What do you guys and gals consider to be “money maker” type jobs or trades? I was talking to a masonry sub, asking him how he got started, why masonry etc. and he gave me an interesting answer. “It pays more than swinging a hammer”.
That got me thinking. He can make a lot of money in one day but he is also subject to the weather much more than some other trades. I prefer to do what I know and what I feel comfortable doing ( not that I won’t try new things) not necessarily go after what pays the most.
So what type of work is the most financially appealing- roofing, siding, framing, plumbing,etc.?
Replies
Whatever turns you on and has you smiling when you wake up each day!
Be honest
Namaste
andy
"Understanding yourself is like trying to bite your own teeth" Alan Watts
http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
While not a construction trade I understand that the printing trade can be a real money maker.
However, in that business you often forced layoff period of 5 to 10 years.
Print enough to make up for those layoff years, and more.
Tom
All I know is that my plumber drives a brand new Hummer and at least 100' of his 400' shop building is devoted to boats, motorcycles, jet skis and antique automobiles. Plumbing has evidently been berry, berry good to him.
ShelleyinNM
Electrical! That's what I want to do when I grow up...they're the guys with the cleanest clothes and no sweat on a jobsite...make about 50% above the salary of a lowly carp.
Jen
And apparently electricians don't have to clean up after themselves either, another plus!!View ImageGo Jayhawks
Re:"Electrical! That's what I want to do when I grow up...they're the guys with the cleanest clothes and no sweat on a jobsite...make about 50% above the salary of a lowly carp."
I wish it were so.
Jen ; I dont know where you live?? But where ever it is IM moving there,Me and a whole lot of other Electricans,Either that or you Carpenters are getting a Royal Screwing in wages..LOL.....
It's not necessarily what you do, but how you do it. Someone has likely made millions in just about any field you look at from hamburgers, oil, building, computer and etc. Do what you love. Then after mastering it, learn how to make money at it. Just one little opinion. Wish you success.
I beg to disagree. That's what I used to think... do what you love and the money will follow. Now my thinking is do what makes the most money for you so you can enjoy doing what you love. What do you think?
Tom
The truss business is where the big money is.
That's why I can afford to lose my butt building spec houses.................(-:
If sex is such a natural phenomenon, how come there are so many books on how to do it? [Bette Midler]
Any luck at all trying to off load your spec from hell?View ImageGo Jayhawks
The "spec house from hell" still lives. But it's listed with a new realtor for this spring, and I have high hopes for getting rid of it.
Someone else just listed a spec house (in the same subdivision) with a different realtor that's priced $25,000 higher than mine, but has 200 fewer square feet. It's also not built NEARLY to the quality level that mine is, IMHO.
Come to HogFest, and I'll see if I can't show you around the place, and see what you think.........It's not true that I had nothing on. I had the radio on. [Marilyn Monroe]
It's also not built NEARLY to the quality level that mine is, IMHO.
Problem is most people don't seem to care about quality, they want something that "looks nice" and thats a liberal term.
I keep telling my parents how crappy their home is in Houston, twas built like absolute crap. But my mom always come's back at me with "But it looks nice"
Yeah until you look close at the trim work and see all the caulk they used!! Dap or Dow must have had to ramp up production for this subdivision. And don't get me started on the roof framing, I've been in the attic, and I couldn't frame a roof myself but I can sure tell whats wrong!
Anyway good luck off-loading the house.
Thanks for the invite, I'll see if I can make it, IL isn't to far awayView ImageGo Jayhawks
Boss
I thought that it was the other way around.
That you could make so much money on spec house that you could play with trusses. (G,D, & R, VVF)
That's what I meant. See my post #17.
Tom
The answer to your tag line
"If sex is such a natural phenomenon, how come there are so many books on how to do it? [Bette Midler]"
can be found in b-dub's post just before yours.
"Then after mastering it, learn how to make money at it. Just one little opinion."
Tom
Not sure if it qualifies as a money maker.....but has kept me pretty busy....
In the age of specialization...I multi-task!
I "specialize" in high end trim.....high end cab installs....and tile work.
So......lotsa my sub work is the whole kitchen or bath. The GC's crew get's it to drywall.......I go in and bring it to turn-key. Plumber and electrician come in for their trim out ..usually while I'm there...then the painter comes in after I run all the trim.
Works for me as I'm usually there for 4 to 6 or so weeks.......and I like having to book 8 to 10 jobs a yr ...vs 50 one week jobs.
Plus......after a while........I learn my way to the site and get lost less often.....
The one thing that's been a "money maker" is have higher standards and do a higher level in quality and fit/finish than the competition. I charge about $10/hr more than most of the guys they decide to bring in as competition......but I keep getting called back.
Another plus is I have a strong background in remodeling......which leads to more multi-tasking. On smaller jobs ...mostly baths...I'll sub myself from demo to finish.
Just like when I work for homeowners. Free's up the GC's from finding a bunch of different guys......working different schedules. Helps with the customers that need hand holding......having only one new face in their homes....as opposed to a new face every other day.
Basically......I make myself valuable and hard to replace. Current job....subbed 2 bath's.......the GC's plumber was a no show....last minute....day before he was supposed to show...called to say 2 weeks at best........I called my plumber....his bid was close.....and the job went on with no delay as he came the next day with his best guy to knock it out. Did me a favor...made me look good.
Jeff
Buck Construction Pittsburgh,PA
Fine Carpentery.....While U Waite
The grass and the money always look greener........
Yesterday I couldn't even spell plumber, today I are one.
I agree the grass is always greener, until you have to mow it. Most of the plumbers, electricians, masons, excavators, I've seen are driving better vehicles than the carps, drywallers, painters. Don't know what that means really, just an observation.
Boss, how do I start a truss company? I'd like to subsidize the specs that won't sell for me.
"how do I start a truss company?"
Piece of cake - Get together about a half million bucks, and email me. I can point ya in the right direction.A terrible thing happened to me last night again. Nothing. [Phyllis Diller]
I finally got into a niche of working on only very old historic aged homes since I bought mine.
I learned from mine that because it was on the market so long people love them but are scared of them. Mine had dozens of offers but they kept backing out.....some guy even backed out after he was in contract and walked away from thirty grand he had down on it.
Same goes for working on real old houses. Lots of carps don't wanna be bothered. sooooooo.....I been charging heafty prices and gettin it. My name seems to floating around as the guy to call. :)
Be old
Namaste
andy
"Understanding yourself is like trying to bite your own teeth"
Alan Watts
http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
I don't know first hand, but I'm told structural steel/iron work (ie, sky scrapers) is very lucrative. A friend's BIL is an ironworker, and supposedly rakes it in when/if he decides to work. BUT, my friend also tells me that just about everyone is into just about every drug you can find. One of the reasons he can't stand his BIL. Maybe related, maybe not, his BIL and everyone (not just about, but rather EVERYone) he knows in that field has also had some type of serious fall or other accident. The BIL had a crane drop an I beam on his foot or leg, was laid up for months.
If everything seems to be going well, you've obviously overlooked something.