Times Getting Tough In Oklahoma

joasis

I was looking at craigslist this morning, and checked the adds for skilled trades.

http://oklahomacity.craigslist.org/sks/

Used to be just a few hacks...now look at this. Amazing.

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threaderman

One of my listings is on there,Feb 4th,Plumbing & Gas Contractor.I haven't had a completed call from craigs lists in months though because my description automatically turns off cheap folks and flippers.Actually I had 3 calls last month from there that I didn't get due to price but every now and then someone actually wants quality and doesn't mind paying for it.Craigs is to me just a free listing like many of the on-line free listings.I sign up to all of it to get my name out there,and I appreciate the free listing.And come to think of it,I have bein working on a Kit.remodel that came from CL two months ago,the guy is a Navy pilot and he was looking for quality,pays the freight and is a helluva nice guy.
I try not to take it personal when people broadly say that everyone on CL is a hack.There are a lot of us that for whatever reason take all the free advertising we can get,you gotta be a fool not to.Just one good job from there can help a lot.I'm not to proud to post on there,but I don't even argue with folks about pricing or try to teach these people about quality over price,most don't get it.I just moved into Oklahoma City this past July,my business is doing well,albeit a little slow right now,but I fling crap everywhere I can because eventually it starts to stick!Networking has kept me alive,the referrals come in every day.

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Joe ---International Code Council Member

Your plumbing & gas specialist proudly serving Oklahoma City OK, Moore, Warr-acres, Norman, Midwest City, Edmond, Bethany, Forest Park

joasis

I wasn't picking on you Joe....I was making a sweeping generalization about our economy. I know a few of the framers that have adds running...and they are not hacks by a long shot.

The guy who adversities insulation services...saying he will beat any bid "substantially" kind of gets me. My son does insulation work, and if he cut his prise any, he would be giving the product away...and he does not buy locally, he gets a semi trailer load at a time from the manufacturer.

There are a bunch of adds in the farm section for builders erecting steel building for less then I can buy the steel....now we know they get what they pay for....but wow, this is ridiculous.

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rbsremodeling

I went to an estimate yesterday 30K job. 6 Contractors there all at the same time. 2 of them where the really big boys. They where trying to get the guy to sign a contract on the spot

Couple of years back most of these companies would not have even showed up to a job this small and in this neck of the woods. It was very sad and very scary sight.

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joasis

I have been working alone on framing living quarters in a steel building.....just a year ago, I would have had a full crew on the job, if I would have taken the job. Now....I don't have a choice.

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threaderman

I never took it personal Jay ,not from you.

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Joe ---International Code Council Member

Your plumbing & gas specialist proudly serving Oklahoma City OK, Moore, Warr-acres, Norman, Midwest City, Edmond, Bethany, Forest Park

rbsremodeling

Believe me I know. I was joking with some one the other day as to how far we have sunk. I got a job for 3500 bucks the other day. I screamed like a little girl when the email giving me the green light came back

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joasis

I have lots to build 5 spec homes on...and I don't have the balls to ask my banker for the financing......this uncertainty is a killer.

A client seems pretty sure he wants to build the fourplex units.....but he wants me to design and seek zoning and permits before he commits. The church hasn't told me anything yet......and I have one large project now and the plate is empty except for the small jobs.

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Mike Finley

Here is a good take on the current situation:

From Walls and Ceilings magazine.
(By the way, even though they are a drywall centered trade magazine, they consistantly have the best articals on the business of contracting, which are applicable no matter what trade you are in- it's a free subscription and I consider one of the best trade mags you can read)

BKFranks

Let's see...Unemployment in OK is 4.9%. Here in CA it's 9.3%. There are usually well over 100 posts per day on CL, some licensed and some unlicensed. Everyone flags their competitiors posts so they will get deleted. It's gotten so bad that people are making post after post complaining about their post being deleted. Go to the CL- Flag Help discussion forum on CL and everyone is asking why their post was deleted. After doing some research, CL is purging like 98% of the posts because so many people are flagging. There is really no reason to post on there anymore because it will just get deleted.

Unemployment rates by state from Sept '07 to Dec '08. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27913794

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Publisher1

There's two sides of the coin. We're re-establishing our publication in metro Washingon DC, so after trying a number of other places, I paid Craigs List the grand sum of $25.00 for a help wanted listing. With two $25.00 renewals, I received about 150 resumes -- the majority at least having some qualification for the career. Two finalists are now in the midst of their working evaluation -- we won't hire anyone permanently without giving them an opportunity (with compensation) to prove the job is right for them.

Using the free listings wisely can generate some profitable business. You may also find the $25.00 fee might land you some really good sales reps who can drum up even more business for you.

Jason Whipple

Wow! I just check Vermont's unemployment rate. 6.4% last December! Nothing reported since then. 9.3% is terrible!

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Jason E Whipple, General Manager
Historic House Restoration, Cincinnati, Ohio
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ottagosoon

When times get bad all of a sudden every man with a hammer becomes his own contracting company and all the home builders want to be a remodeling contractor.

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Can't Say That Here!!!

RenaissanceR

[deleted]

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THINKPAINTING

Without a doubt, has always been a great read.