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Nice job. That's great money, especially for SW MO, what are you a doctor ? I sometimes browse land for sale in your area. There's some counties there without building codes and you can find land with live water at very reasonable prices. Not a bad combo.
No doctor. I am a contractor. Build and fix residential and commercial structures. Plumbing, electrical, roofing, etc. I do it all, except concrete and HVAC. People pay because I have a reputation here for doing good work and being able to do the whole job on schedule.
Personally, I think anyone skilled in the trades will be able to write their own ticket in the very near future, if not already, as the younger generation is disdainful of actual work, and the older tradesmen are retiring every day. Already, in many places it is next to impossible to find a competent builder or handyman at any price. A lot of my work comes from repairing the "work" done by others. I work mostly alone, as it is getting harder all the time to find people to work that even care to learn, much less know anything. Most want a job, until they find out it includes a requirement to work!
I live in a county without codes. Built a new house here and did it all myself, including the sewer system. Have yet to see a county official other than the assessor. I live here, but work where the codes are. Makes my job more lucrative, really. People fear what they do not understand, and thus are willing to pay another to deal with simple problems, rather than learn to take care of it themselves.
As to the doctor thing, I had a guy accuse me of charging like a doctor a few years ago, when I handed him the bill for installing a new wax ring under his toilet. I simply asked him who he thought his doctor called when his own toilet needed work. I get paid for what I know, not what I do. Any monkey could do what I do, if they knew how. It's what I know that is valuable.
Personally, I think anyone skilled in the trades will be able to write their own ticket in the very near future, if not already, as the younger generation is disdainful of actual work, and the older tradesmen are retiring every day. Already, in many places it is next to impossible to find a competent builder or handyman at any price.
We've got divergence locally here. The local trend I've always placed faith in is venture capital, which has fallen for 3 straight quarters. Almost all venture capital is given to companies that are expected to use it up, with leverage, within a year, so when that starts to slide, it's a lot of immediate consumption that stops. That's my own perk-up, but it's a leading indicator. Here, we do have sudden shifts. I'm not sure who exactly is the fat lady, but when she bellows, the Valley listens, and we'll add 10% unemployment in a matter of months. If you follow the trends for the area, it's pretty severe.
That said, the beat keeps rolling in other things. Home and commercial construction is continuing to pick up and the roadways are ever more packed as the workforce remains gainfully employed. Home prices are higher. Wage rates are moving up as well. Companies are hiring in expectation of future growth, however, there's ever more strings attached. I contract and recently dropped a company because they went from starting that week to talking about part time for a couple of months and then going full time starting in two weeks. Another was fine with a 9 month commitment, but pushed back the start date a couple of times. Companies that did that a year ago would find their consultant had taken another role in the time that passed. On the other hand, my wife's store had a record month.
Nationally, I think there's a pause. Trump just got handed a defeat. What Wall Street cares about is taxes and reforms. The rest of the stuff is just a sounding board that he can get it through. The healthcare defeat increases anxiety of what if he can't get it done. Allowing companies to bring in their offshore accounts is a lot of money for any economy.
The other national item is the Federal Reserve. If they start reducing their balance sheet as opposed to raising interest rates, banks will be out in the cold this year. If they do both, they could kill the economy.
It's a good year to get cash and pay debt...or just keep cash.
Maybe it's just me. Maybe it's just the northeast. So carry on, guys, and profit!
Nevertheless, I have my ear to the ground. I still don't like what I'm hearing.
Poem: A Visitor From The Past; fight quote; Outbreak of Revolution. Are your anxieties related at all to this?
" I had a dream the other night, I didn't understand.
A figure walking through the mist, with flintlock in his hand.
His clothes were torn and dirty, as he stood there by my bed.
He took off his three-cornered hat, and speaking low, he said:
"We fought a revolution, to secure our liberty.
We wrote the Constitution, as a shield from tyranny.
For future generations, this legacy we gave.
In this, the land of the free and the home of the brave.
"The freedom we secured for you, we hoped you'd always keep.
But tyrants labored endlessly while your parents were asleep.
Your freedom gone, your courage lost, you're no more than a slave.
In this, the land of the free and home of the brave.
"You buy permits to travel, and permits to own a gun,
Permits to start a business, or to build a place for one.
On land that you believe you own, you pay a yearly rent.
Although you have no voice in choosing, how the money's spent.
"Your children must attend a school that doesn't educate.
Your Christian values can't be taught, according to the state.
You read about the current news, in a regulated press.
You pay a tax you do not owe, to please the I.R.S.
"Your money is no longer made of Silver or of Gold.
You trade your wealth for paper, so your life can be controlled.
You pay for crimes that make our Nation, turn from God in shame.
You've taken Satan's number, as you've traded in your name.
You've given government control, to those who do you harm,
So they can padlock churches, and steal the family farm,
And keep our country deep in debt, put men of God in jail,
Harass your fellow countrymen, while corrupted courts prevail.
"Your public servants don't uphold the solemn oath they've sworn.
Your daughters visit doctors, so their children won't be born.
Your leaders ship artillery, and guns to foreign shores,
And send your sons to slaughter, fighting other people's wars.
"Can you regain the freedom for which we fought and died?
Or don't you have the courage, or the faith to stand with pride?
Are there no more values for which you'll fight to save?
Or do you wish your children, to live in fear and be a slave?
"People of the Republic, arise and take a stand! Defend the Constitution, the Supreme Law of the Land!
Preserve our Great Republic, and GOD-Given Right!
And pray to GOD, to keep the torch of Freedom burning bright!"
As I awoke he vanished, in the mist from whence he came.
His words were true, we are not Free, we have ourselves to blame.
For even now as tyrants, trample each GOD-Given Right,
We only watch and tremble, too afraid to stand and fight.
If he stood by your bedside, in a dream, while you're asleep,
And wonders what remains of our Rights he fought to keep,
What would be your answer, if he called out from the grave:
"IS THIS STILL THE LAND OF THE FREE AND HOME OF THE BRAVE???"
IF you think this off-topic, you can always get it deleted. In fact,
if the American people undid those catastrophies it would be good
Maybe it's just me. Maybe it's just the northeast. So carry on, guys, and profit!
Nevertheless, I have my ear to the ground. I still don't like what I'm hearing.
You are not alone.
And there ARE good reasons to be concerned - and they're not being addressed nor discussed in the mass media or in politics.
There is a coming conflagration between advocates of genocidal socialism, collectivist thieves, religious zealots, parasitical usurers, mass migrations from overpopulating non-socialist countries, and the current occupants and owners.
No doctor. I am a contractor. Build and fix residential and commercial structures. Plumbing, electrical, roofing, etc. I do it all, except concrete and HVAC. People pay because I have a reputation here for doing good work and being able to do the whole job on schedule.
Personally, I think anyone skilled in the trades will be able to write their own ticket in the very near future, if not already, as the younger generation is disdainful of actual work, and the older tradesmen are retiring every day. Already, in many places it is next to impossible to find a competent builder or handyman at any price. A lot of my work comes from repairing the "work" done by others. I work mostly alone, as it is getting harder all the time to find people to work that even care to learn, much less know anything. Most want a job, until they find out it includes a requirement to work!
I live in a county without codes. Built a new house here and did it all myself, including the sewer system. Have yet to see a county official other than the assessor. I live here, but work where the codes are. Makes my job more lucrative, really. People fear what they do not understand, and thus are willing to pay another to deal with simple problems, rather than learn to take care of it themselves.
As to the doctor thing, I had a guy accuse me of charging like a doctor a few years ago, when I handed him the bill for installing a new wax ring under his toilet. I simply asked him who he thought his doctor called when his own toilet needed work. I get paid for what I know, not what I do. Any monkey could do what I do, if they knew how. It's what I know that is valuable.
The BS meter just went off!
.."I do it all "..
If you are working in places where codes are enforced you would have to be a licensed plumber, electrician.
Anyone can build homes in my town, with or without a license.
I recently bought a couple buildings in a downtown section of a nearby town. They have code enforcement. In fact city hall is a mere sidewalk width away from my buildings.
I filed a permit for the refurbishment, and so far all the contractors have been able to do their work under my permit. I do not have any license.
A few times specific contractors have had to meet with Code Enforcement to argue specific details of their work.
I hired a licensed electrician to do the wiring, I hired a licensed plumber to do the plumbing, I hired a licensed carpenter to do the carpentry, and I hired a licensed fire sprinkler tech to fiddle with the sprinklers.
So far they have only been working on the first floor of these buildings. As the first floor is nearing completion, the carpenter wants to give me a quote on doing the plumbing on the second and third floors.
Apparently it is common here, even in towns with Code Enforcement for anyone to do framing and plumbing.
We need a licensed electrician only because we are bringing in more meters and we need his license for the utility company to hook up to them.
Again these added requirements are only because this work is being done in a town with Code Enforcement.
If you are working in places where codes are enforced you would have to be a licensed plumber, electrician.
SW MO ?
$500 a day ?
I laughed so hard I spilled my coffee !
Okay, joker. Since you know so much, you already know that I am a licensed plumber, licensed electrician, and licensed general contractor where I operate. Before you call someone a liar and project your own lack of ability on them, sit and think about the fact that some people learn things and do things that you do not. And fix your BS meter. It is seriously in need of calibration. As is your attitude.
Okay, joker.
Since you know so much, you already know that I am a licensed plumber, licensed electrician, and licensed general contractor where I operate. Before you call someone a liar and project your own lack of ability on them, sit and think about the fact that some people learn things and do things that you do not.
And fix your BS meter. It is seriously in need of calibration. As is your attitude.
Well said.
"You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to countryboy73 again." DARN.
We need a licensed electrician only because we are bringing in more meters and we need his license for the utility company to hook up to them.
Again these added requirements are only because this work is being done in a town with Code Enforcement.
Surprisingly, in many locations where a "licensed" contractor must be used, people really are failing to actually read the ordnance.
Sometime all the ordinance requires is a licensed person to take responsibility for a project and take the heat for mistakes during the final inspection. The AHJ could care less who drilled what holes, who ran what wires or pipes, who connected what air ducts or who stuffed all the insulation in the cavities. All the AHJ wants is when they come for an inspection that a licensed person is there to see the inspection and is willing to place their name and license number on the line.
It's kind of the same mistake people make for alternative material. They think because it's not a 2X4 dimensional lumber that it can't be used. Most alternative materiel are now more mainstream than people think. As they are sued more and more, and engineering specs are developed, they are being incorporated into the codes. Even if it's not in the codes, so long as it meet the minimum specifications, they can be approved. That is where I suspect most fall flat on their face, they just aren't smart enough to find the specs needed to satisfy the AHJs.
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? I sometimes browse land for sale in your area. There's some counties there without building codes and you can find land with live water at very reasonable prices. Not a bad combo.
