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FROM:
Whitey
DATE:
02/27/2008
SUBJECTS:
just finished
Twenty-five years, and counting, doing what? Carpentry that’s what, yep… wood, good ole wood, structial frame to precise finish, demolition to cabinets, Renovations and New construction, for both Residential and Commercial projects. Cleaning my mess? Yes I do that too, why? Because that’s me, a Carpenter and that’s what I do, I’m no hero; just you’re every day Joe making a living at what I know. Then why do projects seem harder and harder to find? Some would say that it’s the housing market; some would say that it’s my attitude, I’ll agree, It’s both, yep, I’m not shy about my attitude, I have one, mostly good, not the best, but very proud of what I know and have done. I’ve noticed lately that my attitude is getting worse like the market, but It’s never been like this before, I was working, ya, that’s right, busy too. What’s the matter with this picture? Who was I working for? Then it all came back to me, wow, That’s right, General Contractors, yep, Condo Kings, you know the ones. They want you to give them a good ole low price because they have a bunch of work. We’ll that lasted about three projects and the loss of thousands of dollars, due to there lack of planning and obligations, to put it lightly. You know the reaction I got when I billed them for my lost time. Well, that’s water over the bridge; I took money out of my savings acct and paid my help, which sure went over well at the dinner table that night. Anyone that this has happened to, My hats off to you, and your family! Needless to say, that was it for me; back to the residential market I went. Years and years went by, you know the story, bidding to get the job, keeping the help going, good jobs, bad jobs, go here, go there, I have to take this job to eat, blaa, blaa, blaa. Bang!! Then it hit me, what the hell am I doing? I just spent years bartering my years of experience, why? Good question… Remember them Condo kings or should I say “Big Business Buddy Boys”, yep. The ones who made hand over fist on everyone’s inexpensive labor, (and I’m sure some city officials are sitting pretty too). Well what do you think happened to their help, not to mention the land butchering, there’s no changing that now. Well anyways, these men/women are now out of work and looking, not just looking but flooding the market, not a real good time boys and girls, Did I mention about the other problem here? You got it, The ones that gave out all them nice loans, ya, the ones the fed’s are gonna help. Oh wait, there helping the people, aren’t they?So now you got a bazillion Carpenter’s out there among other trades, bidding on jobs that they have no experience at, and there getting them because most homeowners are blinded by the low cost and unaware that some of these so called contractors have only built a dog house for there pet rabbit with there landscaping boss ten years ago, who worked for the Condo King in town, but the price was right.I tend not to get too upset with homeowner’s any more when this happens, just for the fact that I know big business has a great deal to do with it, and that both Homeowners and Tradesman/women need to be more educated on the effects of this mess and that everyone isn’t a carpenter, and pricing is only a small part of it.Carpenters are great people, We say what we mean, and mean what we say.So if you see someone struggling with a lunch box nailed to the floor, pray that a rabbit doesn’t jump out.
Tags: Business
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