How's Business??

Mud Master

I'm sitting here watching myself get snowed in for the day and was curious how is the winter for everyone?

I know this time of year alot of people tend to slow down, what about you?

Personally this has been the slowest year since I started business, but i'm still busy!(Knock on wood) and i've talked to alot of other contractors that have said the same thing, that this winter has been the worst for them.

So what about you? are you swamped?busy?steady?slow?dead? and do ya think its just the time of year or just the area and economy your in?

I'm from Maryland myself.

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CheckmateOhio

Worst year I have had in 15 years.

Mud Master

That bad?

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CheckmateOhio

We have lost a lot of factories here in Ohio including a Ford plant, and a steel mill. There are literally thousands of homes being forclosed on. ( I went to a forclosure auction in Cleveland back in decamber and for that auction there was 1400 houses just in that county)
There are homes for sale everywhere just sitting. I bought a newer home last summer. I have not even listed my old house for sale yet because I know the economy is so bad.
We have had 3 national companies (Pulte, U.S. Homes, and Kimball Hill) have stopped building and pulled out of Ohio.
A G.C. I know went to apply for a building permit in a city that was booming the past few years. The building dept. told him that he was the second person this year to apply for a permit.
So Yes It Is That Bad. The good news is it HAS to get better......I Hope.

Mud Master

Yeah, no where to go but up! I know Pulte is building alot of communities here, I had a ITB from them for a 30 home sub-division.

May want to think about doing some traveling if things don't get better. There is alot of work here, it is just moving slow. Alot of guys here are having trouble keeping thier men busy. Some are slow because they just don't have any work coming in, but most of them have work, it's just that none of it is moving. It's like it's all at a stand still

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Magnettica

I am not self-employed and have been out of work since December. Since then I've done a few side jobs here and there and I go to school 3 times a week at night. I'm not too worried about this slow period because there's always something that needs to be done.

dirt diggler

if everyone didn't undercut eachother to begin with ... they'd be able to set aside some money to be used in slower times ...

lawndart

I've been steadily working since the begining of January. Booked out almost 2 months. Alot of guys around here are complaining about it being slow also. I guess I've just been lucky.

lawndart

Or you can marry a SUGAR MOMMA like I did. Having a wife who is a Registered Nurse helps when times are bad. $40 an hour plus great benefits, and retirement. To top it all off, she only works 3 days a week.

dougchips

You married a lazy one, how about the other 4 days? She could get a 2nd full time that would equal $160,000 per year and you would be set for retirement. That figure does not include the 7th day, if she pulled a double she could end up with $200,000 a year.

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Mud Master

Doug, did you actually sit there and calculate that?? LMAO

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lawndart

lol Doug. I'm gonna show her this post later and see how she reacts . Seriously though, she works 12 hour shifts each day. She just happens to get her time in, in 3 days. When times are slow I've got that woman working 5 days. So it all balances out . I haven't had the need to crack that whip lately though.

dougchips

Bored, waiting for a 545pm meeting. hourly rate (40) x2 and add some zeros and you have an annual rate. 50 an hour = $100,000.

Not sure if you remember the show "In living color" with the Jamican people working 20 jobs. Have her watch the show she might pick up an idea or two on how to make your life easier. I have no idea how you let her get away with it

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To get the best replacement windows, or sun rooms contact the replacement windows experts at FHI Vinyl Window Company.

lawndart

Thats was one of my favorite shows back in the 90's Doug. Quite a few comedians emerged from that show to go on and have highly successful careers.

Mud Master

Wayans Bros. Sinbad(I think I can't remember), and that one chick.

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Mud Master

Wow, has this thread EVER gotten off topic!

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lawndart

Don't forget Jim Carey. OK back on topic now.

lawndart

The best thing to do when a slow period hits, is to get out there and pound the pavement. I will never sit home, because I want to feel like I'm giving 100% effort into building my company all the time.

Carry a stack of cards with you. I've found alot of work just by chatting with people in the local Deli, Car Wash, Bank, and any other places I've been to. Everyone always knows someone that needs work done. One of my favorite spots is actually in Home Depot, or Lowes. I'm forever picking up jobs while I'm there.

Network with the other trades on your jobsites. I always find the time to spend a few minutes passing my card, and taking theirs for future use. I've given, and received plenty of work from this practice.

Calling your previous customers is a good thing also. With all of that said, remember that there is a ton of work out there, you just need to keep a positive attitude and go get it. It's not rocket science. Spend every free moment you have trying to market your company. Good luck to you, I truly hope things get better.

Mud Master

Things aren't in the chitter for me, I got plenty of work. I mean i'm slow for me, usually I have a 2 or 3 month backlog. Right now I have maybe a 3 week backlog, but I still got things to do everyday. I don't advertise for work, I don't do any home improvement. I stay swamped with my group of builders. Although I tell ya I get plenty of work at my local deli if I wanted it. Every morning I go in for coffee and someone asks me to do something. I just politly thank them and respectfully decline.

I'm just curious how it is in other parts of the country and how everyone else is as far as work goes, and how some cope with the slow time. Some guys I know enjoy getting a break, others are losing hair.

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dirt diggler

im kinda pessimistic about it in general ---

you can be backlogged for 6 months ...

but ... that's just for 6 months


yeah, that's a bad way of looking at it

but there's been times i got so busy i stopped calling people back

BAD MOVE!!!