What all the people around here do who get into remodel work is watch HGTV after about 10hrs your ready to go out on your own. The books from lowes are a waste of money just have a quick browse through them and you will prob be more qualified than 95% of the contractors in this area :thumbsup:

 

yea i have done some specialized roofing with flat roofs when i was in high school, plus i ahve hung doors and windows, which i figured would be a lot harder than what it was but pretty simple, my thing would be mostly getting to know the codes, and i havnt done much with framing so i would still have a lot to learn. i could just read here and learn more then i can from the books at lowes of hd. :whistling

 

If you are good at what you do, then I say stick to your guns and find some other angles to get work.. or at least start knocking on doors that you never thought to knock on before.

For instance, I am always going places that are strange and unfamiliar only to find a potential client every now and then that tells me how long they have been needing someone who has the service that I provide.

One of my biggest issues has always been attempting to be too many things and wearing too many hats only to fail and not being able to manage ANYTHING that I am doing.

 

In my area, if you did only one thing you would be broke. There are very few builders that only do one type of work. Such as framing. Most ,if not all do everthing that thier Lic. will cover. UnLic. contractors do everthing that they know or even dont know. I dont how it is Maine, but expanding your knowledge of other trades and learning how to sell is a asset.:thumbsup:

 

yea most people are busy up here, plus in maine the only things you need to be licensed for is plumbing, hvac, electrical, asbestios work, and abatement. plus a few other things which is obvious. one of the guys i know is 24 and he has already made enough to retire if he wants. im sure he would need to work enventually but he just had his second kid and hasnt worked in two months so he can spend time with the kid. must be nice. thanks for the advice guys.

 

I don't know how it is in Maine or what kind of housing stock you have there
however
I live in a midwest town of about 200,000. we have some areas of substantial houses built in the 1910's and 1920's- slate and tile roofs with spectacular original plaster interiors and timber& stucco exteriors.

Very often when I am doing slate or tile roof work on these houses-the homeowner asks if I can give them the name of someone who can do REAL plaster work or REAL stucco work- they absolutely can not find anyone to do that work. I would suggest you expand sideways into these related areas.

we direct mail to suitable houses-and we advertise in local historical society bulletins etc.
your work will need to be top notch however,
stephen