Part time work. (fit in, real estate, house)

[tym2retyr]

I know this might be kind of an offbeat question, but here goes anyway. I'm gonna retire in a few(3-4) years, We are planning a move to Maine. I'm a skilled tradesman, and I was wondering what the probability might be to get part time maintenance work at the lobster docks or ports in the midcoast region. The company I work for right now has a maintenance force that is multi-craft, so we do everything from welding, electrical, machine repair, millwright work. Not looking for anything permanent, just something to pass the time, and spare "fun" money.

[Submariner]

I am sure that you would fit in well, and find enough work to keep you busy.

[Acadianlion]

Start your own business. My daughter and her husband moved to Virginia very suddenly last fall. He got a new position offered to him in Norfolk at a substantial increase in salary, jumped at the opportunity. The old farmhouse that they had bought needing work was only partially completed and needed several walls and ceilings repaired and considerable amounts of painting. An owner would have done most of it, and the rest required some simple hand tools, a table saw, mitre saw and basic seventh grade shop skills. There were a few electrical fixtures that needed updating, and a couple of electrical boxes installed. All of this had to be done in order for the house to have a real chance of being sold except at a devestating bargain price.

So, it was Dad and Step-mom to the rescue, using basic seventh grade shop skills and the tools that I had acquired from my real estate development business.

While doing the refurbishing work a realtor came in, looked around and asked us if we were doing the work for money. Turns out that the realtor had a few other properties that needed "the treatment" so that they could be successfully sold.

When I was in Sherwin Williams to buy paint, I spoke with the store manager, and was told that if we wanted to put some cards in the store with them, they would make referrals to us and we could have all the work we wanted. Pick and chose....paint a room here, fix a couple of doors there, hang some electrical fixtures, fix a sink and so on.

If you are looking to do a little job here and there, you may well be best off being an independent contractor. Get some business cards and put them up on community bulletin boards or run a small ad in the local newspaper and your phone will ring off the wall. BIG jobs always get attention from the pros who have a crew and do the work for a living. They always want to do sheetrock, electrical work, plumbing, painting and the like in NEW construction. But it is hard to find someone who is qualified, who will show up do the work, clean up and get the job done while sober or straight.

You won't get rich, but you will make a living doing the odd job.