Passed my Residential Class C Exam today - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

COContractor998 · 05-26-2009, 10:34 PM

Now WHERE is some work?!

Crock · 05-26-2009, 10:42 PM

Problem is too many workers are trying to go out on there own because they worked for someone else during the 10 year plus boom.

I have been suggesting to all new guys that want to try starting up that it is a better idea to find an established firm to work at for the next two to three years until the lending wounds heal. I started in the early eighties and have seen so many good carpenters go belly up when they would have been so far ahead if they would have just stayed on and worked their way up.

Tonyeo · 05-27-2009, 12:21 AM

If you have been laid off what do you do, sit around waiting or at least get your license and give it a try, if you have many years in the trade what else are you going to do, flipping burgers is not for everyone lol.

Crock · 05-27-2009, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tonyeo

If you have been laid off what do you do, sit around waiting or at least get your license and give it a try, if you have many years in the trade what else are you going to do, flipping burgers is not for everyone lol.

You find/do what it takes. I laid a guy off in November and he tried his hand at new car sales. Zero experience. I talked to him last week to try to re-hire him and he said he was making double what I was paying him!

If you are a laid off construction guy, the last thing you want to do is to bank everything on the trade you were just laid off from. There is a reason you were laid off. It was because there is a lack of work right now in your area. Give it a few years though, this is the third recession I've been through and it always comes around eventually.

I harp on this all the time. Competition is good but when you have the entire local workforce testing and thinking they are going to buy out Donald Trump if they pass their exam it just hurts everyone especially the good carpenter that would be better served staying as an employee. He would make more in the long run. Much more. You have a 1 in 10 chance at best.

COContractor998 · 05-28-2009, 11:01 PM

Don't mind working for someone else, just haven't found the right "relationship" (read: COMPENSATION and PROJECTS!) ... especially in current construction industry climate.

For now, it is my goal to become successful working for myself ... seen the future of too many people being negatively affected by business decisions of others.

Crock · 05-28-2009, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by COContractor998

Don't mind working for someone else, just haven't found the right "relationship" (read: COMPENSATION and PROJECTS!) ... especially in current construction industry climate.

For now, it is my goal to become successful working for myself ... seen the future of too many people being negatively affected by business decisions of others.

well good luck to you and use the search feature here often for tips and tricks. there are a million free contractor forms on here also that you will need from time to time as well. search "need a form give a form" if you haven't found it yet.

rbsremodeling · 05-29-2009, 06:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by COContractor998

Don't mind working for someone else, just haven't found the right "relationship" (read: COMPENSATION and PROJECTS!) ... especially in current construction industry climate.

For now, it is my goal to become successful working for myself ... seen the future of too many people being negatively affected by business decisions of others.

Hmm this is exactly what Crock was telling you.

COContractor998 · 05-31-2009, 09:49 PM

No matter whether you are owner, boss, or employee ... technically you ALWAYS work for someone else and are therefore subject to the bad decisions of others ... just consider the state of our economy!

Magnettica · 05-31-2009, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tonyeo

If you have been laid off what do you do, sit around waiting or at least get your license and give it a try, if you have many years in the trade what else are you going to do, flipping burgers is not for everyone lol.

I hear that. I am sick of sitting around doing nothing. Collecting unemployment and paying into unemployment sucks. I've been doing this 19 years now and I am going out on my own because I deserve to make my own money and my own decisions.

Crock... you say you started in the early 80's, how was it different then as far as a recession than it is now? I think if u start a business and turn a profit now you can do it no matter what the economy is doing and that's attitude I'm bringing with me to my new company. Failure is not an option.

Crock · 05-31-2009, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Magnettica

Crock... you say you started in the early 80's, how was it different then as far as a recession than it is now? I think if u start a business and turn a profit now you can do it no matter what the economy is doing and that's attitude I'm bringing with me to my new company. Failure is not an option.

Agreed. If you are a start up now, you are facing some challenges I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. The other side of that is just as you say.

I remember back in the day folks were paying 12-14% on their mortgages and it was a rough time then as well, but it was easier to start up because we didn't have comp or liability to deal with (in hindsight it was stupid not to-but not enforced) and there was no permits. You could sign a reroof and all you would have to do was buy a compressor and nail gun, then it was off to the races. Very little competition back then as well.

Now I can't pull out of my driveway without seeing some yahoo all logoed up driving past. Everyone wants to own their own business. These days everyone is a wannabe contractor.

I remember back in when I took the test, I went in to the permit office and the lady rolled her eyes and she said, "Just what we need another contractor!" She already knew that a problem was brewing and I didn't realize it for several years later.

COContractor998 · 06-01-2009, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Everybody is a WANNABE contractor

Exactly why I am trying to differentiate myself by doing the right thing & actually being licensed. Running any business is difficult, but from Crock's perspective, why even get out of bed in the morning!

At least in Colorado it is a problem, but how about competition from all the illegal immigrants working in our trade? Good thing I speak Spanish!

Magnettica · 06-01-2009, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crock

Agreed. If you are a start up now, you are facing some challenges I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. The other side of that is just as you say.

I remember back in the day folks were paying 12-14% on their mortgages and it was a rough time then as well, but it was easier to start up because we didn't have comp or liability to deal with (in hindsight it was stupid not to-but not enforced) and there was no permits. You could sign a reroof and all you would have to do was buy a compressor and nail gun, then it was off to the races. Very little competition back then as well.

Now I can't pull out of my driveway without seeing some yahoo all logoed up driving past. Everyone wants to own their own business. These days everyone is a wannabe contractor.

I remember back in when I took the test, I went in to the permit office and the lady rolled her eyes and she said, "Just what we need another contractor!" She already knew that a problem was brewing and I didn't realize it for several years later.

I think it's all relative from the demand for goods and services and to the population of people living here. I'm sure there were contractors who said the same thing to themselves when you started your business as there are now when I'm starting mine. Deliver a good product at a reasonable price and there'll always be work out there.

One of the things I'm looking forward to is to pull permits for jobs. For years as a "side jobber" I took on the cheapest customers out there and delivered the best work I could. While the chump change wasn't too bad, there was obviously a lot of work i had to turn away because I didn't have a license and couldn't pull a permit. Now that I've gone through all the hoops (4 years of school, licensed by the state of NJ), I am looking forward to finally being compensated for the quality work that I do.

There's far more homeowners, building and property owners, than there are qualified electrical contractors so there's money to be earned out there.

Good luck to you, it'll all be good for all of us soon enough.

Kuba · 06-04-2009, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by COContractor998

At least in Colorado it is a problem, but how about competition from all the illegal immigrants working in our trade? Good thing I speak Spanish!

Yo, Crock hires illegals. Far as im concerned, anyone who supports illegal labor shouldnt have a god damn say in s h i t!!!!!!!

kpall312 · 07-17-2009, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tonyeo

If you have been laid off what do you do, sit around waiting or at least get your license and give it a try, if you have many years in the trade what else are you going to do, flipping burgers is not for everyone lol.

I did the some thing in april after i lost my job in january and i'm doing fine.