Well actually, it rings all the time from my siblings wanting to borrow money, my friends wanting to go out and spend money, collectors threatening to take my… well you see where this is going. But asside from those and just a couple of little jobs (basically enough to keep me eating), the phone has not been ringing. And given the current work shortage, I’m sure many of you can relate.
Well, today the phone rang and it turned out to be a customer I haven’t heard from in maybe 10 years! What’s more, they have a list of small jobs, and possible a couple of larger jobs, that they need taken care of! Yippee!!!!
Okay.. it get’s better. They have a big ol’ turn of the century Victorian right on one of the main streets in my favorite north shore burb, Willmette. This means I might finally be able to get re-established in that area and quit working all these inner city jobs – or the few I’ve been getting.
Well, wish me luck everybody. I’m going out there tomorrow to see what’s on their punch list.
Damn I feel good! =D
PS: Don’t tell my siblings.
~ Ted W ~
Cheap Tools! – MyToolbox.net
Meet me at House & Builder!
Replies
Good deal man! I know the feeling and it's great. Good luck and keep your head up!
Ed
Thanks Ed, My heads pretty high up there today. ;)~ Ted W ~
Cheap Tools! - MyToolbox.netMeet me at House & Builder!
Ted, one good turn often turns up another.
You did your good turn ystdy, today you get a return.
Thanks and good luck!
A Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
http://www.quittintime.com/
I wish you well. It's rough when you are the company. I have a son who is an electrician who is the company.
MissD, I hope things havent been as slow for your son as it's been for me. But either way, I think things are going to start picking up for all of us with the change in season. I'm pretty sure the nice weather is what inspired my client to 'spring' into action. =)~ Ted W ~
Cheap Tools! - MyToolbox.netMeet me at House & Builder!
And I see it's got the first bid. Cool!~ Ted W ~
Cheap Tools! - MyToolbox.netMeet me at House & Builder!
time to dust off and shine up the old yard signs ...
or scrap together the last coupla pennies to get some new printed ...
of diy some nice clean brand new with cans of used paint.
what ever it takes ... be sure to plant some nice looking uard signs even if yer in there for only 15 minutes.
and ... don't forget to hit the neighborhood with cards in hand.
when I was a legit salesguy ... best manager I ever had forced us to hit the "golden five" ... on a typical street ... neighbors on both sides, neighbor directly across the street, and neighbors on both sides of them.
Go over and let them know you're working close by ... and since you're there ... you'd be happy to look at and/or price any of those projects they've been thinking about.
It worked. I still do it. I use any excuse I can come up with to knock on the door and introduce myself. Never take too much time ... justa quick Hello and here's my card if need be ... and I'll be "over there" for x amount of days.
that manager used to check the local white pages ... and at random he'd call said "golden five" to see if anyone from his company knocked on their door. If not ... he's apologize (for his employees ignoring them) then send them a local restraunt coupon.
he was good ...
Jeff
Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
That's a good idea Jeff, especially the one of making my own sign =D. Hmm... wonder what colors I have sittin around.. Maybe I can make that a project for this weekend.
Ringing the neighbor's doorbells isn't a bad idea either. ~ Ted W ~
Cheap Tools! - MyToolbox.netMeet me at House & Builder!
this is good.
My phone has just started ringing 2-3 times a day this past week or so.
Feast or famine business.
Welcome to the
Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime.
where ...
Excellence is its own reward!
Same here. Went last week and followed up with a past job, just to get a day of paint touch up and a bit of inspection. I get there and the HO shows a ceiling stain ( he had a new roof , Standing seam Steel last summer, by one of Grant's competiters) that just appeard. At first blush I targeted a window sill that is right on the slope of the roof. Upon getting the chicken ladder clamped and getting up there, I see that they ran the metal up the wall, behind the battens, and not a lick of caulk, or counter flashing...so water just ran down the wall, behind the upturned pan.
So what was a quick trip, means I get to go back and do it right, cut the offending battens and insert a counterflash in the wall. Then inspect the whole roof, for the other boo-boos that I am sure exist.
And it never fails, when I get geared up to plant the garden and get some work done on my house, at least 3 other paying projects appear. Looks like one just last night, from SeeYou...and he has 4 lined up for me already.
Real glad my back started playing nice, or I'd be pretty angry, have work ya can't do, really bothers me.View Image
Feast or famine business.
That, it most certainly is. ~ Ted W ~
Cheap Tools! - MyToolbox.netMeet me at House & Builder!
Congrats Ted!
Very best wishes to you
stephen
YiiiPPPPPiiiiiiieeee !!!!
Congradulations.. see there is hope on the horizon!
(uh, mind brushing past me so maybe some of that rubs off?) ,grin>
No problem, consider yourself...
Brrrruuuusssshhhhhed.
Pass it along!~ Ted W ~
Cheap Tools! - MyToolbox.netMeet me at House & Builder!
Tanxs I need that! <grin>
Thats great! Lately my phone has been ringing just like yours (the collectors I mean).
I keep telling them "I have no money, if you have to send it to collections do what you must".
I have been promoting teh snot out of my company trying to get anything, but nuts a little rough in Michigan.
Way to base an economy on one business.
Family.....They're always there when they need you.
Ted, my son lives near New Orleans - they have a strange work situation there. From October until December work is extremely slow. Things pick up after New Years Day in a huge rush. Then most businesses, unless they are bars, restaurants or hotels slow down or stop during Mardie Gras. Small contractors know during this time their employees won't show for work as the employees are having too good of a time celebrating. Then work picks up again. This is an annual cycle.
He does have some solid electrical work to hold him over, though it's not constant.
Thank you for asking and I truly wish you well. Hope you don't live in the New Orleans area.
I read some of the posts since I last wrote. My son does pass out business cards and had some shirts made advertising his business with his name and phone number on the back of shirt. He gave me one and I wear it proudly.
Well, the project is on hold for a while. It turns out the village want's a permit for the work, along with some unanticipated add-ons. If the work is done they may need to add hand rails, which they are totally opposed to for design reasons (and I tend to agree).
I did toss in the idea of using mahogany instead of PT, and the husband wasn't opposed to that idea (wife hasn't heard it yet). However, I just checked the prices and I'd be real surprised if they goes for it. The cost is about 5X that of premium KDAT treated. But I'll pass the info on and let them decide.
In the mean time, they have plenty of projects to keep me busy - tile repair, wood refinishing, plaster repair, etc.. But it looks like replacing the steps won't be until later.
Thanks for all the good advice, everybody. ~ Ted W ~
Cheap Tools! - MyToolbox.netMeet me at House & Builder!
Good luck. I'm sitting here waiting for a call back from some guys in Chicago. Not a place I'd like to work, but they have money (lots of it) and I have precisely (or at least approximately) the experience they were looking for.
Your profile shows you're in SE MN. Is that to say you would travel this far? If so, if must be one heck of a customer! =)
I don't mind working in the city, depending on which areas. I guess I'm just used to the hustle bustle. But given the choice, I'll take the burbs any day. Nice to have someplace to park, a yard to work in, don't have to watch my tools as closely, air is fresher.. But then, it's a longer drive and I have to meet different regulations from one suburb to another. ~ Ted W ~
Cheap Tools! - MyToolbox.netMeet me at House & Builder!
Well, the phone rang (or rather I rang them up), and a trip to Chicago apparently isn't in the cards.
The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. -John Kenneth Galbraith
Congratulations on finding suitable employment to secure your finances, While i Too am attempting to secede in said endeavors my predicament at the present is Im in between jobs and theorfore in negotiations with assigned collectors of slightly past due payments..
Do not fret for me but rejoice in your good fortune, I am of resolute mind plus my wife brings a steady but small pay.
As long as I cook and maintain the laundry i receive my daily Rum ration.
I surely wish ya sucess suceeding with your secedeing secession session.View Image
Say that last part 10 times fast.~ Ted W ~
Cheap Tools! - MyToolbox.netMeet me at House & Builder!
That wuz a test to see if it wuz malo or Sphere. You passed only malo would have picked that up!!!;]
So the Hot Teacher is just givin' you rum these days?
Sorry for yer loss.....
lol I cant responde this is the biz section