Disturbing

Brushslingers

Well... most disturbing news i've heard all month. Just talked to another contractor, apparently he is no longer a contractor... lack of business shut him down. Called others, 7 in fact... 5 others are about to go out of business before the end of the month. You guys stay close to your money for now.

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Benn

Teetorbilt

I haven't heard of anybody closing doors but we seem to have a surplus of homes and business space. I could see some of the smaller guys that decided on building a few spec. homes being in trouble.

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

Albert Einstein

mdshunk

Rest easy. The sky is not falling.

Mike Finley

I can't tell you the number of 'contractors' who respond to any ad I place for part-time workers, this has been going on all year. All have the same story, I do this off and on, but things are slow, or I get all my work through word-of-mouth and my phone isn't ringing.

It's shake out time. The strong will get stronger, the weak will keep calling me asking if I need any part-time help. I keep scanning the classified ads for shiney new tools being given away.

river rat

man, i run ad's for painting and most of my calls are from people looking for work.
i feel like yelling at them , what the hell! is my ad under help wanted?!!!
but i feel bad for them, i know they are just trying to survive.
im doing ok since running ad's for the first time in a major paper.
with the extra $$ im making, im running larger ad's every month.
soon i'll have a new truck and man, i need it!

Brian

It's very easy to get into business. Staying in business is an entirely different story.

I've heard that 90% of new businesses fail within 5 years, and 90% of the survivors fail within 5 more years.

You are going to hear of a lot more failures than successes. Don't let it get you down. Keep doing the right things and you'll succeed.

We're celebrating our 20th year in business. I've seen a lot of "competitors" come and go.

Brian Phillips

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Houston Interior Painting
Houston Exterior Painting
Houston Painting Contractor

Brushslingers

Naaa, you guys got me wrong, well not completly, but what I meant was these guys are GOOD painters, not the fly by nights... hell one has been in business here for 25 years. It's disturbing to see good guys fall.

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Benn

KellyPainting

I'm slowing down also.... before I was blessed with 4 months work ahead of time...now one month.....

mdshunk

Okay, so some people are slowing down. Big deal. What do you intend to do about it? Are you going to sit in front of your computer on slow days and type about how slow you are? When you're getting slow, it's time for some defensive tactics. Now is the time to advertise and market. Don't wait until you have already come to a screeching halt. Get out a beat the bushes...

Brushslingers

I'm not bad off, was just commenting that I was disturbed to see so many of the actual craftsmen owners in this area giving up over one slack period... sorta goes to show the area here....

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Benn

Perfection

I am new to this site.
Been running a business here in MA for the better part of 5 years.
All commercial and residential interiors.

Things are getting crazy here in MA.

My suggestion to anyone getting slow it to target the real estate agents/brokers and get referrals from them. Nothing wrong with a good makeover to help the sale.

There are more houses for sale right now than I've seen in 10 years.

Also commercial isn't going anywhere...Find yourself a few large commercial guys and bid bid bid.

Good luck guys and glad to have found this place!

Kevin

painterjim

Things are slowing down. I know of three very established contractors that have folded in the last six months. When the value of folks homes were going up in value, they were relying on that to borrow money for home improvements. That "disposable" income is no longer there so existing HOs are squeezing the dimes.

However, it is now a buyers market, and as the price of homes drop folks will be using that "found" money to do their home improvements, just have to weather the transition, which will take a few months, next spring should be very good.

Richard

When I'm in business for 25 years, I would'nt WANT to keep painting, let alone be worried about finding work....I'll be 52 and ready to retire in a few, able to live off what I've saved anyway.....and wifey's pension! of course....

Nothing is guaranteed in life (even a 25 year company) but I guarantee being prepared and able to act quickly to bounce back is the true testament of a "GOOD" ( your direct quote) painter...not his income or status, or what you consider "GOOD"

Brushslingers

Ehh, sorry I started this one.. I think I am talking about something completly different than all of you.

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Benn

Brushslingers

I'll expound, these guys I was talking about are not exactly small time people, as an example... here are two pictures... what is the cause and fix? I find it disturbing that good, meaning knowledable people, are leaving the industry at this time, going to show that this particular portion of our little world is going to hell in a handbasket for this particular industry. Maybe you guys are experiencing something different, good for you. Here in my little market of 500 miles things are getting really weird.

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Benn

ron schenker

My sentiments exactly...excellent post

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Don't worry, the baseboard will hide it!

Double-A

I know how you feel. The plumbing licence folks used to publish a list of folks that are retiring and turning in their licence every quarter. I'm always saddened to see so much knowledge go to waste.

When I apprenticed, we had an old coot come in and show us how to make 4" lead pipe from 15# sheet lead. This old fart couldn't even light his cigarette without lighting the filter first, but he could make lead pipe and run a torch like it was built onto his hand. I was amazed by his touch and control, especially when we all got to try our hand at it and wound up with pools of lead on the floor and on the walls from slinging it off our ill-prepared wiping cloths.

Old age and experience will beat out youth and skill any day of the week. Never underestimate an old fart.

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"My clients’ wishes are the center of my attention." -- David Guido, a contractor in Woodstock, N.Y.
New York Times, July 20, 2006

Brushslingers

Double A, THAT is what I was talking about. Thanks... hell I knew this one guy, he smelled like turpentine.. hand shook so bad he could barely light his smokes but let him pick up a brush....

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Benn

slickshift

Hmmm..."Old Guys Rule"
http://www.oldguysrule.com/

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Originally Posted by ModernStyle I have never used this crap before and I pray to the paint gods that I never have to use it again, I would rather use Behr

MarvinWilleyJr

Man I could read here on this site all night.

Get some useful info. I have been here reading before and just recently found it again.

I am a month or 2 away from starting up my business. I am pumped about it too!

Tired of working for these guys around here that would rather you do it in 3 mins and it look horrible, rather than take 6 and do it right.

Have the business skills I think I need, and can do the work the way it should be done. I have ran crews before and know how to run jobs. As long as I make a little I'll be happy in the begining, cause I know how starting a business goes. My family has had a few.

Any way goin off topic....

Just wanted to say how great this place is.