I was thinkin about it since I just turned 54 with arthritis and a heart condition. Left arm dont work so good and both legs are eat up with artritis. Figgured it would be a good time to quit and open another chapter on my life as MS puts it. Ive done several different things . All but one have involved the trades. I swore after buying a convience store I would stay with what I knew so I thought Id haul lumber and steel and be a trucker . Go ahead and laugh, everyone else did !
I found a truck and trailer but no CDL and figgured that would be a piece of cake . Seems the I need a DOT physical. Hmm , that sounded like fun . I read up on it right good too. It excludes people with no arms or legs , people that have Elilispsi[sp?] , then people who have heart conditions that are on going. MMMM Thats me excluded! Also any drug thats used to control blood pressure to catch people that actually have hight blood pressure cause those people are excluded too if they cant lower it naturally.
So I tried to figgure side stepping it . I had a heart cath that said one artery was partially blocked so I got on meds to to combat it . Then I had a dye test on a new machine that listed the blood flow in that artery, ‘sufficient” and all others were fine. Whic my queation now is , does that make them all fine ? I doubt it since Im still taking a hand full of meds a day.
So it looks like yall are stuck with me .
I did go to a truckers forum and entered as a newbie . hahaha that was fun! Anyway , thats what Ive been doing.
Tim
Replies
i have an old worn out used up nam vet, agent orange, ex coke head, ex drag racer, buddy who thinks he knows everything about everything (those kind really mess it up for those of us that do)
anyway... he hauls used cars, uses an F350 with a wedge bed trailer, for used car dealers... hauls 2-3 cars at a time keeps him fed and he seems to make a little$$ he'll also move those 500k to 1mil dollar motorhomes around for folks... i know he doesn't have a cdl of any type
p
Nephew did that and nearly starved to death, lol. Hes still a car buyer and that bus would be open to me since hes at every auction. I was planning on making some money so that doesnt seem to be it . <G>
Itll take some money for me to switch and an easiar way of life. I can still do this , I was just thinking about the next ten years. By the time I get a hand full of pills down Im good for 6 hours or so . I just thought driving would be the ticket but not at minimum wage , lol.
Now Im wondering if theres others here .
Tim
Tim,
I have a friend whose father in law used to pull short loads with an F-450. Mostly completed sheds and the like. He did ok. enough to live decent if not in the lap of luxury.
Another friend of mine had two Dodge 3500 DRW's hat he used to pull gooseneck trailers full of corregated plastic pipe. He lost his a$$ and ended up volunteering to go to Iraq to help pay back bad loans.
Short hauls are just like any other business. You can make it, but it might not be easy and it might not be for everyone.
Hi Mooney,
New lurker here. I'm 60 and had a quadruple by-pass a year and a half ago. Was working the assembly line in a KW truck plant. After the surgery I said that's it. No more, the few $ weren't worth it to me to knock myself out keeping up with 20 year olds chasing a chain all day. I'm happier, more relaxed, and busy as h--- doing all kinds of stuff. Afew less $ in my pocket but a lot happier for it. Wish I had had a trade or skill like some of you guys.
If you like people, especially younger ones try teaching 'em some of your trades knowledge. It's something that can't be outsourced no matter what the suits think.
There are night courses and senior and youth and job centers. With all the 'boomers' getting ready to retire, someone has to learn the ropes and take over.
Or turn your skills into a hobby you like and it's amazing what you can sell at trade fairs and farmers market type setups. You can enjoy doing what you want and earn a few sheckels at the same time.
Best of luck to you and you'll make the right choice. Every day is precious!! Savor them.
Jim (bum)
Or turn your skills into a hobby you like and it's amazing what you can sell at trade fairs and farmers market type setups.
Forgot about that one .
I had a wholesale produce business . I ran my butt off and it was a lot of fun and very long hours. I didnt mind at all and even made some money. It was a lot of lifting though and you know the story there for us today having bypass your self. I also did a couple of flea markets . That was a blast ! Flea market days have come and gone. They were quite the hay day .
Tim
I had a few races horses years back. Seems they were always looking for reliable people to transport horses to and from the track, and to and from Florida, I'm in New Jersey, during the winter months. Big emphasis on reliable. Not sure what it's like in Arkansas but it paid pretty good here.
Kevin
Thats pretty cool.
I just told the driver board it looked like I was stopped and they didnt think so. After years of making threads here , that was my first there . Kinda struck me as funny.
They said find a doc and give him my reports. Mine might do DOT med cards , dunno. Gotta have all of the updated ones and they thought it might fly. A direct report from the cardiologist will have lead weight on the deal if he agrees or disagrees. Hes an upbeat kinda guy so mebbe. Worth a shot .
Tim
Last year, I came in "off the road" after 10 years of driving "long-haul". I ran decks and vans troughout North America, going all the way from Watson Lake, Yukon; to Orlando, Florida.
I enjoyed;
the driving: the scenery: the people I met.
I did NOT enjoy:
chaining the tires; tarping the loads in -40C with 30MPH winds; midnight to 6AM delivery appointments;
I REALLY had problems with:
the desk drivers in the office: the pay;
It seems that in the trucking industry, the desk drivers have the attitude that they are the "be all and end all" of the company; not realizing that without the drivers, all they have is a "lot of iron sitting against the fence". And then they DEMAND that you work almost 24/7 for less than minimum wage.
I came in off the road and gave up my CDL because of this attitude.
eg. I would send in my ETA **as required**... and they would ignore this and give me a delivery appointment for 3-5 hours before I could get there. This happened 4 times in a row, and I finally said "Forget it" ; )
I enjoy driving, I can handle the appointments, but I cannot deal with the stupidity behind the desks anymore!!
I am presently employed as an electrician, (re-activated my certification) and sideline as a carpenter doing finishing and building decks. My family is happier, I can deal with my diabetes more consistently, and I am making more money. It will take a while, but I can see myself getting out of debt in the foreseeable future, now
The requirements for getting a CDL are becoming more stringent, and more ridiculous; especially since 9/11. There is more cross-border paperwork, and the so-called "security" requirements are a joke! They run your sleeper and your load under the x-ray, without checking under the hood.
So much for my rant
locolobo
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
I just had another thought. I have a friend whose mother can't fly. Had to travel from Florida to NJ by motor home following heart surgery. There was a couple who they hired to bring her home. Turns out they went through this with their mother, drove her accross country, and than made a businesss of it. Mostly people who can't drive themselves and are either unable or afraid to fly.
Kevin
Must be a 50's thing and No I won't laugh. Thought about it myself many times. I love to drive and wouldn't mind seeing the country through a windshield. Actually I would love to work for the railroad in transportation services however I'm past the age limit besides I'm deaf in one ear and can't hear out the other, no chance of getting hired for anything other than a gandy dancer. So I guess I have no other choice but to keep plugging along in the shop until the motor burns out.
Here's wishing the best for you and Let us know how it turns out.
DW says its stupid and shes not havin problems gettin takers to her thinkin.
Her points are taken. You work all your life learning the trades in this case . She looks at it as throwing the knowledge away.
How many times have we seen it here ? Some guy has education up the wow wow and has a nice job and now he wants to do carpentry. I for one am thinking , youve just got to be kidding ! Nope , hes not kidding as he makes a thread of it . All the while Im thinkin crazy to throw that away to be a carpenter apprentice or what ever and wants to know how long it will take to be proficient at the trade . Like wow , I mean w o w ! lol.
Tim
any local trade schools to teach at?
had one trade school teacher finally hit the jackpot ... according to him ...
finally got hired to teach shop in a state pen! Said the pay and bennies were great.
How about a community college class on being a successful landlord ...
Jeff
Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
"How about a community college class on being a successful landlord ..."
I was gonna make another post to answer one and insert this ;
The reason I was planning on buying a truck and trailer is simply because Ive still got rentals. Thats my first priority that I wont quit. That also doesnt seem to "fit" leasing on with a company. If you read the earliar post you will find he did work for someone which brings on its own set of probems.
Ill have to say comming from the trades Im not used to it at all nor can I accept it . You know Jeff , if we say we are not working next week we just dont book it and its a done deal. Seems these guys dont have that freedom. I know that there are jobs that need to be done and they need direct attention , but again thats our choice. Honestly if I stay I will continue to invest in rental property and I still want that choice. Then hiring a driver would make sense, but not taking my choices away.
Right now it doesnt look like trucking is as good financially as what we do . The math is not adding up to it so far.
Tim
I gotta go with the crowd & DW here - leverage what you know.
However... The guy who just delivered my bandsaw works as an independant contractor for Watkins Motor Lines. They are a LTL carrier with long-haul and local delivery. Has his own bobtail (looked 20') w/lift gate & a pallet jack; he does the local stuff. Company pays the insurance - sweet! He shares the territory with a bigger truck that gets the 10K - 20K# loads. Says they treat him really well, good dispatch and he's makin a living in the SF Bay Area - and home every night. Your milage may vary...
Hi Mooney,
Interesting thread -I'm going to be 54 in April and today I was humping concrete
bags downstairs into a basement-my back is sore tonight-gets a man to thinking...
my own plan is to teach as much as possible because it is something I really enjoy and the money is reasonable.
Also to specialize in custom kitchens-steer my business into the most lucrative field that matches as closely what I want to do-
I agree with Jeff-teaching what you know is a great option.
I started teaching woodworking at a community college 13 years ago and I discovered that I love teaching and it doesn't seem at all like work-even a 4 hour night class with no break after a day in the shop or in the field.
I wanted to expand my teaching opportunities so I developed and have taught:
cabinet-making/framing/know your router/rustic furniture making/willow chair making
wood finishing/know your table saw...upcoming...blueprint reading/estimating for small contractors/
I presently am preparing to apply for a fulltime job that is opening up and because of my teaching experience, I have a very good chance at the position.
I also have taught;
high school as a tech teacher for one month-lots of possibllities there for tradesmenbut I didn't like it and the money wasn't there
summer camp-woodworking for kids
was a woodworking instructor for a large scale park renovation.
I call myself a woodworking and carpentry entrepreneur-make money in any way I can with the skills I have.
I have thought about going into other fields of work and feel as you do-I spent a lifetime learning these skills and it seems like a waste to walk away from them...
that's where the teaching thing really kicks in...
not like me to go on like this but I know where you're coming from-my back was out
for a few months several years ago and I didn't know what to do-
silver
Tim, sorry for this irreverant post, but I started thinking about it and started laughing so I have to send it....
Tim, since you seem to love the trucking life, but can't get a license, maybe you might just think about becomeing a truckstop hooker?!!!
Are you a good looker?
blue
Thanks Blue .
"Tim, since you seem to love the trucking life, but can't get a license, maybe you might just think about becomeing a truckstop hooker?!!!
Are you a good looker?"
That was as good a laugh as Ive had in several days.
It also said what ya thought about it too. Still crackin up though. <G>
Tim
tim... have you thought about design work with a CAD program ?
"
tim... have you thought about design work with a CAD program ?"
You surprized me with that one . No I havent .
But to inquiring minds that seem to be asking questions lightly and making suggestions Ill make your night with a better laugh.
Ive been thinking about a House Doctor franchise. I talked to Dan very briefly about it
but mainly about his gig which Im silent on less hes announced somthing while Ive been away. Thats up to him and not me but hes still service oriented .
I emailed Christy on the doctor thing or somthing like it and we havent talked yet , only because of me doing what Ive been doing. A lot earliar I had asked her about her comapany which is consultant oriented. I didnt think it was a match for me living in a small town.
Ive got lots of years in this business in different forms of service but the doctor thing pronounces my strengths in my opinion and offers a hands free physical approach. Ive built , bought , sold , and operated rentals for the past 15 years now , happy birthday . LOL. During that time Ive had to rejuvinate my own rentals as well as ones Ive flipped and taken work along the way doing the same thing . Not only has it been remodeling and building but I had to get decently good at what I used to think of as pos jobs that went with it . Sewer routing , repair plumbing , rebuild dishwashers and be a hot water heater mechanic , just to name a few. I had to tool my truck and trailer to handle all of the jobs and now have finally realized , hell its a profession thats not highly competed with at least around here. I came from the painting and drywall field primarily and that happens to be a large part of peoples problems.
The answer to it is a bigger truck, lol. To be able to carry several trades tools on one truck. Thats a biggy that Dan has answered with a box truck with tool box lids opening from the out side. Ive researched it and believe the sprinter van with the 12 foot long bed is one option but also the common every day bread truck is awsome in two ton range with a diesel driver . . 20 to 24 ft of bed space .
The answer is to sell gifted tradesmen the idea in making more money doing many different things and buying a new truck. A bigger truck and one they wouldnt use for pleasure. My job would be to assist them if needed and sell the work . I believe 4 vans will run an office which is where I want to be if I do it.
I think selling four gifted tradesmen in several areas of expertise is the biggest job even allowing that I can show them better numbers than they are getting hustling their own work. Of course I live in a place that the tradesmen dont charge what they are worth but they dont provide the service they are cable of turning. They just dont know they are de man and should charge accordingly. They are simply working for carps wages while they hold a masters in a few to several different trades , so to speak.
DW has always said it should sell at a premium. We ran some tests in the field of me bidding several small jobs of different descriptions . I bid them how I learned it here . I found my operating cost which is a long math problem that changes as you boys preached. I marked up profit on myself and materials . I gave a take it or leave it presentation with every one simply because I didnt care . It was a test . That test landed 60 percent and some change. I think they just wanted to be done with all the projects and not have to deal with several people. 2 said they knew I was too high, but they wanted it done both for different reasons. I sold more work off that work and it wore me out so it aint for me to do by myself. I came in tonight barely walking . The youngins could have danced the night away after my day and I know it .
Tim
Tim, are you are thinking about opening a franchise up and hiring four subcontractors or employees to handle the calls?
The idea makes sense but the million dollar question is where are you going to find one of those mechanics? Finding one sounds hard but finding four sounds like an impossibility.
Sorry for raining on your parade.
blue
There used to be a lot of them around that could do a lot of things when we "all" built a house but you are right theres not many now. One thing is common though ; When you see one , hes normally working for carpenters pay . No more .
I read about one making 100 per hour and I read the story twice to confirm if I thought it was possible . I thought it was if he was in a high area and he was fast and organized. Point being , they never think they are worth that much money or normaly even half of that.
Thats why I mentioned four mechanics with different feilds of knowledge.
I would be there if they needed help or answers as that would be part of my job to keep it flowing and to help them make money.
The biggest is selling them on buyng the truck and tools . Its not possible if they cant carry all the necesary tools. We are talking several trades of tools here and access to specialized tools. Thats the biggest sell because most of them dont have any more money than a New Orleans mucician and many dont have any credit . Its critical if they dont get paid Friday, so how are they going to afford a new truck?
Tim
Btw , parades have to take into account it may rain.
I just know the business end of it works.
Tim
I think Mike Smith's suggestion of drawing plans is a good one. I imagine you've seen enough houss that you'd have a pretty good idea what would work and what wouldn't. The "House Doctor" thing isn't something I know anything about, but it sounds reasonable. One other wild thought comes to mind - Buying your own crane and hiring out with that. You'd have to get a truck that was small enough that you didn't need a CDL to drive it. But I think that's doable.How about home inspections? You obviously know enough about houses to do a good job at that. And I suspect you've read enough about the business here on BT to have some idea if you'd like it or not. Or email me sometime and I'll tell ya how to make a fortune by building spev houses.(-:
A wise man knows everything; a shrewd man knows everyone.
I am not sure what the franchise brings you. It is a brand name and advertising. But they are designed for people that are not in the construction business.And I am not sure that big truck is needed. Now plumbers do that for "on call" type of repairs and carry WH, toilets, garage disposal, etc. But it would take a couple of semi's if you where going to do that in all phases of possible phases from DW and painting, to glass for windows, to replacement doors (both interior and exterior of all common siszes) to plumbing, electrical, kitchen cabinets, etc, etc, etc.When they call you already have a clue as the range of projects and if small enough carry those tools. I have a small box for plumbing and another for electrical that carry enough tools for common handyman type of "repair, removal, replacement" type of work. And need just the parts.Now if I was going to setup a truck I like you are talking about for those two areas I would stock a repair kit for common brands faucets (you will have to learn what is common in your area) toilet flapper and fill valve, some stop valves (I usually have to replace bad ones at the same time), a couple of p-trap parts. For electrial a roll of 12-2 and 14-2, a handfull of recpts and switches, a couple of GFCI's and maybe a couple of retro fan boxes.For those two you could probably cover 80% of the calls. The other was going to be too specialized or require more materials than it is practical to carry anyway.And you could do that for several other trades.Proably easy to fit into a van, maybe even a small van.And for the bigger, more complicated jobs you are probably making prosals and/or need to get materials anyway. Just include shelping time in the cost.Now, I am doing this on a very small scale and only have a compact pickup. But last week I got a call some one in a new house wanted some basement shelving.When I got there we looked at the space they asked about getting in more lights. Then added that they would like some specific storate in the garage. Said that I would come up with something. Called back with a prosal for the basement shelving, lights, and found a RTA cabinet that was perfect for what they wanted.Brought tools and the cabinet the first day and built and installed the cabinet and moved the tools into the basement and got exact measurements for the basement shelving. While there asked about an other receptacle in the basement and gave them a price.Next day came with the electrical supplies and lumber for the uprights and rails for the shelving.Installed the electrical and most of the lumber for the shelving.Returned the 3rd day with the plywood for the shelves, finished up, cleaned up and removed my tools.Neted $45/hr including the material trips.Now if I did have a bigger truck I would have had the plywood with me the first trip and worked a little longer and finished it all in the 2nd day.
This probably needs its own thread as well.
Ive got countless hours thinking about this subject as Ive done it with the rentals and the ones Ive bought . [flipped, or kept ] I dont have a lot of experience doing the all trades for the public.
Sonny worked from an S-10 I believe when he posted here and kept his stuff in buckets with lids . I actually laughed at that set up but he made more money than I made by far. With that said I cannot be critical.
To me there are two ways ;
One is to have a central located shop in the area that has an over head door you can back into. Dedicated to the business only. That could be done with an s-10 or bigger or a metro van with a trailer. Of course or bigger. I use that system but I use a tool truck lined with boxes and pull a trailer dedicated for tools which I can get materials on by shifting . I also have a 16 foot trailer for materials if needed or they deliver . One problem is that we need our material outlets to run parts like automotive.
So lets take a look at your business . [or what you wrote in my prospective ]
45.00 per hour netted. To me that means you gave a bid price and didnt ask for 45 hourly. Thats what I would have done . You gave a job overview and mentioned what normally happened in plumbing and electrical. I agreed. It didnt happen but you could have been involved with several more things . Your time or mine is what we have to sell . Shopping or tool changing is down time however you want to figgure it unless they are willing to pay you for the shopping but I dont see the tool changing being realitive . Most guys try to do it at lunch or before they start or after in the evening by planning it . Traffic can be a killer just going a short haul in town. I dont think its a good idea to risk the time if it can be avoided. My main deal is talking and I dont need to be sent to twon, LOL.
Not to criticize lets give another overview.
You have three small jobs going on at the same time . This could be one job but as you say likely not. You have a bath reno complete consisting of flooring , fixtures , tile , electrical , plumbing , the works with new fixtures. You just spayed a texture ceiling to match the rest of house and the half walls need to be papered above tile. That took an hour and youre done . Youve got another job that is replacing an entry door with lock set that needs to be hung today which requires retrofitting the opening . A large tool out lay there . Not to mention retrofitting materials.Then of course the door will have to be protected becuse its a wood door. The third call comes in on a cell phone with no advance warning and it has to be done becuse its a good customer . Water heater is ruining the floor by leaking and the kids just got home . That means its 3:35 pm. You are caught becuse the whole day didnt call for the water heater to be loaded on the truck nor do you have the tools becuse you didnt need them. Youn really couldnt have hauled them anyway with all the tools you had to haul that day so you didnt. You could say that you did but another job would have caught you doing somthing else. It sure has me ! So for benifit of the point lets say you were not loaded to do the job. This customer does several thousand dolars of business a year with you and they trust you. My opinion is you need to go, so lets set that requirement for say. Youre going . But you have to close that job you were on which loads your truck again. Home you go to reload and to the home center not to give the problem that you dont know what size water heater they may have installed. The out of the way trip is 15 miles by the time you arrive on site .
You actually do it and I normally dont so you know what works for you working for customers . I just know that the more equipped I am the less down time I experience with rentals. One other thing is one other thing . Can you do this while you are here ? How do you handle that if you are not equiped?
Edited 3/28/2006 2:35 pm by Mooney
"45.00 per hour netted. To me that means you gave a bid price and didnt ask for 45 hourly. Thats what I would have done . "Exactly." It didnt happen but you could have been involved with several more things "Actually one other thing ask to do was to hang a wall mounted light. So I made sure to have some hole wall hangers with me.Now many a more typical one was a call to fix a toilet. Need a new flapper and shutoff. Which is the type of things that I would carry withme if I did this regularly and had a van.But while there he also asked about building a bench in a sauna. Even if I did have a large truck it would not have been practical to carry enough lumber with me to do such a thing." Shopping or tool changing is down time however you want to figgure it unless they are willing to pay you for the shopping "Yes, but they are going to pay your for the shopping time anyway, one way or the other. If you buy it before hand then you spend that time that you could have been working other jobs or doing whatever you want to do. So when you figure you equalent wages Net Income/(TOTAT hours work). Now to your example with the WH, now you would need to carry at least a 40 gal elec, NG, and propane, and maybe the same in 50 gal. That makes 6. Then you get their and find that they have a low boy or a direct vent any way.And for the last year you have been paying for the 6 water heaters, wear and tear on the trailer and and specially the wear and tear, not the mention the gas, on the truck. And How much extra time will you spend each time that you have to park it to find a place and maneuer it in. A week and of just hooking and unhooking that trailer will take more time that the 30 minutes to run by and get one.Adn with my luck after haulling the 6 water heaters for a year and getting a call where I have right one I will find that two months eariler the lumber that I carried for the deck project damaged it.Now the tools that it takes for project like that are not not much. I have one small box that carries a torch, couple of wrenches, flux, solder, PVC cement, coper pipe brushes, moen puller and a few other misc items. That and a small collection of fittings could handle any kind of leaks, WH replacement, faucets, etc.IMHO that it the level of support that you should carry. A good van would do that in most of the trades. But probably a small step van (bread truck) would be better if you want it more comprehsive.But you really need to be realistic about how much you can do and have everything available with you at all times. As a said, only partially humerously, a couple of semi's might work.There is the often quotes 20/80 "rule" that can be used many cases that you get 80% of the "rewards" for 20% of your efforts and vice versa (80% of the profits from 20% of the jobs, 80 of headaches from 20% of the clients, etc).In this case I think that you will find taht you can get 80% of the jobs with 20% of the tools and supplies that you are talking about.I think that the overhead of the other 80% will kill you. Not that you don't need to have it available one way or another (have in shop, buy as needed, sub out, rent) but not all the time."just know that the more equipped I am the less down time I experience with rentals. One other thing is one other thing . Can you do this while you are here ? How do you handle that if you are not equiped?just know that the more equipped I am the less down time I experience with rentals. One other thing is one other thing . Can you do this while you are here ? How do you handle that if you are not equiped?"I don't disagree, but there is a limit. Just make a list and schedule it to do the other items."You actually do it and I normally dont so you know what works for you working for customers "I want to make it clear here that I am just starting to do this and do it part time. And I am not ready to do anyting as big as a bathroom (except in an unocupied home). My background is not in contruction, but my experience is from DIY and small projects for friends. And one of my problems is taht while I know that I can fix most anything I have not often seen the many different ways that something has been done in the past and all of the ways that things can go worng. So in the middle of a project like a bathroom I often end up having to stop and rethink my plans (and get new supplies, etc). Just did that when I fixed up a house for a friend of mine to rent. Installed pedistal sink and trying to fit the trap and make it line up was took the last of what little air I had left.So don't take everything that I say as the gossple truth. A truck would be much better than my ranger. But you need to find a happy point in how much you carry.
When I did Remodeling, I had a Ford Courior. I put 2 dividers around the wheel wells and built a center hinged bed cover. I designed a 1 1/2":2' rise in the cover.
I stocked the front section with carpenters stuff, the middle with mechanical and plumbing, and the rear most section with "wet work" tools, (paint DW, concrete.) I mounted saws and squares (flat tools) to the underside of the cover. Laid long skinny tools like levels on top of the dividers near the ridge.
I carried plenty of consumables for each section, nails and screws, tape, solder, wire nuts, floetrol, adhesive admix, etc., but no line item materials, valves, fixtures, sinks :) etc.
If I had to carry flat stock, I pulled out 2 2x2s and laid 1 on each side of the ridge in the cover at 2' from center.
If it was too large for me to carry, the client paid the delivery charges anyway.
Sometimes it's actually cheaper for the client to pay the supplier to deliver than pay me to spend time at the store and drive both ways.
Fer intenses, here, all delivery charges are $35 or $50. That only pays for around 30-45 minutes of my time, not including vehicle related costs.
You also have to think about the use and the purpose of tools. To hang one door you can mount the door, mark the hinges, dismount it, stand it between your legs , reach in your bags for a 3/4" chisel and freehand the mortises. Total time, about 10 minutes. Or you go out to the truck and unload the door stand, the hinge jig, and the router, do the door, then reload all that stuff. Total time, about . . . 10 minutes.
Instead of several dedicated drill motors, one 1/2" variable speed hammer drill will poke holes in wood, concrete, and metal, and, will drive screws and bolts.
Instead of using an SCM with Laser guide for 3 pieces of trim, use a miter box.
A Swedish Butter Cooky tin will hold a dozen saw blades. Take 2 minutes to change blades instead of 4 to get and replace a dedicated concrete (or whatever) saw from the truck.
Ammo boxes are extremely strong, airtight, and a small one will hold all of a common nail size you could ever use on a maintainence call. 1# nail boxes pack neatly into them too. A standard size ammo can will hold almost 30# of 16ds.
I used to carry in one standard size ammo box; a 1/2" drive drill, with removable cord, 2 drill indexes, a few 12" long bits, 2 wire brushes, a flapper brush, a small grinding wheel, a dozen or more spade bits, a file for sharpening them, several concrete bits, a hole saw set, a couple of center punches, a star drill, a cold chisel, a concrete chisel and some drift punches. weighed about 25#. . . in the morning. . .75# at 5pm.
Another box held a small pull saw, a set of small wood carving tools, hemostats, jewlers drills, a grout saw, (had to put it somewhere and it seemed to fit the catagory,) some dentists picks, a bunch of other small fine tools, all layered with sponge rubber. you'ld be surprised just how often that box saved the day.
Just glue carpet to the bottoms of all those metal containers. And don't ask how I know that.
Put all your smaller boxes of supplies in trays in two of the tallest ammo cans, attach some 3/8" ply and carpet to the tops with cutouts for the handles, and you have dandy sawhorses and step ladders that take up no effective space in your truck.
Hang in there, buddy, it's doable and profitable.SamT
I read your original post this morning and thought about it all day.
I am not going to do the Mr. Appliance deal. I figure it will take a total of 80k to start up and get profitable and I am only willing to part with 60. They say it will be fine but I listen to me first! Good company. Great product. But simply more fitting for a larger market in my opinion.
I still like the franchise idea if it is with the right deal. Internet presence is becoming more important and a well run franchise is a marketable item unlike most of out businesses. I also liked there coaching by going over your P&L together monthly. I think everyone can use a varied opinion. But in the end hte numbers don't work for me. They still call occasionally but I have made my decision.
I think no matter what you get into you need 4 guys making money to support one guy in the office if that is all he is going to do. I think you would be hard pressed to come up with 4 guys with the range of talent you speak of and the where with all to buy their own truck. I train my people generally speaking and provide the trucks. More expensive and more involved but we have continued to grow so I at least think I am on the right track. I would just like to grow faster.
A buddy of mine is doing the middle aged truck driving thing. Being away from home isn't the same when you are 50 vs 20. And the money really isn't that good compared to the hours he puts in.
I think you just need to pick one of the trades you feel comforable in and start by hiring a guy and training him. You don't make much money on them the first 4 months but they start coming around and you can get another. You won't get out of the field unless you get someone doing it for you and force yourself out. Personally having met you I can't imagine you sitting drawing up plans. Not that you aren't smart enough just seem to like being involved and busy.
Big trucks vs small. I simply determined that if I was going to do the home repair handyman thing I wanted most of the tools with me. Where I can find them and places to put them. And I still wanted to put 30 sheets of rock, a bunch of cabinets or kitchen appliances on board without unloading and reloading the truck. They aren't really that expensive. My last pickup cost 1/3 more. The one tons run 28k and the 3/4 tons are around 26k. I also like new trucks as I don't want to screw with maintenance issues and service work not to mention they help in marketing. For the few hours of messing around with a starter or such I can work and pay for the truck. Just a different theory. I pay them off as quick as I can. Don't know why I usually buy another. Hope my rambling is of value! DanT
Three different views sorta. Now four counting mine lol.
Now if you dont mind ,
I really liked your truck from the first time I saw it in a pic. I loved the inside boxes opening from the out side . Real arthritis knee savers!! [hahaha] I did not get a view of the inside but I dont remember a lift . Mebbe there was one , if there is not one , its too high for me . I dont need to lift anything I dont have to. Its amazing what I can do and not lift. At first I thought I was dead in the water and ready to draw disability, but noneya. Im getting better but Im not about to lift a wheel bar compressor or a 1 gallon per minute airless when it has wheels. Ive noticed the bread trucks are much lower with wheel wells made into the bed. A folding four wheeler ramp coated with 3/8s ply would do a nice job at only 4 feet long. 20 to 28 ft bed length on a cab over chasis make it pretty easy for manuvering into driveways . Lower to the ground for ladder racks . The plus as Ive found them is they are near worthless used. That would be really bad if I bought it new. Your truck could be fitted with a flat bed or even a dump and would be worth much more used. Of course what turns me on about either truck is a rolling billboard thats big enough to read for a long ways . I had a pickup once that had large sinage on it and it kept me busy part of the year. It let every one meet you .
Sprinter vans are a compromise with a 12 ft bed , full signage and are also low to the ground. I question if its big enough. They are very high priced new or resale and still have a wow factor as they are very noticed still as being "odd "here. Expediters sell them when they are 7 yrs old .
The best bang for the buck is a used window seat van. They become nearly worthless compared to the above and are too high new. They have a 14 foot bed if Im correct and can lose the passenger seat for 16 feet . They have dual air and heat and other whistlesand bells. They come with diesels too and they are true one tons, single axle. Many have a tow package and can pull a camper trailer up to 30 feet or a 16 ft utility tandem axle loaded. They are not my choice for a tow vehicle on job site however and would not be a plus there . They can be remodeled with a sleeper , tv , lap top and a sink for travel with even a dinning table that makes a bed with cabinet strorage . This is a working on the road advantage mostly with commercial jobs.
I have a problem with just tool storage . I dont really expect to stock materials for any longer than the business day, except if it be small essentials and drywall mud and paint in the winter. It would be nice to haul the days cache but I dont often have that luxury. In a post before I meant stocking in the morning at the home center, not for stock. If I knew I needed a bath set that day plus a hot water heater I would make the run at 6.30 in the morning and be loaded plus the small stuff. Mebbe Im using too many tools in transit but its comfortable .
Tim
This post is interesting to me too. I am 62 1/2 and luckily in good health. I teach full time, and do almost every type of repair job part time. I am learning to charge more, a lot more. I just paid a neighbor, retired, to paint a house for me for half of what I bid. He's happy, I'm delighted.
You mentioned in another post in this thread about not knowing what size water heater they had. I realize it was hypothetical, but it got me to thinking and remembering. I will immediately list all of the sizes of all the customers that I do business with regularly...their water heaters, types of plumbing, sizes of pipes, ceiling fans etc. This is really good for me! I used to do this in a different field where I needed to keep supplies for emergencies. Knowing what type of equipment they had saved a lot of time. Your post reminds me I need to start doing this again. Not to mention that I almost always spot something that needs attention while I am looking around.
Thanks, and best of luck to you.
John
If I had a better memory,.....
I dont take any credit but a good memory and a detective eye is good. Im the guy that doesnt remember what shoes DW had on this morning and that has proven bad. Some people can though and those people I look at as gifted. My nephew can recite years things happened that was no interrest to him or at least I didnt know. He would remember the hot water heater and I probably would not.
Experience reminds us of mistakes like touching a hot stove and remembering the experience. If the house was a clients house or especially a rental it would be on file along with filter sizes, colors of mixed paint and so on.
Depends on whether you were blessed or not.
Just to ramble I have witnessed a man take five measurements the last thing of the day and cut them the next , one time in my life . Many times I have seen a man recall one single measurement the next morning. I have never been one of those people . These people are gifted although its not that rare.
Tim
I could not take 5 measurements and cut them immediately w/o having them written on something. I walked around last night looking for a special screwdriver that I had made up for my impact driver...I gave up and used something else and then wondered what was I holding in my mouth...
That is why I have to write all of those things down.
We would get along real well, but we would need someone to remember for us . lol.
Tim
My trucks have 12' beds. they are 32" off the ground unloaded. Frankly a 20-24' bed would be a bear going in and out of most in town drives. Not a lot of swing room in some neighborhoods and we have a lot of drive off of back alleys. 12' will haul almost anything and the few things it won't we can hang out the back for a short distance. No lift. Trucks like mine are now hitting the used market. 10-15k. They are a cut away style so it would be a lot of work to put a different bed on them as they would need the back half of the cab built. Mine also have the wheel wells built into the bed they are covered by the side boxes. Actually a little lower than a bread truck from the back doors. DanT
Edited 3/29/2006 5:21 am ET by DanT
Life is short enough without spending a lot of time analyzing or analeying things.
I've always been one who when a thought popped up I jumped at it. I have no regrets.
I just hit 59 last week so it is my final year of middle age as I see it, geezerhood here I come.
In 96 I suffered a broken neck and wasn't supposed to be able to ever walk again. I spent a year in traction and a dozen operations. Lots of time to think. Today I can do just about anything except run a foot race. I even passed my flight physical so I can still fly.
I vote if you got an itch, scratch it !!!! I bet it's hell to one day as life begins to slip away to wonder "if only". Something I don't have to worry about
Reaqding the posts here and reflecting on yours makes me ponder why Ive been a board member here for so long.
Every now and then we get a serious life view like yours that comes from the real life struggles. It never fails to amaze me the different stories we get. While visiting another forum where I was really a "newbie" in knowledge I found the same as well as a wealth of information.
DW is like you in pulling the trigger after she collects data to make a decision. Weve talked many times about our differences, while I tend to be analitical which sure has its faults as well . Some here dont share it but like Blue always is and always has been working on somthing . Im somewhere in the middle. So the expression , different strokes for different folks. Some enjoy the game of research for its like going to the library. In experience you have to get your feet wet. Does jumping off a clift sound interresting ? Some have and have related different stories.
Here we get a lot of newbies and wanna bees in this forum.We try to feild their questions but I think its seldom enough information. From my standpoint this feild is a rough one to enter financially compared to others. If you know your numbers which most dont , its hard to figgure starting a carreer doing it . Yes the successfull are here and they are also in the mags along with every sucess story on tv of the house flippers that cant change out a front door. We know how most stories go of the people who invest in real estate or start their carreer being a building contractor with no experience.
On another note of interrest leaves the wanna bees that jumped off the clift. Those to me are the most interresting . They just wanted to DO it ! For what ever reason they jumped because they wanted to try it . Wow! Real Daniel Boones! Pioneers so to speak. Seems if they have business savy they can be rewarded if they are hard workers and quick learners.
Sorry for the ramble .
Tim
Start a business managing rental property?
"
Start a business managing rental property? "
I already do and if I worked on that it would be the same thing only extending it . Thats a good topic though. I guess you mean managing other peoples rental property. Thats a heck of a good topic and surely deserves its own thread. Theres certainly a needed niche there if you have read or heard the horror stories of real estate management companies.
I dont think weve ever done that one .
edit : My thoughts to address it ;
Normally its a second line business to a real estate company which often draws its own office which offers very little personal service. I think the horror stories come from the fact that there are no incentives and they actually do little from a landlord point of view. Absolutely no prevent maintenence or knowledge of such a critter . No checking up and no authority. They dont cummunicate very well and most often have nothing they care to communicate unless its a problem of no rent money which is is their problem too because they cant get paid so they then start their calling to the owner. They work off a percentage of rent . They could care less how many times the police are called to that address or even if a simple water hose is hooked up out side in freezing weather. Just to give an idea. It doesnt take much thinking to improve on those conditions. The stories dont any better either. Yea , theres a need. Coupled with a handy man service with an office given authority off written rules the business could rock. It would be a higher price service but in the long run could be cheaper.
Tim
Edited 3/28/2006 11:56 am by Mooney