I feel like I've had 5 months off.
 

This has been my worst year since the early 90's. I do retrofit windows. But, in the last 2 weeks I have put 8 jobs on the board. Usually, it wakes up around 4/1. This year it's 2 mos. late. And a presidetial election year is traditionally a better year than the one before it and the one after.

What do you think? I know what I think. It's time to go to work. Got a lot done on the 911 while waiting the lull out, but it looks like the fun's over.

Does this mean we won't be seeing so much of you? It has been fun seeing your posts in here.

My business peaks as Hockey season morphs into Baseball and vice-versa.

The last few years, the security (or more correctly, lack of) in the airline business has allowed me to lose my PITA clients and take on good clients. I am at my infrastructure max; meaning any more airplanes / clients means an overhaul and expansion of my admin. staff and resources.

Not gonna do it.

Good luck on those 8 jobs.

Which brand of windows are you retrofitting with? My parents spent $10 grand last year to have all the windows replaced. Congrats on the business, now you can pay for all the work done on the 911.

There was a lull? Guess I must've missed it.

I'm in an altogether different industry, but I've been on a hiring spree since August last year. Where I used to have 3 people report to me, I now have 24.

The only person I haven't been allowed to hire is an admin assistant.

It's a funny deal. I keep tabs on my distributor and the manufacturers. Each have been slow. If not, I would have been worried I was doing something wrong. But, the whole industry can't be wrong. Other trades are booming. Who knows? We may be seeing the end of another home improvement fad.

That's all they are, fads. They peak and then they back off to a lower but consistant level. I started to write down all the fads I've seen in a 33 year career starting with wine barrel hot tubs in the late 60's. One of the biggest was mini blinds. Still going in variations. There was at time here in SoCal where you couldn't find a used brick. Everything was used bricks. Sectional garage doors, first wood, now steel. These guys are everywhere.

We've had a good 8-10 year run on the vinyl windows, can't complain. But, there are only so many white plastic windows that can be tolerated on any one street. BTW, in answer to the question, I do them all. Historic wood windows is a specialty, but I could never make a living doing just that. Too expensive for most budgets.

I just don't think the economy is that good regardless of the real estate phenomonum. When that house of cards falls, we will be in dire straights. I'll be welding pans in Porsches then, I guess, if there is any money left for early car restoration. :confused:

Congrats on your new work. I went back to work myself today.

Re: I feel like I've had 5 months off.
 

Yikes! I would say you're at least a strong indicator of the housing market. Could the inevitable be coming true? Is the market collapsing? Has all that equity sunk back into home improvements finally fizzled?

I suspect that the market is saturated. There are so many in that business..at least here in Albuquerque...and newer homes often come with pretty darn good windows to start with.

Mine are double-paned.

I have "mixed feelings" about the economy too. We are actually still living off existing contracts and haven't sold anything new of significance since the end of 2002. On the plus side I've hired 4 people in the past ~18mos and they are working out great. I just hope sales pick up soon so that we can keep the momentum. Lately things have "felt like" they were warming up, but I haven't seen any big checks yet...

The physical demographics here in Long Beach assure that there will always be repair and home improvement. 80% of the homes were built before the 70's. Roofers and plumbers are busy, but they do work that is not optional. Windows in our mild climate are basically a visual improvement. So, it becomes a matter of a discretionary income expenditure. And that's where the economy comes in. People don't like water coming in the house or a cold shower, but they can put off windows.

I have always said if you want to know how the economy is going, go talk to the shoe salesperson. People can always wear a pair of shoes a while longer. Funny, shoe salespeople are getting hard to find.

If my wife weren't working, I'd have quit this business a long time ago. In the long run, I'd make more money as a floor manager at Home Depot. I hate that place, though.

Home improvement contracting is all I've ever done since leaving the race car industry as a very young man. When I get done with contracting, I will never look back. Not particularly a good career, IMO, unless you are a crook. Hard work (which I don't mind), fickle clients (which I do mind) and seasonal ups and downs (which I have learned to forecast and live with). I'm looking forward to real estate speculation in the next wave, say about 5-8 years from now. I'll start when I think we've hit the bottom.

BTW, I picked 2 more jobs yesterday, so now it's a bit of a rush. I wrapped the 911 in a cover and put it away.

Consider a segment that isn't quite so risky. "Speculation" has such negative connotations for those in investing.

RE Investing is loved by few and is viewed as an enigma by most, but I'll be d@mned if it isn't one of the best careers within which one may be 'stuck.' I've been paying off rentals slowly, and it is SO nice to have rent checks/paychecks coming in regularly while I sit back and relax. The good times are tempered with hectic moments, but overall it is extremely rewarding on many levels. Of course, if it was easy, everyone would be a landlord. :)