I like how these guys never seem to have the courtesy (?) to mention how much they charged for the work in the first place. I say why tell them anything.

Didn't know i had to mention that sorry. We charged 2,250 for 10hrs of work. Now what else should i have mentioned?

 

Felony!!
I'd like to see ny require a license,
$35. for a dba ,hopefully smart enough to get some insurance, a skill saw and a pick up truck your in buisness. New guys every where... in 96 I ran in to a guy who couldn't even tape dry wall ,he got fired flipped fries for a while then went in to the contracting buisness... I just don't get it.
Dan

Well here is the way i see it. I know alot and i mean ALOT of GCs who don't have a clue how to read a tape ... ok they can read a tape but not much of anything else and they make tons of money as GCs so now tell me where is the GC school i need to attend in order to become a GC. Your right there isn't one. I'm a carpenter. I am great at installing cabinets,good with sheetrock,and i do crown molding better than guy with 20yrs in the business. I'll have to post a pick sometime of my work. SO NOW why can't i become a GC and these limp********************s can? Because i need insurance.. Covered ..... I need permits ... NO problem ..... I need to know how to bull******************** customers ... Ummm sorry i'm not good at that one. I'll let you know how business goes :Thumbs:

 

...now tell me where is the GC school i need to attend in order to become a GC. Your right there isn't one...

Many colleges offer 2 year degrees in construction technology, civil engineering technology, and construction management. Add several years of experience to that, and you have a good start.

 

Many colleges offer 2 year degrees in construction technology, civil engineering technology, and construction management. Add several years of experience to that, and you have a good start.

yes but i don't NEED to attend them. Too many people with less knowledge than me make a killing. I have a son and a wife,do you think i am really going to spend time(could be making money) and money going to school because someone tells me that is the RIGHT way to do it? please give me a break. It's not that hard. I am not going to argue about this anymore because i see i am getting nowhere and deffinitaly not learning a damn thing here. I just asked the same question on one of my bodybuilding boards and you just wouldn't believe all the help i get. Like i said people are so scared of someone taking away their work. I see it all the time

 

...people are so scared of someone taking away their work. I see it all the time...

Yeah, I'm definitely $#!TTING my pants over it. :cheesygri

THANKYOUFORCALLINGSEWELLGENERALCONTRACTINGANDHAVE YOURSELFANICEDAY

 

Yeah, I'm definitely $#!TTING my pants over it. :cheesygri

THANKYOUFORCALLINGSEWELLGENERALCONTRACTINGANDHAVEYOURSELFANICEDAY

I already told you,you live in NY you have no reason to be scared Allright man,let's just forget i ever made this post. friends?

 

MANTUS, Here a County Residential Contractors license requires a minimum of 5 years of verifiable supervisory experience in the field + tests + all of the usual business trappings.

 

MANTUS, Here a County Residential Contractors license requires a minimum of 5 years of verifiable supervisory experience in the field + tests + all of the usual business trappings.

well it's a good thing that's not the case here because plenty of people would be out of work

 

well it's a good thing that's not the case here because plenty of people would be out of work

From what I'm reading here, Your going to be the next one out of work.

 

I'm a little bit puzzled why a person would post for advice on a contractor's board and not take the advice? Or at least acknowledge its merits? I guess that might be a question for a psychology forum and not this one.

 

I know alot of GCs who don't have a clue how to read a tape ... ok they can read a tape but not much of anything else and they make tons of money

Otay Alpalpa :Thumbs:

I'm a carpenter...better than guy with 20yrs in the business.

I need to know how to bull******************** customers ... Ummm sorry i'm not good at that one.

Don't bother trying to develop that skill. It won't help you at all. If you think it's helping others, you're wrong. First, learn how to listen. Second, learn how to listen better. You'd be surprised how far listening alone will take you.

Too many people with less knowledge than me make a killing. It's not that hard.

Dude, if you're feelin' froggy, by all means leap. Gather up all the money you need and put it out there -at risk. But if you're thinking all those nitwit GC's you know are some kind of indicator about how easy it is too make it then you are really on the wrong track. If they are as dumb as you say I'd bet they know less about measuring how much money they're making than they do about measuring a piece of lumber.

If yopu're serious about going on your own, take the time to sit down with pencil and paper and really sketch out what it'll take. Make a list of every single thing you'll need, every cost you'll have. Very few (if any) small contractors make it without a comprehensive understanding of what their business entails.

 

I'm a little bit puzzled why a person would post for advice on a contractor's board and not take the advice? Or at least acknowledge its merits? I guess that might be a question for a psychology forum and not this one.

And i'm a little puzzled why no one answered my question. I didn't ask if i did the job the way YOU would do it. Read the post and then talk to me

 

Florida,NY,Mid atlantic,GA,Colorado .... I guess we do business different here in Jersey

 

Like i said people are so scared of someone taking away their work. I see it all the time

That must be why no one answered your question...they're all scared. By nature, contractors are a bunch of scaredy cats that don't take chances.
Or maybe everyone REALLY wants to help you succeed over the LONG RUN and are prodding you to do the footwork yourself. After all, your LONG TERM success is what'll most help you and the misses and Mantus, Jr. - not charging one price or another on the next job. Get your head in the business side and do the math. After that, pitch yourself and the prices YOU'VE determined. It's a good thing.

 

The reason I didn't answer your question is I'm just an electrician. All I want to know when I see other people have done something electrical , is have they done it right. If you are not going to do it right, or advise someone to do it the correct and safe way, then you should not be asking the questions.

 

sorry man ,
I started in on a reply last nite and my machine crapped out .I would have to say the reason your not getting a reply is because there is no good answer.you made some money and want to make some more,thats what its all about. we have all started out at some point and learning what works for us individualy in different areas, different overhead .The thing is this is a good point for you to start developing some good habits... keeping track of each job you do,how long it takes you to do different tasks so you can look back to speed up your future estimating practices. Also try to keep track of your expenses (overhead). if you read through some threads in different areas you will find some of the answers that you are looking for. It sounds as though you must have some experience in the trades.Welcome to the school of life, the answers are there have some paitence, do your homework, and try to stay organized.
Dan

slow down a minuite, don't get excited.....the answers are all there .

 

slow down a minuite, don't get excited.....the answers are all there .

Ha Ha you know that's the only answer i got that's worth a damn ... I'm listening to everyone here,even if i don't agree with them. I may have another job coming up and if i can't do the electric work right i will get my cousin to do it. I agree that the work should be done right but i don't agree on always getting permits.

 

The reason I didn't answer your question is I'm just an electrician. All I want to know when I see other people have done something electrical , is have they done it right. If you are not going to do it right, or advise someone to do it the correct and safe way, then you should not be asking the questions.

what? you lost me

 

Ha Ha you know that's the only answer i got that's worth a damn ... I'm listening to everyone here,even if i don't agree with them. I may have another job coming up and if i can't do the electric work right i will get my cousin to do it. I agree that the work should be done right but i don't agree on always getting permits.

No need for permits man............ Just do it.

 

No need for permits man............ Just do it.

no need for permits if your building a hut :Thumbs: ... go get me a 4 by 4 sheet of straw LOL

 

I don't believe a permit would be needed if i were keeping the existing structure. Am i correct. Say i were to just rip out and replace cabinets,would i need a permit? I know even minor plumbing and electric i would but didn't think i did for cabinets

 

Whether or not you need permits is dependant upon where you're at. In alot of places in the country permits not only aren't needed, if you went to the courthouse and asked about buying one, they just give you a dull look and say HUH? I worked on the mayor's house in one small burb here abouts and there were no permits pulled at all, none required by any governing authority. Sad but true, however there are steps in the works to try and remedy this situatoin in the rural areas of Mo where I'm located and I think this is great, my only complaint it should have been done years ago.

All that being said, regardless of whether permits are pulled or not, if you want to get in the game and thrive and make money and get customer referrals, always, always, do all work according to nationaly recognized codes and do it just as if you were right in the middle of the city and each phase had to pass inspection. By doing this you're giving the customer a quality job and you'll be able to sleep good at night. :Thumbs: That's my .02¢

 

I don't believe a permit would be needed if i were keeping the existing structure. Am i correct. Say i were to just rip out and replace cabinets,would i need a permit? I know even minor plumbing and electric i would but didn't think i did for cabinets

In alot of the small towns we work in around here that would be true. Here in the little town I live in, no permit is required to completely remove the existing siding on a home and replace it with sheeting, fanfold and vinyl siding. But if they want 4 sq ft porch built it requires a permit. Same thing with interior work, we can completely gut a place right to the studs, rewire, new plumbing, the works, and still no permit required, but add a couple of small walls like for a bedroom closet and you need a permit. Go figure! That's why I'd like to see a uniform statewide minimum code come into effect. However many small towns don't have the resources to hire a qualified bldg inspector so who kows if this would accomplish any thing or not. Regulation does need to come to the remodeling industry in the rural areas of the country.

 

In alot of the small towns we work in around here that would be true. Here in the little town I live in, no permit is required to completely remove the existing siding on a home and replace it with sheeting, fanfold and vinyl siding. But if they want 4 sq ft porch built it requires a permit. Same thing with interior work, we can completely gut a place right to the studs, rewire, new plumbing, the works, and still no permit required, but add a couple of small walls like for a bedroom closet and you need a permit. Go figure! That's why I'd like to see a uniform statewide minimum code come into effect. However many small towns don't have the resources to hire a qualified bldg inspector so who kows if this would accomplish any thing or not. Regulation does need to come to the remodeling industry in the rural areas of the country.

I live in the city so i'm sure permits are required. I have a licensed electrician and plumber if needed so i'm glad i have that covered. I am going to look at my second job tomorrow around the same area i did my 1st one. after that i'm going to talk with my friend who is a GC and i will eventually be getting and selling the cabinets from him. thanks for the info

 

Well it didn't pass because there was no inspection because no permits and no licenses. We all know the homeowner and they didn't worry about this stuff. The guy is a retired cop and now US marshall,he doesn't care about permits because inspections only slow down the work.

Your statement explains alot about your personal views on legal, ethical, and business matters and just plain lack of personal pride that I wouldn't even know where to start. But without going into details, if you let homeowners personalities shape your buisiness and building practices you're nothing more than a whore or a homeowner's *****.

I got cash. so now how much cash would you take with no overhead (besides gas) for this work?

I wouldn't be able to do the job for any amount of money because I set my policies not homeowners. I don't work for homeowners who want to take shortcuts like that. I'm a professional and have standards and practices that I don't compromise. Besides I wouldn't risk my families financial well being over one job.