OK I'll Ask Anyway ... (remodeling Estimate)

MANTUS

Yeah and i've never seen million dollar homes before ... Nice house but how hard is that to build and a builder could install those cabinets by himself. Come on man,i come from years of high end cabinets with 6-10 layers of crown. I could install those cabinets with toe and base trim the windows and hardwood floor all in a days work.... nice kitchen though :Thumbs: a basic builder kitchen if i ever saw one. You couldn't even give the homeowner granite? Let me guess,the house isn't even sold yet ... here's one of my bathrooms.

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MANTUS

Would probably be in your best interest to incorporate ... no? .. yes,it's probably best to use well trained electricians for major work .. journeymen that is

Tom R

Yeah, - - I'm actually looking forward to it, - - it should get rid of a lot of the 'fly-by-nights', - - just seems like it should involve some heavy testing, too. Maybe that's next. You wouldn't believe how many guys around here call themselves contractors, - - and have absolutely no technical knowledge whatsoever, - - and could care less, - - long as they get paid before the next rainfall or windstorm.

Tom R

MANTUS,

That's one beautiful job, - - I know you're at least 'installing' the cabs and crown, - - are you making them too? Do you have your own shop? I've spent the last several years 'setting up shop', - - at this point I've got most of the equipment I need, - - next (hopefully by fall), - - I'll be doubling the size of the shop, - - it's only about 20 X 20 now. I plan on slowly phasing out of most of the remodeling and just doing cabinetry, built-in's, wainscoting, libraries, etc. No particular rush, - - just the old 'grass-is-always-greener' syndrome.

MANTUS

no i don't build them. I'm sure you have more experience than me. i was just looking for a little help and i think we all got off on the wrong foot... cabinetry, built-in's, wainscoting, libraries,and sometimes closets .. i used to do all those but now just mainly cabinets. Being an installer and having to pay for tools,insurance,gas,ect i just don't see where it pays to just do cabinets. Maybe for you because you make them but not just installing. I want to cut out the middlemen. My son is crying so i'll talk later

shopdust

Yes and no as to incorporation.
The courts will "pierce the veil" if the corp. didn't have sufficent liability insuraence. That's fancy talk for going after the 'stockholders' personal assets. For any kind of BK action, CH. 7 , Ch. 13 etc, incorporation is the only way to go. I've been stiffed there and the jerk was still driving an MB. kid in private school and so forth.

Rusty Nails

Uh.........They didn't want granite. They wanted what was installed.

Crown has been out of style here forever. It's something we've done. but not used to much on beach houses. The owners are looking for a clean, rustic look.

The homes are all sold, thanks. and permitted. Pretty nice huts though?

Rusty Nails

Ding Ding Ding.....

We have a winner. :Thumbs:

Tom R

I'm hereby gonna' go ahead and stick my neck out a little and stick up for MANTUS (even though he didn't ask), - - I just read back thru the whole 4 pages and really didn't see the point of treatin' a guy so rude, - - who's just asking a friendly question, - - sure, - - a few of you made a few good points about 'short-cutting', - - and 'legitimacy', - - but he's new, - - or wants to be, - - in remodeling, - - and we all had to start somewhere.

He pretty much heeded people's advice, - - and alluded he wants to go legitimate, - - but in the meantime wants to feed the family while he's learning how to go about things.

I've got a few things to 'admit' to you guys, - - , - - I started out 26 years ago doing 'side-jobs', - - neighbor here, - - neighbor there, - - didn't know 'squat' about permits, licenses, etc, - - learned as I went along, - - (no one would tell me squat about anything around here, - - no 'internet' to ask then). I studied on my own as I went along and learned everything from reading books and more books, - - I still to this day 'study-up' on a job before I start it, - - even if I feel I already know the job in and out. I actually laugh at the 'petty' selections at the bookstores.

And guess what else, - - , - - one of my first jobs, - - was turning an attached garage into a bedroom, - - it was for one of the local county prosecutors, - - he didn't want a permit, - - told me to frame right inside the overhead garage door and leave the outside 'as-is', - - I guess I don't need to tell you guys I decided not to be a hero, - - so I went ahead and did the job and got paid, - - he became a regular customer for the next 15 years until he retired and moved down south about 10 years ago

As I went on and learned some 'ropes', - - now (and for years and years), - - I've always gotten permits and such, - - and I personally can't stand 'fly-by-nights' any more I'm sure than you all can, - - but I really don't view MANTUS as such, - - he's simply a guy with some good hands tryin' to figure out how to get started.

Whether you agree or not, - - thanks for listening.


P.S. I p.m.-d MANTUS with some 'getting started in NJ' info, - - which he thanked me for.

P.S.S. He doesn't need permits to 'change-out' cabinets, - - or do minor (handyman-type) electric or plumbing, - - though of course everything should always be done to code either way.

MANTUS

it is a nice place. I know what you mean about the crown,sometimes it's just too much. The reason i was asking about it being sold is because i'm looking for a place myself

MANTUS

thanks Tom .. i think we all wasted alot of time getting nowhere on this thread. I'm going to do my research and get things done right. Even the smaller jobs pay good so i really don't mind starting small. I just want to keep out as many middlemen as possible and start getting paid for my work ... less middlemen means not only more money in my pocket but less things getting screwed up ... cabinet orders,deliveries,setting start times and days with homeowner,etc

Tom R

Right, - - good luck, - - I strongly encourage you to go on your own. The independence can't be beat, - - and even the 'bad decisions' are much easier to take when at least 'you' are the guy making them

A contractor once asked me "What makes you think you're any good"? I replied "because I already made every mistake, - - twice". He hired me on the spot.

Teetorbilt

MANTUS, you will learn that manufacturers and distributors can screw everything up just as proficiently as a dealer. You will be putting more money in your pocket which will make the foulups a little easier to absorb.
Work your way up and do your best not to take on a job that you are unprepared to handle, they caused me some major headaches and some consistant customers back in the early days. Best of luck.

__________________
You can't solve you're problems with the same level of thinking that created the problems.

Albert Einstein

MANTUS

thank you