My phone has been ringing off the hook since the first of the year. I’m turning prospects away on the phone. It seems I’ve got work forever and then some. Its gonna be a banner year.
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I've been buried since before Thanksgiving.
Of course, I am very unproductive and it doesn't take much to bury me, still...
A year ago I was twiddling my thumbs wondering when the phone would ring. Now one of the early questions is "How soon do you want this, beause....?" And half the people call someone else.
Rich Beckman
Another day, another tool.
I hear ya. My first question is always "how long can you wait?"
I could be busy, but I've been suffering a severe lack of motivation the past few weeks. I've had 3 or 4 jobs I turned down this week, just because.
"I've had 3 or 4 jobs I turned down this week, just because."Ouch,Of course, there is nothing wrong with turning a few jobs down "just because" if you can afford it.If you can't, I hope you find some motivation soon.Winter can be very draining. Seasonal affective disorder or one degree or another. I know I get a lot more work done in a day in the summer.Rich BeckmanAnother day, another tool.
January, and February are always this way for me. I used to take both months off, but now I just take them easy. Being single with no kids has it's advantages.
Im Not busy..other then what I have been doing around the house.
Looking for work in Michigan.
Rob Teed
Dream Builders
Glad i'm not the only one. I get busy and slow for no apparant reason. I keep my clients all happy and I do get a fair amount of referals but around this time of year it slows up. I've got two jobs booked right now and about three more days of work on my investment property.
Usually the phone rings with something. I always seem to keep going (somebody up there must like me). I remember last year coming home from a job and thinking "I dont have anything booked next week". As I had that thought, the phone rang. It was a repeat customer of mine calling for some crown moulding.
Guess if it stays slow, i'll just clean up all my tools.
Rob:
Where are you at man. Do your bio. I too am in Michigan. Dead in the water. Everyone around me I talk to is also. My neighbor is a union HVAC guy. Has been laided off on unemployment most of the winter months.
I just went around to all of the local hardwares, realestate offices, fellow contractors,etc. passing out cards, trying to drum up something.
Hey, we could do a partnership! Looking for work in Michigan.
nailer01
Where's Grass Lake? I'm in Warren. I too am slow but I did book one today.
Where's Grass Lake?!!! Any hippy would know.
I'm up in Grand Blanc and it's dead all over here. Nothings happening much anywhere in oakland or macomb. We have things coming but....
If I hear one more guy tell me how busy they are......
blue
Blue:
Who you callin a hippy DUDE!
Way down here in Jackson county aint notin. Did get a response today from a referal from the hardware store. Some plumbing crap. It might be work...I'll find out manyanna.
10/4 on the "how busy we are". I'm thinkin about delivering pizza's.
nailer01
MS:
You got one booked. That is cool. Things will pick up (we hope).
I don't know man, is it Michigan or am I losing it? I am originaly from Ann Arbor. Allways have had work there. Good money. I have not gotten a call from there in 3 months. Go figure.
Grass Lake is a tiny village east of Jackson and west of Chelsea.
Warren, I know that. Warren assembly. Gov. Granholm. Jobs for Michigan? Got to go hurl!!
nailer01
Yeah, we sure are lucky to have Granholm huh? Just got one more call today. My cousin is an electrician (dont know why thats relavent) and he thinks i'll be pretty busy this year.
Good Luck to all of us.
Being single with no kids has it's advantages.
Yes it does , I did it for many years. Its a very easy life . Youre out there making what nen have to have to support a big family but dont have any of those expenses and have lots of extra time. After a while you dont have anything to spend the money on so its not important anymore , so you take off from work . I used to hunt full time every winter and trap because I wanted to.
You might set some goals for retirement .
Tim
Tim,
I appreciate the advice.
But does that mean I shouldn't count on my Social Security to provide a comfortable retirement? ;-)
same deal ...
cept I'm busy as hell ...
cause my kid seems to want to eat every week?
even worked today even though I was sick ... cause he was still hungry ... again ...
Funny how that works ... enjoy the time off!
Jeff Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
Same Here Mav-- Looking like every year just gets busier and busier. Most of our marketing is on the web, and more and more people are using the web to find service companies. Google like us--we are fortunate.
Web traffic has doubled over last year same time--leads are doubled as well.
Where are you marketing to get so many leads?
L
GardenStructure.com~Build for the Art of it!
Marketing!? I'm hiding behind the trees. I called my excavator buddy to ask him when he can break ground on my new work shop and he asked me to build him a kitchen island, then said he could'nt get there until october.
I'm bustin' at the seams
You can call me crazy--stupid or whatever Mav,
A sage once told me--(Market even when you don't need the work--market consistantly).
When you have more leads than you can deal with--you can pick and choose and get top dollar for every job. How many jobs does your average carpenter have in them? There is a finite number. Best to maximize every one.
Trouble is--you won't know if I am right or wrong--until the economy faulters, then you will remember my words--as I did 4 years after I heard them. I didn't listen the first time either.
LGardenStructure.com~Build for the Art of it!
I've been swamped for around 8 months and its getting worse, I don't advertise in any way no cards, no ads, I just signed 15 more houses to frame this year thats almost 20 on the books and its only February are you kidding me. I noticed that around tax return time is when the phone won't stop ringing, people want their cardboard box turned into the Taj Mahal for $6 dollars this time of year. I was looking forward to watching the snow fly from the inside of my house this year now I'm watching it from the inside of my hooded sweatshirt.
I have been busy since 1977. Never been without work. Depending on where you live, there's always work if one is willing.
I've been surprisingly busy, considering the time of year. Last year at this time I was working 32 hours a week. Even had to take one unpaid week off. But this year I've been working 40 to 45 hours a week straight through the winter. We've also been running a lot of quotes, which is unusual for this time of year. Quotes don't generally start up until the end of March. The reasonably good weather may have had a large part in it. But the demand seems to be solid. All the lumberyards say they're busy too. Some say they think everyone is trying to build now before interest rates go up. Others say that everyone figures material prices will skyrocket when they start rebuilding down south. I think it's just because the economy is good and there's still demand from the baby boomers. But that's just speculation.
The tax issue is hard for Democrats to address because, to Democrats like Mr. Gore, the tax system has a larger purpose than just the financing of government. That purpose is the equalization of economic results. [William Murchison]
Busy as always round here....but this year, I finally got smart.
In the past, I've always taken on a bunch of work to assure myself a healthy winter season. Then, I take the week between Christmas and New Years off to be home with wife and kids. By Jan. 3rd or so, I'm kicking myself for lining up so much damned work cause I end up killing myself all through January trying to get it all done.
This year, I scheduled everything as though it was the middle of August. Plenty of jobs, at a comfortable pace....I'm booked through April currently.
And the phone keeps ringing.
J. D. Reynolds
Home Improvements
My busy season has always been the winter months and for no reason I could draw a pattern from. Makes no sense, although I dont work outside much anymore.
Maybe I just get lazy in the summer
I'm not surprised members of this forum are busy as you all share at least one important quality: a genuine interest in your profession, otherwise you wouldn't be here. Your clients are lucky to have you. I get more calls every year, but made the decision a few years back that I didn't want to grow my company, happy with a certain volume of work, number of employees and subs. But I raise my prices in direct correlation to volume (lower them sometimes too, but not in a few years). As I sit here and bid jobs for Spring and Summer (Friday is paperwork day) my overhead and profit pricing is 20% higher than last year. It's one way to control volume and I have always sold a you get what you pay for product. I've never lost a repeat client from price increases, first timers are a different story. But I'm about 70/30 repeat clients to new. I can't responsibly say you should charge more, but I hope you all charge at least what you're worth.
sorry, too busy to answer....
Everytime the phone rings, I get pizzed and scream take an f-ing number and get inline..
I know now I should have been a school teacher...stoopid, stooopid, stooopid...
I'm gonna crack soon....chest is gonna open up and puke or my brain is gonna blow a vessel.... this busy sucks. 16 years running....gonna see a downturn soon....or am I dreamin'?
>I'm gonna crack soon....chest is gonna open up and puke or my brain is gonna blow a vessel.... this busy sucks. 16 years running....gonna see a downturn soon....or am I dreamin'?<
It's all your own choice ya know. There's always going to be work. You only go through this way once, and then what?
Careful what you wish for BK-- Simple answer to being too busy--charge more.
L
GardenStructure.com~Build for the Art of it!
bkc..... you have to take a deep breath and raise your prices..
start doing the kind of work that pleases you , or challenges you... and that your customers are willing to compensate you forMike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
This brings me back to a point that I have mentioned several times about the realestate market.That no matter how "good the times" that there is also a segement of the market (location and/or price range) is not selling. Likewise no matter how "bad the times" that there is also a segment market that doing well. Don't have any specifics to prove this, just general observation.Probably the same in the remodeling/repair business.
After reading how busy everybody is , I'm thinking something is wrong with my approach . Here in Charlotte NC , they,re building neighborhoods of million dollar "spec" homes more than ever . I pulled away from the grind because of my frustration with the predominent bottom line. I,ve never had more unproductive days as these past two months while I,ve sought a more appreciative & better paying customer . If my reserve was better I'd be less restless .
It's slow around here. You can go to the lumber yard and they have little to do. We have work but not much.
verytime the phone rings, I get pizzed and scream take an f-ing number and get inline.. I know now I should have been a school teacher...stoopid, stooopid, stooopid... I'm gonna crack soon....chest is gonna open up and puke or my brain is gonna blow a vessel.... this busy sucks. 16 years running....gonna see a downturn soon....or am I dreamin'? (BKCBUILDER)BKCBUILDER,I've been doing this for 40 years now - a long time ago I tried to schedule jobs like a physician - give a time even if 3 months hence - and found it's a great way to go nuts. A old timer said, "don't you know - you tell the next one you're coming when you get this one done". For over 20 years now I have done just that. The last 16 I have worked with another carpenter. We just do one job at a time. We can't tell the next customer when we are coming, but believe it or not, the people you want to work for will wait. It takes a whole lot of the stress out. Out of the last 16 years we have been off work for a total of 5 weeks. Two of those weeks were a month ago - mainly because I had forgot a lead. We're back on a 2 month job now. The two weeks off was good for organization anyway.
I went from 30 customers in '04 to 100 customers in '05. Triple the customers but only double the gross...so a bunch more running around. I did get to pay myself twice as much per hour though and hired a second, full-time, guy.
I was way too busy so I raised my prices and took on an employee. Those moves are both paying off. I was worried that I would not be able to keep us both busy. My average kitchen install takes 2-3 days. So I need to get about 3 calls a week and get 2 of 3 of those jobs to stay busy.
This week I got 6 calls...so things look good (this week anyway). Ask me again next week : ) I can't just take 10 projects and be booked for the year. People will wait 6 mos. for a good builder to start their home. My customers don't want to wait more than 6 weeks for me to install their new cabinets. Six weeks is about as far out as I will attempt to schedule things (I have 12 projects in that time frame--can't really commit to more than that without messing someone's calender up).
With so many short term projects scheduling, bidding, billing, etc. are all huge tasks. In some ways things are getting simpler though. I used to do a bizarre variety of remodeling projects. Now, We are focused on kitchens and high-end trim carpentry. About 2/3's of the business is now cabinet and countertop installing.
It is easy now to "tool up" for the day...that used to be different from day to day. Now we just jump in the van and roll.
basswood,
When all I was doing was installing stairs and stair rails i got most of my work from three different shops. No matter how many times I tried to explain the meaning of the words "Leadtime" and "Scheduling" my explination always fell on deaf ears.
It seemed like for two years it was impossible to get anything scheduled more than two weeks in advance. Not even a heads up like " Hey, the stairs were delivered today, the drywaller is coming in two weeks so, four weeks from now we'll be looking at needing a rail" It was more like " Hey, more drywaller is done and I need that rail next Tuesday"
We were always shuffling jobs and it used to drive me nuts.
living your life two weeks at a time starts to suck in really short order. So, I started to charge more, the shorter the lead time and I made it known I was gonna do so. Suddenly I was booked for three months.
Excellent solution Robert!!!!
Thats a great tip.
blue
For some reason, I'm dead in the water.
Getting a few calls off my ad in the local community paper, and I really needed to renovate the basement suite in my revenue property (how can people LIVE like that!?) but that project is coming to an end.
Mind you, this year I decided to run my business like a business and charge what I need to to keep going.
Thank the lord for reserves.
Quality repairs for your home.
AaronR Construction
Vancouver, Canada
Ben, I have lots of time to meet LOL! My unemployment book arrived today...I gotta start studying it.
blue
Another Mich vote. Much busier than last yr. Hope it keeps up. Raised the rates too.
Mike
I'll vote in the "busier than last year" column too. But I certainly could be busier.
Definately more calls than the last few years.
Work has been moderate for a few years, and I haven't seen any job openings in the paper for carpenters in at least a year and a half. I have gradually raised prices, and am still not taking certain types of work, so I guess it is not desperate times yet.
My gut feeling is that it is on the upswing. (Remodeling that is)
The accountant told my wife that he doesn't have a single contractor/electrician/plumber who was up in 2005.
Bowz
PS In east central Wisconsin
Oshcosh mygosh:
Good to hear your busier than the past. Being in WI and all.
Yeah, papers have been dead here untill KATRINA. Now it's all about going south to make your fortune.
10/4 to the wife and accountant in 2005.
nailer01 Good Luck!
Junk:
Yeah, one more for the MI team. Where are you at? Mid MI. Lansing? Glad things are good. Check out Blue, Ben and the rest of the michigan crew!
nailer01
I'm in Howell. Do most of my work in Oakland County or farther.
Mike
Blue:
Your unemployment book! You better study! We unemployed guys need the help. Hey, we could study together in the "Grass Shack". I think Ben is up to it. Or, there has got to be a good "library" in Grand Blanc.
GET ER DONE.
nailer01, Mark
P.S. I got a small job today. nah nah nah nah nah nah. I might be way to busy to meet with you guys.
Ok... edge of seat.
Blue... what is your definition of not busy? (I'm not even able to imagine blue without 3 weeks of lead to do a job).
What is going on in your neighborhood?
Things are insane up here, but I am bracing for it. This dollar climbing 20% is not a good thing for manufacturing.
L
GardenStructure.com~Build for the Art of it!
Not slow,not busy here. But my best economic indicater, the amount of Help Wanted adds in the Sunday paper has not been looking good lately. Hope it picks up, because if its this slow in April or May were going to be in trouble.
4 Townhome closings this month,& only 3 on the board so far for March. 2 new building starts this month & 3 for March, so we still have stuff to keep us busy.
Lawrence, we are dead in the water. The contractor that we had lined up to do five for hasn't dipped the shovel. We used up a floating fillin order and quite frankly, there's not much happening here in MI.
My buddy that works for Pulte told me that Pulte had 7 framing crews in the entire state of michigan two weeks ago. He said that they used to have 22 crews in the sub that he was in! Pulte has about 15 subs in the Metro detroit area. Do the math. Thats a lot of framing crews crawling around looking to do the little work that might be out there.
Oh well, another lazy winter in MI....
I call it musical subdivsions. No matter how good you are, you're only as good as your subdivision. If the timing is right, you'll be going gangbusters all winter and the sub next to you is doing nothing. It never makes sense.
I talked to a builder last week. He actually had a basement that needed a frame on it. It was promised. Anyways, that builder put up only five houses in that sub. The sub next door did 60 out of 100 lots last year!!!!
We are in the permitting process on a spec. The timing didn't work out....we'll probably have to let another framer do our spec! I know he'll be cheaper LOL!
blue
Plutes work is slowing down?
Good sign for quality building!
Jeff Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
Housing market here is strong--same in most of the rest of the states--just northern states it seems having a tough go this year right?
North of you here in Toronto we've been selling decks since Jan 1.
Guy in Kitchener has 120,000 booked for spring... guy in North York-- 70,000 (he took 2 weeks in Aruba so he is a little behind). This is all driven from the web. 4000-15000 visits a day. Just means steady leads come in. It seems the web is taking over from the phone book for being the first place for wealthy people to go to find guys to do work. I haven't looked in the phone book in about 4 years- (aside to scope the competition). I use google to get phone numbers... 90% of them are in the display listings before you click through to a website.
Did you ever get a web-site up blue?
Want me to take a look at it?
LGardenStructure.com~Build for the Art of it!
No Lawrence, I've not set up a website.
My lack of marketing effort has placed me in this unfortunate situation. Well, actually, it's not so unfortunate. I did manage to sneak away to Texas for a little bit and I haven't had to fire up the firebucket too many times this year. If I can manage to dodge any work for the next three weeks, that'll put me into March, which means I would only be suffering everyother day or so when we work!
We did meet today on some property that looks like it's going to be a decent deal. It looks like a deal that we'd be willing to fund, which is a lot better than what we've been looking at. If this deal pans out ( a counteroffer is coming in) then we'll be booked for the summer and next winter. It will also free me up to head to TX to find some development property there, which is my primary focus heading out of this winter.
Thanks for the offer though. I'm not underestimating the value of a website, I'm just being realistic about my chances of properly maintaining it! It might be in my future though.
blue
I wouldn't say that Blue--(lack of marketing caused this). You are doing big jobs--which means less word of mouth working for you. Half of your clients are you nowadays right?
You'll get it stabilized--any new business has a learning curve before stability reigns.
L
GardenStructure.com~Build for the Art of it!
Lawrence, when I talk of "lack of marketing", I'm talking about my entire lifetime. I spent the vast majority of my career with zero marketing effort. No Signs, no ads, no cards. Heck, I used to refuse to even look at a homeowner build! I normally didn't even look at a builders plans when he walked up either!
That mentality worked when I was able to operate profitably in the custom and semi-custom subdivisions. Unfortunatly, we have found ourselves in a different time with different realities. I don't mind really, I'm willing to change and that's basically what's going on right now.
In the meantime, I like not working out in the worst of the Winter.
blue
The other side of the coin is that most framers don't do marketing--they don't have to. Builders are their clients and marketing is typically a waste on them... you walk up, have a chat... and frame a house. Hazard of the business really--local economic downturn.
That is why so many framers are transient--I can remember seeing a lot of guys from Calgary and Edmonton in the Toronto area before the influx of cheap eastern europe labor arrived (35,000 illegal workers in the Toronto area)--Now the legitimate framers in Toronto are in or headed for Calgary.
Guys I talk to there are telling me they get $35/running foot of good neighbor pt fencing... I don't know what framing goes for--but I bet it is dear. Must be brutal to pull up stakes like that though.
Hey--enjoy your vacation.
L
GardenStructure.com~Build for the Art of it!
Excellent summation Lawrence. That's why I'm leaving framing behind.
blue
Damn-- smartest framer I know isn't a framer anymore.
Who do we idolize now?
LGardenStructure.com~Build for the Art of it!
Your making me blush Lawrence.
Watch out...I might decide to build fences!
blue
ps don't worry, I'd never, ever, ever be able to match your work.
And if Blue was building fences and decks--there'd be more professionalism--and we'd all be making more money.
L
(thanks for the kind words buddy!)GardenStructure.com~Build for the Art of it!
Ben"
I'm all good with the michigan vote. BREAKTIME MICHIGAN.
Dude, where did you go up north from Spring Arbor. We were neighbors!
I like Blue too. He's a hippy I hear. Maybe we could meet in the "Grass Shack" for a beer. ( or 10).
Nailer01
still busy ...
I could work 80 hrs a week if I wanted.
have actually been turning down some work and pricing other high.
my supply of "sub work" has more than kept me full ... if I could clone myself I'd make more money and the place I sub to would be thrilled with the extra help ...
but then ... I'd have to buy another van and more tools?
Jeff
Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
"... I'd have to buy another van and more tools?"Yeah, THAT's the downside.Rich BeckmanAnother day, another tool.
my supply of "sub work" has more than kept me full
Jeff, are you subbing cabinet installs from a cabinet shop or are you subbing from a GC?
Any idea about what your percentage is, sub work vs. working on your own?
Bowz
right now ... subing from a kitchen and bath place.
they're actually more a bath and kitchen place ... they get way more baths.
everything from a day or two "face lift" ... to a full blown remodel.
with this new place .... I'll be more of a remodeling sub than just cab installer.
I've avoided this same situation with other places in the past ... as it takes a K&B dealer that actually understands remodeling to have a grasp of where your time lines and prices are coming from ... plus one upstanding enough to tell their customers up front that there's a 90% chance that there will be unforeseen/aditional work ... and that work will cost more than the initial bid ... and will take twice as long to complete.
These people are easy to work with ... we're all on the same page ... so far.
I bid a set price to them for what I can ... extra's and additionals are priced and paid on my daily rate. So it's a combo of invoices.
Up till now ... I've been real happy with a 50-50 split of my work and sub work. Trying to keep a steady cash flow this year ... so I'm trying something new to me. If things go well ... might hit about a 90% sub-10% my work flow this year.
sub work "pay's" less ... but I schedule, bill and invoice tight. Virtually no chance of nonpayment. I expect full payment before the next job ... and the next job is usually "next week" ... so it keeps a tight leash on everything. No one ever gets ahead of the other. I also supply the minimal of materials. Never more than $50 or $100 outta my pocket at any given time ... if that.
I got screwed by the last K&B dealer I was working with ... but I knew I was going in with a piss poor designer. It was my own fault to get trapped into a bad situation. I knew better before I ever stepped into the deal.
another lesson re-learned. Sub what can be bid at a set price. Don't get fancy. Don't try to cover anyone elses mistakes ... as they'll sell ya out first chance they get to pass the buck!
wasn't suprised at all when it happened the last time. Don't see it happening ever with these new guys/gals. Other stuff can go wrong ... just not that.
Who knows ... maybe be back to 100% my own work by summer! I'm always ready to jump from one ship to the next ... but I'm gonna try this "all sub" deal for as long as I can. Even if nothing was set in advance ... I could walk into the office each and every Monday morn at 7:30am and say ... Where do U need me this week?
They have so much work( and are a bit unorganized) I could go the whole year with no advanced planning. I prefer to bug the hell outta them and get things penciled in . in advance, though. They also know I prefer jobs that I can camp out on ... things that take more than 3 to 5 days ... I like bigger stuff.
Jeff Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
Thanks for the long reply.
I didn't do much with the cabinet shop last year. 1 large new house install, 2 replacement kitchens, and a oddball countertop. Since the new owners took over payments have been getting stretched further and further.
I did the oddball counter before I went to Mississippi, and the 2 replacement kitchens right after. Been on them for the money sinse January. Early last week I let the plumber that does some of their work, and the former manager know that I am owed money. Former manager said "I think you need to concern yourself with protecting your lien rights."
E-mailed the lawyer last Friday morning, Friday at noon I picked the first check from the mailbox, Saturday I got the second payment.
I used to get leads from them for total remodels: They sell the customer the cabinets, and I would take care of everything else, and work with the customers directly. New owners decided that they were only going to pursue new construction, so the remodel leads tanked from them. (They still do some, but are not promoting it).
Guess I'd like to have enough leads to put them at zero percent of my work. (Though I've heard the rumor the place is for sale, maybe a new owner can turn things around) I believe they have been doing some installs with their shop guys. Some of whom were laid off for a while last summer.
It's interesting you mentioned doing more bath work. I've been looking at and working a bunch of those in the last few months. Leads from all different sources. from the yellow pages, from a realtor through a new homebuilder in the HBA, from the plumber, referrals from other clients, heck I even got one from the cabinet shops saleslady.
Seems she had priced out a new vanity and Corion counter for a remodel for a different contractor. That other contractor PO'd the homeowner by not returning calls. So he wasn't going to get the job anyway. rather than lose the sale, she gave the customer my name. I called, looked, priced, presented, and deposited the start check this week.
But as far as being slow around here, the last permit I pulled about a month ago. I was only the second person to have been at the counter in the one hour time frame we have to pick up permits. And I was there at the last minute.
Good luck to you, hope it keeps going well for ya,
Bowz
Hey Jeff:
What you doin out there in PA that is keeping you so busy. Just curious.
Nailer01
Ben:
10/4 on Fairview. Heard of Mio and Grayling.
Mich. breaktime fest sounds great (although I'm very, very busy right now with the $600 job I got). I could maybe squeeze in a break. Sounds like we could get a few votes. I don't know about the weird ohio, indiana guys though. Could be dangerous.
So, who out there is up for a Michigan Beaktime Fest??????
Later on, nailer01
Lets go. Monday looks good to me! Don't make it on Wednesday. I think I have to sign up for work that day.
blue
Blue:
Man, you're all up on it! Sign up for work? Wished I could!
Here's what I got. Sounds like votes for the Michigan Fest are: nailer01, blue, Ben and the junkman.
Who else??????????
Nailer01, Mark
Michiganfest... I'm in --only a few hours drive for me.
LGardenStructure.com~Build for the Art of it!
Larry:
O.K....your in. But hey, wait a minute your a foreigner, from Canada and all. I don't know. Well, O.K. (just kidding).
Sounds like we may have us a "BLUE CREW".
Well, who else is interested??????
Nailer01, Mark
I'm in
Cool! Stilletto is in!
Here's what I've got so far for Michigan Fest:
Junkman/Howell
Lawrence/Toronto, Ca
Blue/Grand Blanc
Ben/Fairview(Mio, Grayling)
Nailer01/Grass Lake(Jackson)
Stilletto/Battle Creek
We'll see what goes down from here. Nailer01
From a crazy Ohioan, What's the snow like up there?
Got a pretty good idea where you are.
Have a family cabin in St. Helen
Spent most of the 80's winters snowmobiling across mid michigan when the snow belt started just south of there and anything north was accessible by sled.
Still have the cabin, every year look forward to showing the kids how much fun it was, just to be shut out.
Thousands of miles were spent in your area and now - no - go.
Remodeling Contractor just on the other side of the Glass City
Good for you Ben. Sure feels good doesn't it? Ben gettin some work!
I'm putting together a Michigan fest list of participants. Get back to you with it.
Mark, nailer01
2005 was my best year in 39 years of working at the trades. This year seems like a repeat of last year. Right now we are over booked till late June, over booked, as in, 60 hour weeks are a bit much for these old bones to deal with. Enough bids out to fill in the rest of the year, even if I only get half of them. For us that's not unusual however it seems everyone around here is busy even the hacks and wood butchers.
I always hear from the mid-west and the almost south enough to be called a rebel how they aint doin nothin' this time of year. Winter has always been my busiest time of year and the way things are stacking up I'll be scheduled up till christmas again.
Cant but wonder how demograghics plays out