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andyoraz

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General contractor; remodels, additions, acc. building
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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Anyone care to share their experiences on niching down, from a generalist remodeler/builder to something narrow?

Currently I am very general, mostly residential remodels usually 30-50% self performed and mulling on the thought of niching down.

Still retail market but narrower, maybe doors/windows/trim. On the fence about it, and if I move forward whether I would change company names to reflect that or not. Plenty of cons like needing to market more, travel further, have to have a warehouse for deliveries, maybe a showroom depending on supplier. But, easier from an operational POV, more efficient, easier to train/hire, more scalable. Maybe it comes down to trading certain pains for other pains.

Curious to hear about other guys who have done similar (or vice-versa), your story and what you've learned.
 
#2 ·
I'm curious as well. I'm thinking king of downsizing what I do as well.

I make more money doing glass repairs, doors and windows and shower doors.

Remodels always tend to drag out. Sure, there are times when you make a homeowner, but the fiddly bits tend to eat up my profit.

Just not sure how much I want to beat the bushes to keep scaring up work.

I have noticed though, that the specialists seem to make more money consistently.

Either you are a well established builder, or a specialist if you want to get ahead it seems.
 
Discussion starter · #3 ·
VinylHanger said:
I'm curious as well. I'm thinking king of downsizing what I do as well.

I make more money doing glass repairs, doors and windows and shower doors.

Remodels always tend to drag out. Sure, there are times when you make a homeowner, but the fiddly bits tend to eat up my profit.

Just not sure how much I want to beat the bushes to keep scaring up work.

I have noticed though, that the specialists seem to make more money consistently.

Either you are a well established builder, or a specialist if you want to get ahead it seems.
Click to expand...
Couldn’t have said the entirety better myself

I guess the guys who we are looking to hear from are too busy drumming up work or admiring their piles of cash
 
#4 ·
I’d go nuts doing only a few trades or d/w/t day in & out. I have to be able to lay something different out. Be it a Comm. challenge, moving 100+ year old barns, cutting in bastard roofs whatever. Going to look into building a crib into the side of a hill next week for a developer. Don’t get the traveling part. 5 mile radius maybe. Hell, 3 — 4 hunert miles a day ain’t unusual


Mike
 
Discussion starter · #5 ·
Kingcarpenter1 said:
I’d go nuts doing only a few trades or d/w/t day in & out. I have to be able to lay something different out. Be it a Comm. challenge, moving 100+ year old barns, cutting in bastard roofs whatever. Going to look into building a crib into the side of a hill next week for a developer. Don’t get the traveling part. 5 mile radius maybe. Hell, 3 — 4 hunert miles a day ain’t unusual


Mike
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Not Texas, 1 acre lot is huge here, 15 miles to go to a remodel job is a hike. Lots of cake within arms reach. But a different story when it comes to one and done window replacements, constantly need new blood
 
#6 ·
Kingcarpenter1 said:
I’d go nuts doing only a few trades or d/w/t day in & out. I have to be able to lay something different out. Be it a Comm. challenge, moving 100+ year old barns, cutting in bastard roofs whatever. Going to look into building a crib into the side of a hill next week for a developer. Don’t get the traveling part. 5 mile radius maybe. Hell, 3 — 4 hunert miles a day ain’t unusual


Mike
Click to expand...
I think it makes a difference if you have a crew.
 
Discussion starter · #8 ·
hdavis said:
He's in Texas, lol
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I know, that's what I meant but I dropped too many words lmao. This area is not like texas, in metro phx everything is super squished together. You can get from one end of development to the other in a jiffy, not many miles.
 
#9 ·
After cresting the summit of energy/ambition, I've pretty much slid down into handyman/subcontractor mode. Way more sub than anything else, but I still do multiple trades in that capacity. Specializing, while it can make you more efficient and profitable, would send me gibbering into the wilderness. I need variety.

Different strokes...
 
#10 ·
I have given some thought about downsizing, when the time comes. The day will come that i no longer want employees and their hassles etc, currently i am fortunate that i have a good crew and we crank out decent size jobs. But the day will come and i need to be ready for it, i am 56 and plan to retire at 65. What that looks like i am unsure but i will be ready.
I have two ideas in mind, one is to focus on shop painting work, trim packages etc. The other is wallpaper.
The shop work will require marketing to a larger wider audience but i work in one place. Hanging wallpaper would require a larger market and more travel / advertising etc.
The other thought is i just take on smaller jobs and stop taking on the larger projects but I don't see myself being that disciplined and as it is i struggle to say no. I think a niching down as you call it defines a decided upon change in direction.
 
#13 ·
Same here Tom, never dreamed I would finish so much drywall. But for some insane reason when I was younger something about it interested me. From there I did a lot of observing & asking the masters about their techniques when I could. I just hate the prep, masking & clean up


Mike
 
#14 ·
I couldn't see limiting myself I don't care to repair anything either, I always lean towards replacement. Remodeling brings enough challenges I don't want be repairing more than I need to.

If it wasn't for variety I'm not sure I'd still be doing this.
 
#16 · (Edited)
I'm used to being able to take on anything. Remodels, rez, commercial, new, historic preservation, garages, basement finishing, yada yada yada.

But my new lease on life is 98% sub- only. It's a breath of fresh air to just work for GCs that know their chit, mostly. No fussing about anything. Now, I'm not real specialized, but sticking to New Construction Framing, Decks and Interior Trim mainly. So I still get a variety. BUT... I'm not weaving valleys, laying block, placing concrete, finishing sheetrock or air testing plumbing.

Being a sub is the best professional decision I've ever made. Gotta have the right GCs but they are out there!!

I can imagine this being tough if you're in a more remote area. Luckily I have a growing "vacation destination" within striking distance. Most of the projects are within 50- miles.
 
#17 ·
I’ve been drifting steadily the other direction myself. I started out trying do mostly painting thinking that efficiency and predictability would equal more money and less stress but didn’t factor in how many “painting contractors” there are around here charging $30 an hour. Now I’m somewhere between a handyman and full scale remodeler. A design build remodeler isn’t interested in changing out and spray finishing 10 doors or rebuilding stair railing and most handymen aren’t qualified to that stuff at a higher level so people are thrilled to find me. Lots of drywall repair too, water damaged textured ceilings, holes the sparkies made, cracked plaster, doorways filled in. Been doing a lot more T and M too and it’s made my life so much better.
 
Discussion starter · #18 ·
arrowhead_joinery said:
I'm used to being able to take on anything. Remodels, rez, commercial, new, historic preservation, garages, basement finishing, yada yada yada.

But my new lease on life is 98% sub- only. It's a breath of fresh air to just work for GCs that know their chit, mostly. No fussing about anything. Now, I'm not real specialized, but sticking to New Construction Framing, Decks and Interior Trim mainly. So I still get a variety. BUT... I'm not weaving valleys, laying block, placing concrete, finishing sheetrock or air testing plumbing.

Being a sub is the best professional decision I've ever made. Gotta have the right GCs but they are out there!!

I can imagine this being tough if you're in a more remote area. Luckily I have a growing "vacation destination" within striking distance. Most of the projects are within 50- miles.
Click to expand...
nice- that was the kind of path I was curious to hear about. personally I think I'm more attracted to the direct-to-homeowner market instead of working as a sub for GCs. but doing JUST my trade, not everything/broader jobs.
 
Discussion starter · #19 ·
David-Remodeler said:
I’ve been drifting steadily the other direction myself. I started out trying do mostly painting thinking that efficiency and predictability would equal more money and less stress but didn’t factor in how many “painting contractors” there are around here charging $30 an hour. Now I’m somewhere between a handyman and full scale remodeler. A design build remodeler isn’t interested in changing out and spray finishing 10 doors or rebuilding stair railing and most handymen aren’t qualified to that stuff at a higher level so people are thrilled to find me. Lots of drywall repair too, water damaged textured ceilings, holes the sparkies made, cracked plaster, doorways filled in. Been doing a lot more T and M too and it’s made my life so much better.
Click to expand...
I would never be able to do that lol, I think dragging the tools out for tiny stuff is such a drag. at least when it's for multiple trades, always forget something dumb like the inside pipe cutter or jigsaw etc. and putting it all back too. but there's money to be made as a small job guy like that.
 
#20 ·
When we started just doing decks we made much more money. It's great to be tooled up for one niche. Albeit decks include concrete, framing and finish and sometimes electrical but that's the beauty of it it's not repetitive. My guys get good because that's all they are doing.
 
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andyoraz
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