have been working in north county doing home repair, and got my contractors license in Nov 01, I live in Chula Vista now and have done heavy advertising and the phone is ringing, Estimates all over, in order to survive I believe I need 40 an hour, I have done 25 estimate and no call backs, is the border killing my business, the cost of living is high here but it seems the wages are still in the 60’s I’m freaking out ! how low do I go? Has anybody had a simular experience? I’m even looking for work with other home repair and remodelers. But can’t seem to get anything going, maybe I’m getting ahead of myself and have new business jitters. Help me out here please. Joe
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joepet,
Sounds like you're doing what I amwas doing...marketing to the wrong crowd. If your phone is ringing and you're doing estimates, yet no one is wanting the work done, they're not who you want to be selling to.
Seek out a higher market where folks want to pay for your services, not those that want a "good deal".
I know where you are at with your business position as I'm there too!
Mike
*Joepet:I agree with Mike. You may be marketing to the wrong crowd. I haven't lived in SD in a while, but my guess is that you will have more high-end customers in Pt. Loma, Coronado, La Jolla-Del Mar-Rancho Santa Fe & North, than you will in Chula Vista. Also, re-read some of the threads about setting your price (overhead & profit...). $40/hr sounds low. Jason
*Chula Vista boy do I remember that town. I would say that yes you are probably being hurt by where you live. The people from over the border are probably working for your competition. In turn the competition can charge a lower bid. I agree with the last post. Head north. Escondido, La Jolla, Oceanside etc. I am only a wife of a GC, but I know San Diego (haven't been there in 11 years now I am in NC). I have friends that have done work in San Diego and most work north. $40.00 sounds high to me here in the mountains that would be a killing, but in San Diego I would say you are right and that is too low. Sounds like things are going like crazy in San Diego, so there should be plenty of work everywhere. Tamara
*that's all I needed were your three replys, I talked it over with my family and we're moving to oceanside thanks, the only reason I really moved down this way was my wife has family in the area, tough!
*hope you're not quoting a per/hour rate...brian
*Be sure to come back sometime and let us know how it goes. Tamara
*Yea maybe you ought to look a little more north or over towards Ramona. I havent been that way in a few years but there was some high end building going on out that way.