Well, it’s funny how life works out.
With a new six year enlistment contract sitting on my desk awaiting my signature this coming Tuesday, My wife came to me and asked the unthinkable. She’s had enough and wants me out( I suspect it has something to do with the fact that if I sign I’ll leave next weekcome home in November, leave at the end of the month and come home sometime in June and then most likely get deployed again after that). Declining to extend won’t get me out of this upcoming rodeo but hey it’s not that long and at least it will be warm and sandy. I’ll be on my own by November 1st
No hard feelings and no regrets. Three deployments and countless weeks and months away from the kids, maybe she’s right. I’ve long ago fulfilled my obligation.
Anyway, here’s the plan. Got two stair shops that will feed me rail installs. A good friend of mine is in a bind and needs help. Lots of high end trim, 2.5 mil and up single family homes. One of the stair shops is part of a lumber yard and they have in the past sent some trim my way too.
That should keep me busy from my last day thru the spring and into summer.
Got the insurance covered. A good friend works for the Auto auction and he is hooking me up with a two year old service van for under $3k. Still have all my own tools.
The plan is to build a portfolio ( something I’ve neglected for far too long) and begin marketing to interior designers and the like. Maybe some Architcts for smaller additions and renovations.
One path that comes to mind is to focus on new and replacement stair rails. Providing the parts and service for renovation and iron replacements. I know and have worked with several flooring companies and could probably set up something with them. Most like the fact that I’ll work off of their finished floor (for a lot more money).
Any ideas on that approach? I’ve got a decent supplier of parts and could move to the distributor once volume picked up. I know at least two decent installers besides myself to handle the work. I’ve got access to two high dollar markets, Farr hills N.J. area and Bucks County P.A.
Also, has anyone had any luck marketing Crown Moulding, Wainscoating and raised panels to interior designers? How did you go about it? I’m willing to bill the customer directly or thru the designer. My rate won’t change either way. I’m looking at about $50 per hour. So long as I get my money I don’t care what the designer adds on.
Wasn’t planning on starting over at this age but it might be fun. Besides, I’ve put my plans for entry level housing on hold because of all the time away. Might be time to dig them out and reevaluate them.
Thanks
Replies
How the heck did you come up with a 2 year old service van for three grand?
Always trust your cape.
http://www.hay98.com/
Gunner,
gotta know someone. It'll be a Ford 250 with the racks in it. Around 80K miles. Regular services and well kept. Between 2002 and 2004
A friend of mine works for an auto auction. They handle a ton of off lease stuff. I didn't know until he told me that a lot of commercial leases are all about the tax advantage and not the savings. The companies don't keep them past 85K. Since it's a work truck it has almost no residual value.
Believe me, if it wasn't something so inside I wouldn't be looking for work I'd just be buying off lease commercial vans and selling them for about 300% markup.
We've been friends since we were 13. When he first told me I thought it was just a trick to get me out his way to drink beer and look at naked girls. So he gave me his login and password to the inside side of the website and a quick search showed he wasn't pulling my leg.18 went across the lane for under $3500 that day alone.
Sure would like a nice new F250 but my ranger is only 2 years old and I really don't want to take the trade in hit and pick up a nice new $500 a month payment.
Good deal I didn't know that.
Always trust your cape.
http://www.hay98.com/
Don't think I didn't drag the wife along to look at F-250 Diesel's all afternoon yesterday. Once the cat was out of the bag about the van she was having none of it.
Of course four years from now when the cash is rolling in (hopefully) it'll still be hard to sell her on a nice new truck if this one works out ok. But I guess a string of two year old vans is better than some guys ever get to drive.
Women with that damn sense of reason.
Hey Gunner-
Next time you're going thru Frankfort on I64, take the 127 Lawrenceburg exit. Larry Stigers truck sales is on the right. They've got tons of fleet vehicles. Deals are not quite as good as mentioned above, but similar. Birth, school, work, death.....................
Didn't know about that. Cool.
Always trust your cape.
http://www.hay98.com/
Robert,
I have been thinking about you the past few days, actually thinking about putting up a post looking for you.
I had dug up an old post of yours somewhere that stated if you re-upped, you would likely ship out. I didn't realize that and I was lightly shocked because I was ardently encouraging you to sign the paper. I was almost sceered you had left us!
Good for you. You will do well, I know it. I had a friend once who told me that almost everyone she knew that had been in the service for any amount of time always became successful on the outside.
Something about having a plan?? LOL!!
I can't think of anyone that I would wish more good things for than you. You definately sound like you have it together. Good luck!
Now, about those vans and that password..............are you selling the Ranger? I thinking of replacing my current 1996 2x4.
Best of luck Robert. I'd love to hear a bit more about the starter home idea. I believe it is a good idea, in the right location of course.
Eric
It's Never Too Late To Become
What You Might Have Been
[email protected]
Eric,
Thanks. I was away for a few weeks at a school. The paperwork is ready and up until Thursday my wife was all for it. Me being away and her realizing I would be away most of the next 15 months is what drove the nail in the coffin. She was actually crying when I got home. Like I said, I've done everything I was asked to do up until now, including giving up a business to deploy with a reserve unit.
How goes your Soul Searching?
Thank you for your service, and her for the sacrifices she's had to make!
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
I hear you--soldier, father, husband, and many other hats--Thank You for your service----I sat in your spot 5 years ago looking at a third tour of six and looked at my daughter and that was the end of that decision.Now 5 years and more children later I don't feel bad one bit--I have people say " wow only 8 more and you could retire"For what? 99 cents a month--My (and sounds like yours)times is up--Well done good and faithful soldier--Thanks again--Now go take care of your family--Mike" I reject your reality and substitute my own"
Adam Savage---Mythbusters
Sounds like some of the soul searching I did in '73. I had eight years in the Navy and really thought about sticking around. The Navy was really offering me some serious incentives to reup - lol
I bailed anyway and have no regrets.
I didn't hear any of this then so I'll say it now.
THANKS!!!
Robert: Thanks for your service to our country. Its guys like you that make it great.
I wish you the best of luck on the stair work. I have no doubt you will do just fine. It has been the best move of my life...and I am just in the middle of nowhere here in Illinois.
My motto that made me get into the stairbusiness while having a very nice trim carpenter job was....."I would rather try and fail than failed to have tried".
Again...best wishes.
Stan
robert,
congratulations on your decision my family and others are grateful for your service.
with the way things are going these days, I am amazed that the military will let you leave. I hope for your sake it happens.
I think your starting point as a trim carp in this area is a good one. There is so much building going on that you should be steady for well into 2006. easily.
marketing to interior decorators is an interesting idea. i'm not sure i would rely on this for a major bulk of your work. depends on how many decorators you can connect with.
are you thinking of being a trim sub or a GC ?
are you here in PA or across the river in NJ ?
my E350 has 190K and it's about due for replacement. it would be nice to find something similar to what you found since I'm only putting about 1000 miles per year, if that.
carpenter in transition
Tim,
I'm in the Lehigh Valley but any time I've earned my living as a carpenter I've always traveled to N.J.
I can and will trim for a living but I'm looking for other avenues. Kinnda looking for a niche. For example I'm replacing the windows in my house in a week or two. My plan is to unzip the siding and pull the old ones out, replace with new ones and zip it all back up. I think it makes a much nicer job than replacement windows with all that aluminum around them. Now the question is, can you market something like that? Is there someone out there who would rather pay a few dollars more to avoid that look? Don't know but we're about to find out.
I'm looking for something that can become a business not a job. I can teach anyone with some skill and common sense to do most of what I know how to do. Not the really difficult stuff, but the bulk of it. And if I do that then I can sell and run the business.
We'll see what happens
robert... good luck to you in the land of the big PX..
you'll do well .. i have no doubtsMike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
From my family to you and yours, THANK YOU for your service and sacrifices.
Good Luck on the business end
Bob
Wow, its been a long time but I just can't get my head around "high dollar market" and Bucks County. All I can think of is the Buck Tractor Pull-"see you at the Buck".
I assume that's Phillie money out there.
eric
SOme Philly money but believe it or not, some NYC money too. The commutes around here are insane lately.