I'm downsizing myself - Architect

[kach22i]

Michigan's economy sucks, business is down. As an architect I'm the first to feel it and the last to get pulled out of the ditch when things pick up.

Giving up 1/3 of my office floor space, landlord is being cool and giving me 1/3 break on the rent. I'm paying less than half now. I don’t need all the space year round as I hire a student in the summer to help out on house additions, giving up that extra “expansion space” and “work room”.

On the bright side I met someone Saturday at a business brunch that is putting me on her bid list. The firm she is with renovates properties, they run and own about 500 commercial properties nation wide.

New work is just a phone call away. I've been told that I just have to get out and meet people to pick up work - guess it's true. Now I have to get my portfolio together, six years on my own. I must get my website up soon.

My latest project below, still have to "settle up" with the developer and get paid my last draw.

[TerryBPP]

We (Civil Engineers) have been feeling the slow down here too.

I found the best way to advertise is to place signs at all your current projects. Ours are 5'x8'. This seems to be 90% of our call in reference. The other 10% being website and phonebook. Owners don't care and the signs are only $500 a piece. If you advertising budget is limited pick your site that are on high trip volume roads.

Of course the best way to get new projects in socialize. 99% of our projects come from word of mouth. Put your fingers in as many pies as you can.

[Jims5543]

Same boat here:

Yes Terry, the signs are a brilliant idea!

If we do not see any increase in work in the next 3-4 weeks I am going to downsize one more time. In the last 2 years I have gone from 12 employees down to 7 and I am about to cut to 4.

I hate to do this right after the holidays but its a matter of keeping my doors open at this point.

[TerryBPP]

Originally posted by Jim Cesiro
Same boat here:

Yes Terry, the signs are a brilliant idea!

If we do not see any increase in work in the next 3-4 weeks I am going to downsize one more time. In the last 2 years I have gone from 12 employees down to 7 and I am about to cut to 4.

I hate to do this right after the holidays but its a matter of keeping my doors open at this point.

I was just thinking about you. Sorry we haven't sent you anymore business, times are getting tight.. When it picks up again I'll give you a call.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Plenty of work out here if you want it. . .

Sorry to hear though - a lot of guys (even here on the west coast) that didn't hedge themselves properly and went too heavily into residential are getting their asses handed to them right now. I see a lot of resumes for guys with nothing but residential experience that are out of work now. . .

Although the stuff I work on (telecommunications, mostly) sure ain't the most glamorous work, it's times like these I'm glad that's the area I'm in rather than residential, light commercial/retail or other volitile sectors. It's so "feast-or-famine" in those areas I think I'd give myself a stroke worrying about it all the time.

Wish you the best - hopefully you pull through okay.

[austin552]

We laid off 160 last Month and 17 last Week. Housing market falling.

[kach22i]

Originally posted by TerryBPP
I found the best way to advertise is to place signs at all your current projects.

I've been lax in that, and I know that brings in work.

The township stole my job sign (worth $75) off this project. I had to pull it out of their big SUV, it was buried in there with about 100 other signs.

[Nostril Cheese]

Plenty of work out here as well. I do commercial structure. Most of it is fixing architectural mistakes,

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Funny, a lot of my peers would say their architectural work is turning bad developer ideas into reality. . .

[azasadny]

George,

I hear you! See my recent post...

My personal "way forward" plan...

Let me know if I can help you in any way!!

[Jim Bremner]

I myself am upsizing.

I feel that the competition is week right now, for my Field.

Customer service and corporate attitude sucks from my competitors.


Now is the time for me to work harder and get the job done that my customers expect

[kach22i]

Originally posted by azasadny
George,

I hear you! See my recent post...

My personal "way forward" plan...

Let me know if I can help you in any way!!

I missed that thread, gave the link to my wife - she's been looking for a job for almost a year now. Get out if you can.

[MFAFF]

Kach...

Sorry to hear that...we're drowning in work over hear....far too much.. and good staff is hard to find...

Good luck with the future...

[Racerbvd]

Have you thought about designing custom garages for PP members???

[CurtEgerer]

I agree, the Michigan economy sucks big time and there's not much reason for optimism. Luckily, I'm in a field of engineering that is recession proof. I've been looking to hire a structural engineer (or 2!) for 6 months now. Tried the internet sites. Tried local classifieds all over the state. Tried the engineering societies. You'd think they'd be knocking my door down for an $80,000/year salary plus bonus, vehicle, full benefits, and the ability to work out of your own home office!! They aren't. Apparently, it's not as desperate as it's made out to be?

[kach22i]

Originally posted by CurtEgerer
I've been looking to hire a structural engineer (or 2!) for 6 months now.

What field or type of structural engineering? I might know a guy, what state are you in?

Giffels (engineering/architecture) in Southfield Michigan is 1/4 the size they were five years ago. My buddy is worried sick about his job. They were staffed with about 425 people, now under 100 are left and counting.

[Noah930]

Sorry to hear of the rougher times in your neck of the woods. My sister (and several friends) are architects in the LA area. They tell me there's plenty of work to be had here on the west coast. My sister, unhappy at her previous firm, quit her job full well knowing she could pick something else up that was better. Another friend is out on maternity leave, and in no rush to get back into the jobforce.

[azasadny]

Curt,
Too bad you don't need a "computer forensics" guy... The forensics work you do is quite a bit different than the forensics work I have done!! Maybe you could "branch out"??

[TerryBPP]

We are looking for another civil PE if you know anyone.

[kach22i]

Like a silly person who can't let go of the past and throw out all my old models, I made out of black foamcore board some display shelves.

It took a little more time than I thought it would, but I saved half of my models in the process.