House Flippers are having a negative impact. (Lunenburg: countertops, appliances)

[wolfgang239]

Originally Posted by bugelrex

I've always wondered how some contractors can run a successful business by totally ignoring customers. It must feel good to have so much money thrown to you that you are too busy to pick it up...


Is the best strategy for contractor calllbacks to wait for winter or a recession?

They're usually ignoring because they are scheduled at 100%. Sometimes they'll throw out an "I don't want to do this" price and people will actually pay. Most of my buddies in the trades are working this hard right now because of what happened during the last recession, not waiting for it. Gotta save for the low times. My plumber's advertised business phone goes straight to a full voicemail box that says he's no longer accepting new clients. His customers get his cell phone number.

A big thing for plumbers was the Merrimack issues. They were getting paid hand over fist to come in and do work for Columbia. Lots of folks saw the dollar signs and left their normal gig to go work in Lawrence, they even got put up on a cruise ship if they were from out of town.

[lrfox]

Originally Posted by wolfgang239

They're usually ignoring because they are scheduled at 100%. Sometimes they'll throw out an "I don't want to do this" price and people will actually pay.

This. And honestly, many are scheduled beyond 100%. My buddy (carpenter) is doing a big project down on the Cape that's keeping him there 6 days per week. Last Sunday, he drove from the Cape to Boston to work for 8 hours on another project. He's worked absurd hours over most of the last few years. His philosophy is exactly what you said - he wants to be OK when the next recession hits or the building cycle cools. He's also repeatedly mentioned asking absurd prices for simple work. He got $25k for a simple pergola over a small patio. A lady asked if he'd do it, he was busy and said "yeah, but it'll be $25k" and she accepted. So he built it over the course of the weekend. He said normally it's a $5k job. It's not bad business, it's just that there's way too much of it.

[bjimmy24]

Originally Posted by lrfox

This. And honestly, many are scheduled beyond 100%. My buddy (carpenter) is doing a big project down on the Cape that's keeping him there 6 days per week. Last Sunday, he drove from the Cape to Boston to work for 8 hours on another project. He's worked absurd hours over most of the last few years. His philosophy is exactly what you said - he wants to be OK when the next recession hits or the building cycle cools. He's also repeatedly mentioned asking absurd prices for simple work. He got $25k for a simple pergola over a small patio. A lady asked if he'd do it, he was busy and said "yeah, but it'll be $25k" and she accepted. So he built it over the course of the weekend. He said normally it's a $5k job. It's not bad business, it's just that there's way too much of it.

Maybe I should consider a career change, that's crazy

[matrix5k]

Wow, how much are carpenters pulling in these days? I always thought they made like 60k but if they get 25k for a weekend job...

[bugelrex]

Originally Posted by bjimmy24

Maybe I should consider a career change, that's crazy

The lady was probably getting fed up with zero callback and no follow ups from anyone she called. I could imagine the last recession was pretty rough for trades people...

[Brave Stranger]

Some tradespeople are gouging in this environment, no doubt. I had a guy over to give me a quote on a simple repointing job on my brick stairs. He wanted 4k. Come on...got it done for under 300 dollars.

I feel for people getting screwed by these contractors/tradespeople...it's buyer beware & all that, but flush times like these bring out the avaricious.

[Dm84]

Originally Posted by bugelrex

I've always wondered how some contractors can run a successful business by totally ignoring customers. It must feel good to have so much money thrown to you that you are too busy to pick it up...

A lot of them just suck at the business side of things. Others, as you say, simply don't care because they're so busy they don't need to deal with the small stuff.

Is the best strategy for contractor calllbacks to wait for winter or a recession?

It depends on what you need done. A plumber is always going to cost a fortune. Construction stuff is usually cheaper during a recession. Some work like masonry just can't be done in the winter so waiting is a waste of time.

[Shrewsburried]

Originally Posted by lrfox

This. And honestly, many are scheduled beyond 100%. My buddy (carpenter) is doing a big project down on the Cape that's keeping him there 6 days per week. Last Sunday, he drove from the Cape to Boston to work for 8 hours on another project. He's worked absurd hours over most of the last few years. His philosophy is exactly what you said - he wants to be OK when the next recession hits or the building cycle cools. He's also repeatedly mentioned asking absurd prices for simple work. He got $25k for a simple pergola over a small patio. A lady asked if he'd do it, he was busy and said "yeah, but it'll be $25k" and she accepted. So he built it over the course of the weekend. He said normally it's a $5k job. It's not bad business, it's just that there's way too much of it.

...and is why I'll be Typar'ing my exposed sheathing this fall. $36K to replace the siding/trim and one window on a relatively simple raised cape? Yeah, I can stare at Typar until the next recession.

In the interim, I'll continue replacing the doors and windows myself. In this market, homeowners either need DiY skills or deep pockets ... or both.

[Shrewsburried]

Originally Posted by matrix5k

Wow, how much are carpenters pulling in these days? I always thought they made like 60k but if they get 25k for a weekend job...

Maybe the lower-mid tier. The good ones are easily pulling 6 digits in this economy. My friend, who does upper-middle class residential remodel work in southern NH and lakes region pulls ~$60/hr, and is booked solid.

[GeePee]

Originally Posted by Brave Stranger

Some tradespeople are gouging in this environment, no doubt. I had a guy over to give me a quote on a simple repointing job on my brick stairs. He wanted 4k. Come on...got it done for under 300 dollars.

I feel for people getting screwed by these contractors/tradespeople...it's buyer beware & all that, but flush times like these bring out the avaricious.

Took me 3 months to find someone to do a pavers patio. after one agreed and bailed. The ball is indeed in their court these days.