[Dorman Painting]

We've hit a wall, the phone isn't ringing and we just finished a kitchen job last week. Nothing on the books for the next month or so, I'm helping a painter friend who does nothing but new construction and it sucks. But at least I'm making a check.

How is it in your neck of the woods? It seems like there's very little activity in the commercial and repaint markets right now. Of course Christmas always seems to slow down business, I'll be glad to get through the friggin holidays.

 

[lornmastro]

It's just as bad here in Pa. Have been extremely busy for a very long time...then Sept. hit and the same thing...phone stopped ringing. Getting a few jobs now, a few were 1st time home buyers...but boy its bad.

 

[alanbj]

All I have booked for this month is a master bath (ceiling,walls,and trim)
and a bonus room over a garage (ceiling and walls) thank god i'm a one man operation.
This month is the slowest every year here in ct. for me. but this is when I get to do all my chores around the house and catch up on my sleep.

 

[THINKPAINTING]

2010 is going to be a tough for us but I guess it depends on where you are and how low your willing to go.

Prices for work in my area for both new, repaint and commerical are where they were in the 80's........yup the freaking 80's...

There are so so many people out of work and absolutely no new construction going on here or repaint its tough. Lots of guys trying to get state and goverment work but thats a whole different ballgame.

Lots of roads and bridge work going on but not much of anything else.

On top of that it rained the whole month of May, June and most of July so exteriors sucked. I've been around a long time and seen slow downs before but never like this.

Don't worry though Harry Reid, and Nancy Pelosi will help us out

 

[Rcon]

Dead slow here in BC too, and has been since Feb of this year. I do (or used to) a lot of work for a big GC here, but they have nothing going on other than some commercial stuff (I do new residential primarily, so they have other guys for commercial). Just finished an 8 day project and nothing on the books for the rest of the month. This is always a slow time of year, but I think it's going to be especially slow this year. I've probably only done 30% this year compared to what I did last year. It sucks.

 

[Kuba]

dead as hell in pa... dead as in 6ft under and quiet as hell.. Phone hasnt rang in a month.

I have a kitchen rehang left to do and I then nothing for the rest of the yr...

I hope the jobs i have booked for 2010 hold up, or im washed...

If 2010 doesnt generate, im fkn OUT of here.. PA can kiss my ass.. Bunch of loonie liberal dutch asswipes...

Hope Obama doesnt sign that bull**** copenhangen treaty.. then we're all going to hell in a basket.:furious:

 

[premierpainter]

Heard on the News that North Dakota has the largest new job growth in the USA.
Just throwing that out there.
The best line that someone wrote here was- "The phone keeps ringing here, problem is they are all bill collectors!" funny. I guess

 

[THINKPAINTING]

Where the hell is North Dakota.....:whistling

 

[Feathered Touch]

I've only been around for 3 years, but this was our best season yet. I'm still getting at least one job a week now. People want their place taken care of before the holidays. arty:

 

[Frankawitz]

Well with Unemployment at 15.6% here in Michigan and around my area just outside of Detroit with a Unemployment at 30-35% I don't think there is a area in the Country worst then Michigan, I got two calls last week for estimates, they both called two times in the same day, I was working a job, so when I got home I returned their calls, they both told me "Oh I have two guys who came out!" the one guy told me he didn't want anymore bids:w00t:
I guess they got the Lowest Bids There are a few guys who got laid off from the contractor they were working for and now they are out there giving Low Low prices:no: Unreal I don't know how they are making any money.:laughing:

 

[alanbj]

I hear guys out here in ct are getting cash jobs for a 15% to 25% off.
i'm not gonna lie I have had some repeat customers offer cash as well,but I still claim it come tax time.:clap:

 

[TriCoastKid]

It's slowed down o a snails pace here in Texas on the gulf coast(Galveston Area). The insurance jobs from the hurricane(Ike) are either gone or the customers have spent their checks. Not to mention it's Christmas and you all know it's slow this time a year. Do have a few good one scheduled for January but brothers are hungry down here. Hope everyone put some of that good money away form eairlier in the year.

 

[Jeffrey Watson]

We've hit a wall, the phone isn't ringing and we just finished a kitchen job last week. Nothing on the books for the next month or so, I'm helping a painter friend who does nothing but new construction and it sucks. But at least I'm making a check.

How is it in your neck of the woods? It seems like there's very little activity in the commercial and repaint markets right now. Of course Christmas always seems to slow down business, I'll be glad to get through the friggin holidays.

Don't fell bad. That %10 unemployment you hear about, more than 30% of that was at the construction industry expense. That would be thanks to our boys in Washington. Make dam sure you hear both sides of the subject before making a choice surrounding liberal or conservative views. I mean both sides. Its out livelihood

 

[THINKPAINTING]

In my sate they just raised the unemployment tax 40%, the sales tax, gas tax is next. They upped all fees for vehicles and permits.

New healthcare plan is raising Medicare tax, payroll tax and a new health tax on your plan.

I could go on but I will stop there, I am not a liberal or conservative but all of above was implemented by Democrats and more taxes to come lots more.

It gets harder and harder to stay in business and make a decent profit.

 

[Faron79]

Fargo, ND Dude here...

Uffda...
Lifelong ND resident here!

The Oil sector may explode in W. ND...if larger Oil-fields are found.
We hear talk of possible MAJOR reserve beneath a pretty big one they're drilling from now....IF the right kind of drilling can be done.
(stuck in shale though...)

...used to work at Target in Fargo here for 16 yrs. Talked to people still there about how they did on "Black Friday". Almost $900K in ONE day...

It's still decently busy at our paint/decorating/hardware store.

Faron

 

[Ebbo]

Just chatted with a friend from the Louisville area a few minutes ago, he said is isa real slow in your area.

Work is terribly slow here in Southwest Florida. Just did one job only last week, got $500 for 3 hours work. But the guy I did the work for wants more stuff done this coming week in his home ans also said he can get me into the retirement complex where he lives so I am hoping things will pick up in the coming week.

 

[Frankawitz]

With all the SPENDING these CLOWNS in Washington DC keep throwing Money at their dumb Healthcare we should be looking at SOCIALISM within the next few years cause there isn't gonna be anyone working to pay all these New Taxes that we are going to get.:thumbsup:

 

[Hesptg]

Same here in Jersey, sometimes I call home just to make sure the phone is still hooked up. Finish a project last week and the only thing left to do is a lot of freebies for relatives. And we all know how much money can be made doing that..
Heres Wishing everyone here a Merry Christmas, hoping times will get better soon.
Been here before but the older I get the less fun it is..
Harold

 

[DenverPainting]

Painting in Denver is not too bad... our saving grace was two monster hail storms last summer throughout Denver. I'll stay busy with that for a while now! What's nice is that, while roofing companies go door to door, I've yet to meet another painting company doing that to get business... more for me!

 

[ContrBob]

You're not alone!

I know a lot of contractors and business owners who are complaining about the same thing. Its not just the contracting industry.

Election years are always bad for business because the whole country gets worried. Combined with the poor economy, we're all slow.

It'll come back though, it always does. Hopefully we'll all still have our workers and crews to to the jobs when business comes back.