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Ohio's newest contractor

XprtBldrs's picture

Ohio's newest contractor (post #188731)

XprtBldrs on Thu, 05/06/2010 - 14:06
in

Hello old timers!

My names Haywood from Solon, Ohio.  I've decided I'm going to start a new home construction business, maybe some remodeling too.  I've been thinking about it for a while and decided to take the leap.  I have some questions for you all..

1. After I get my website up how long do you think it will take for people to start calling and hiring me?

2. I don't have any pics of jobs I've done because I've never worked construction before.  Can I borrow some job pics from you guys?  You know just to make the website look good, until I have some of my own to show.

3. As I said I've never done construction before so I am going to sub everything out.  Do you know who the best and cheapest subs in my area are?  Yoohoo anyone from Solon here?

4. What's the typical size office staff for a new builder just starting out?  I was thinking I should hire an Admin Asst., an Estimator, a Sales person, and a drafter and tehn grow from there.  Is this about how your office is set up?

 

Well i gotta run, I've got a tee time I don't want to miss.  I'm sure I'll have more questions.  Thanks, H.

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Sorry, you're 36 days late. (post #188731, reply #1 of 49)

by DanH in reply to XprtBldrs [original] on Thu, 05/06/2010 - 14:40

Sorry, you're 36 days late.


This country will not be a permanently good place for any of us to live in unless we make it a reasonably good place for all of us to live in.  --Theodore Roosevelt

I don't get it.  36 days too (post #188731, reply #16 of 49)

by XprtBldrs in reply to DanH [original] on Fri, 05/07/2010 - 06:52

I don't get it.  36 days too late for what?

All you need is a pick up (post #188731, reply #2 of 49)

by MarkH in reply to XprtBldrs [original] on Thu, 05/06/2010 - 14:51

All you need is a pick up truck, and a cell phone to start out.  I'd get a circular saw, a hammer, and nails too.  You can hang a level on the gunrack if you want to project a professional appearance.  Make sure to spray paint your phone number on the doors so clients will be able to easily get in touch with you to hire you to do their dream project.  You can write the cell number  on the door with liquid shoe polish if you feel this may not work out well, it's easily removed.

 

And Pete may be able to help you get started.  He's on the boat that no one has seen yet.

Yeah, and another way to get (post #188731, reply #3 of 49)

by DanH in reply to MarkH [original] on Thu, 05/06/2010 - 14:54

Yeah, and another way to get some cheap advertising is to write your phone number on the walls in the men's rooms of any nearby parks.  People who are looking for contractors always look there.


This country will not be a permanently good place for any of us to live in unless we make it a reasonably good place for all of us to live in.  --Theodore Roosevelt

I don't like those kinds of (post #188731, reply #4 of 49)

by MarkH in reply to DanH [original] on Thu, 05/06/2010 - 15:11

I don't like those kinds of clients, too unscrupulous for me.

You can get some real good work when you hang up a flier at the grocery store with the little tear offs you cut in with a scissors or sharp pocket knife.

Make sure to note that you have lots of experience in all trades, and are able to start immediately, with very low rates.  A real job getter is a 10% off discount if you mention the name of the grocery store where they found your flier.

Remember, you don't have to really do any work if you can get a cash advance to start work.

Haha, good one.  A little too (post #188731, reply #15 of 49)

by XprtBldrs in reply to DanH [original] on Fri, 05/07/2010 - 06:51

Haha, good one.  A little too cheesy for me though.  One of the guys I was golfing with yesterday is a big time attorney in Cleveland and want to build a new home.  He's going to give me a shot at bidding it.  7,000 sq.ft. should be a nice project to start with!!

No I'm not having any of that (post #188731, reply #11 of 49)

by XprtBldrs in reply to MarkH [original] on Fri, 05/07/2010 - 06:39

No I'm not having any of that stuff because I'm subbing everything out.  My subs will supply all of their own tools.  I drive an escalade, so I think I will look professional, but I don't want it to get dirty.

tee times (post #188731, reply #5 of 49)

by MikeSmith in reply to XprtBldrs [original] on Thu, 05/06/2010 - 18:54

are great... i make a lotta deals playing golf

Mike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore

              www.mfsmithbuilder.com

You seem to know a lot about (post #188731, reply #12 of 49)

by XprtBldrs in reply to MikeSmith [original] on Fri, 05/07/2010 - 06:41

You seem to know a lot about this business, you can be my mentor.  want to exchange phone #'s so we can discuss issues that come up?

good idea..... (post #188731, reply #26 of 49)

by MikeSmith in reply to XprtBldrs [original] on Sat, 05/08/2010 - 07:51

 1 800 382 5  968

Mike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore

              www.mfsmithbuilder.com

Hmm - I called that number (post #188731, reply #27 of 49)

by seeyou in reply to MikeSmith [original] on Sat, 05/08/2010 - 09:49

Hmm -

I called that number and Haywood's mom answered............

http://www.grantlogancopper.com/

OK Solon boy. (post #188731, reply #6 of 49)

by calvin in reply to XprtBldrs [original] on Thu, 05/06/2010 - 19:04

Do you know how to get to the Chagrin River in the dark?.

What hours are Les's Open Kitchen  doing business these days?.

    a. does les ever stop in there anymore?.

    b. what side is the counter on?

Another name for Aurora Rd (rt. number).?

Where was the race track (no longer) located?. 

      a. Harness or Thoroughbred?

Man, I've got a lot of them.

If you've got any years under your belt-

Carlos Pizza-what did Donna put under the peperoni?   if she liked you.........

Solon Home Bakery-what was the best donut?

Solon High School graduate-1967.  You want old timer................

I've got your old timer right here!

A Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.

Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.


http://www.quittintime.com/

 

I've got your old timer right (post #188731, reply #8 of 49)

by seeyou in reply to calvin [original] on Fri, 05/07/2010 - 05:29

I've got your old timer right here!

Bwahahaha


High schools only went up to the 10th grade in '67 didn't they?

http://www.grantlogancopper.com/

High schools only went up to the 10th grade in '67 didn't they? (post #188731, reply #9 of 49)

by calvin in reply to seeyou [original] on Fri, 05/07/2010 - 05:44

Oh boy, my apologies or congratulations................however you take this.

Maybe in Kentucky

A Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.

Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.


http://www.quittintime.com/

 

Either exprt is an imposter............. (post #188731, reply #10 of 49)

by calvin in reply to seeyou [original] on Fri, 05/07/2010 - 05:46

and by the post-you'd be wondering.

 

 

or

 

 

He's checking wikpedia for the answers to those historical questions.

A Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.

Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.


http://www.quittintime.com/

 

High schools only went up to the 10th grade in '67 didn't they? (post #188731, reply #44 of 49)

by JoeH in reply to seeyou [original] on Thu, 06/10/2010 - 07:57

Not so, but marijuana arrived about 1965 so the last 2 years are a little fuzzy.

Got a diploma though, and a report to induction center for physical about the same time.

1967 was a good year for old farts.

Joe H

Wow you sure know your (post #188731, reply #13 of 49)

by XprtBldrs in reply to calvin [original] on Fri, 05/07/2010 - 06:44

Wow you sure know your Solon.  I'm not from here originally.  My wife is, class of 94.  Moved back to be near her family and now I'm setting up shop here.  Seems like a large population of Jewish folks, I need to learn more about their culture.

Do you still live in Solon? Let's grab coffee some time.

Nope, don't live there no mo....... (post #188731, reply #17 of 49)

by calvin in reply to XprtBldrs [original] on Fri, 05/07/2010 - 09:46

So, you married into the town huh.  Best treat that woman good.  Eventho I've been gone over 40 yrs, I still have people.

Seems like a large population of Jewish folks

Odd, when I grew up there, mostly americans in the town.

I'd like to reminisce, put your wife on the phone.

Good luck, you'll need it.

A Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.

Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.


http://www.quittintime.com/

 

I actually knew a jewish (post #188731, reply #25 of 49)

by MarkH in reply to XprtBldrs [original] on Sat, 05/08/2010 - 04:18

I actually knew a jewish woman form Solon.  She and her husband, a catholic from Croatia owned the company I worked for.  It was a strange marriage.  Her husband had a number of girlfriends, but she didn't care unless he spent money on them.  He actually had the secretary go out and buy a necklace for one of the girls, and when his wife found out how much he spent went ballistic.  One thing I learned is Jewish people can cuss better than any people on earth. Some of the words I never heard before, but the meaning was pretty clear by the tone.

Also one of the other employees was Serbian.  This was during the Croatian War of Independence. I don't think it made a real difference to either of them though.

Sounds like you got things (post #188731, reply #7 of 49)

by jimblodgett in reply to XprtBldrs [original] on Thu, 05/06/2010 - 19:25

Sounds like you got things figured out.  You might want to hire a couple of your buddies as "project managers".  I'm still not sure what that is, but I hear it a lot these days so it must be what all the bigtime G.C.s are doing.

Oh yeah.  Don't forget to advertise yourself as a "Green Builder" (don't worry, no one else seems to know quite what that is either).

 

I figured I would be the (post #188731, reply #14 of 49)

by XprtBldrs in reply to jimblodgett [original] on Fri, 05/07/2010 - 06:47

I figured I would be the project manager at first until things really take off, then I'll hire some.  I'm not into hiring "buddies."  Only the most qualified for the job.  I want to do this right.

Hey, Haywood. Your last (post #188731, reply #18 of 49)

by seeyou in reply to XprtBldrs [original] on Fri, 05/07/2010 - 11:14

Hey, Haywood. Your last name's not Jablome is it?

http://www.grantlogancopper.com/

Well as a matter of fact... (post #188731, reply #19 of 49)

by XprtBldrs in reply to seeyou [original] on Fri, 05/07/2010 - 11:47

Can't blame the folks for being comediens I guess!  But it's pronounced  Ja-blo-m  not   ja-blo-meee.

"Jablome"?  That sounds like (post #188731, reply #35 of 49)

by jimblodgett in reply to seeyou [original] on Tue, 05/11/2010 - 19:58

"Jablome"?  That sounds like it might be Slavic. 

 

No sir (post #188731, reply #37 of 49)

by XprtBldrs in reply to jimblodgett [original] on Wed, 05/12/2010 - 09:59

It's French

I think this is an excellent time (post #188731, reply #20 of 49)

by davidmeiland in reply to XprtBldrs [original] on Fri, 05/07/2010 - 18:02

to get into the business. Demand has been way down. The estabished outfits are discouraged if not already done for, they're on their knees begging for mercy. When demand comes roaring back in a few minutes here, they'll be so slow off the line it'll be pathetic, and the whole game will be yours, every bit of it.

Some of these guys are misleading you, though. You need more than a skilsaw and a 4-foot level. I would head for the truck dealership and get yourself ready. Probably need a one-ton crew-cab dually diesel with a 12" lift for yourself (don't get any toolboxes or racks, you don't need those), and three or four matching 3/4 ton rigs (one for each of your PMs), a couple of 16-foot cargo trailers completely packed with new tools, at least one telehandler and probably an excavator to go with it. I'd probably also get a nice office space leased and furnished for your customers to visit. They can bring their checks by there for you when it's time to pay. I'd probably get a second on your house for around $500,000, that should cover start-up costs.

Don't skimp on any of this stuff, you'll never be worth a damn rolling in some beat-up rat truck with a spare tire on the roof. Customers want something fresh, they want the aura of success. Think big, swing for the fences, you're sure to make a huge pile of dough.

Yeah, and I'm guessing (post #188731, reply #21 of 49)

by DanH in reply to davidmeiland [original] on Fri, 05/07/2010 - 18:06

Yeah, and I'm guessing Frenchy can make you a good deal on a telehandler.

Oh, you also need a big house.  Don't worry about the size of the mortgage -- prices are bound to go up, so you can refinance in a few years and cut your payments in half.


This country will not be a permanently good place for any of us to live in unless we make it a reasonably good place for all of us to live in.  --Theodore Roosevelt

David (post #188731, reply #22 of 49)

by calvin in reply to davidmeiland [original] on Fri, 05/07/2010 - 18:59

This man is an imposter.  He hasn't even bothered to answer some of the known historical questions that were asked.

It's all a sham.

 

 

 

 

and a shame too. 

A Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.

Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.


http://www.quittintime.com/

 

Oh.... NOW you tell me! (post #188731, reply #23 of 49)

by davidmeiland in reply to calvin [original] on Fri, 05/07/2010 - 20:42

He emailed me a couple of hours ago, asking to borrow some money, and I went ahead and wired him $50K. I mean, he seems like he's really going to take the industry by storm, I didn't want to be left out.

oh great (post #188731, reply #24 of 49)

by calvin in reply to davidmeiland [original] on Sat, 05/08/2010 - 02:57

First emails from Nigeria..........

then from my home town.

When will it end.

A Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.

Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.


http://www.quittintime.com/

 

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