Location/Work scope/Cost

[Jim Russell]

I'm located in NE GA after moving here from West Palm Beach almost three years ago. Have found it to be an entirely different kind of work environment. Very laid back and patient. Work has been kinda hard to obtain as the good old boy system reigns here. If you are new and are not related to anyone or well known it is hard to break into the business. I've been doing fairly well for the last 10 months and it seems as though the work is going to really start pouring in. Word eventually gets around. Time to start raising prices. Just not sure what the competition is charging as they are FEW and far between here and was wondering what prices were across the country and how different the work and demographics were. Yes I'm fishing for pricing but I'm willing to trade mine for yours. Anybody interested?

[Shane]

You are fishing in the wrong pond. You need only to be concerned about the pricing in your area. Some factors that come into play that make this necessary are cost of living, the stregnth of the market, availability of labor, what the market will bear, etc.
I'm in middle Tn. I know guys in other parts of the country that make far more than I do per sq. ft., linear ft. etc. Yet from what I know, my pennies seem to go futher than theirs.
I wish you well and if you stay in tuned to this forum and do quality work, you will do well.

[Jim Russell]

Shane,

Thanks for the information. I have my own pricing and it is working just fine. It was difficult to adjust it from Palm Beach area pricing. Especially since there was little or no one here ( NE GA ) to get any help from.

That aside, I am mainly curious as to what is going on in the rest of the country. Especially the southeastern areas. I also see a need to help others who may be able to benefit from years of my own trial and error. Hence the posts in FHB as well as JLC.

As for pricing in this area it is very broad spread. From the quick slap em ups to the multi million dollar customs. The main difference here compared to West Palm areas is the complete lack of code and enforcement and therefore a great deal of garbage construction from "here today gone tomorrow" GC's. Add to that the fact that I went from a highly wealthy area to a primarily blue collar and low income population. Sorta like a roller coaster ride with the move here being a fast and scary "drop" and now the ride back up to prosperity.

I also find the income here to go a lot farther and I certainly enjoy the beauty and peaceful lifestyle I now have.

JIM

[Rick Tyrell]

Jim,I am not sure if you are talking about Gc work or sub work. I am located in Greenville S.C. I moved from the Boston area four years ago.Like yourself I am enjoying the change.Prices for Gc a home are all over the place.I work in the high developments.The developments that I work in are located in the mountains so I am not sure that even if I gave you the range it would be of any help.I can give you some insight as to how it works here.In order to protect your real estate investment you have to buy in a development.Most of the people who buy are from out of state.Unfortunatley the first people they contact are the sales people.The sales people find out their bugdet then tell them that they can get what they want for unrealistic price.They give out a square foot price.When these people contact me they ask me what I charge per square foot.I tell them thats like asking me what a car costs.Impossible unless you know what exactly you want.Most of these people don't like to deal with the reality that it is going to cost more than they think.Some builders do a cost plus 15%.They tell homeowner that they think they can do it for their bugdet.But of course that is not the case.I refuse to mislead people.If they cannot deal with reality at the start you can bet your headed for trouble.Have tried to deal with the problem by going to sales manger and explaining.Nothing changes.Unless everybody works together the homeowner will be the one that suffers. If your not a GC then you could have skipped to this paragraph.The better subs work for the better builders and make quite a bit more.They are able to charge more because their are'nt that many of them out there.Their always in demand and when a good builder finds one most of their work ends up being with that builder. Good Luck Hope this helps Rick

[Jim Russell]

Rick,

Finish work here is tough to land. I have been up here for quite some time now and can tell you of only 2 full time finish carps and one part time. The two full timers are reputed to be very good. Most of the builders here have to keep it in house. There is some need for more finish carps but it is in the GC "in house" market. All of my work has been derived from "cold calls" usually from a walk onto the job site. Some GC's are receptive, some aren't. The ones that are seem to be the ones which are busy and "might need a good trim man" as they have 2-3 houses to start soon and need their men to frame etc.

As you might see that leaves the door open but with little surrounding cost structure to go on. Too expensive and I starve, never even getting my foot in the door. Too little and I starve while working to death. So I stay as low as I can and when the work increases I slowly begin to raise my prices.

The other problem is not being able to negotiate. Some will NEVER call me back if my initial prices are too high. Not many truly professional builders here. Almost NO developments either.
Most everything is a "one off" and some builders will only be in business for a year or two building a few homes. Others are more long term and those are the ones I try to work for.

Right now I need to eat, continue to grow my business by cold calls and Word of mouth. Any advice or someone elses experiences can only help.

Proverbs says one man sharpens another just as iron sharpens iron. I'm always looking for a way to sharpen.

If you need a good finish carpentry sub, email me, I've done work on the lake in SC and Greenville is not that far from me.

JIM

[Rick Tyrell]

Jim, I do all my finish work in house.I will keep you in mind if I hear anything in my travels.Do you do anything besides finish work? Good Luck,Rick

[Jim Russell]

Rick,

Hardwood floors, hardwood stairs and rails. Pressure treated and /or cedar decks and porches.

Skills are the norm I'd say for a guy from a large metropolitan area with 5 years experience. Though mine might include more marina/marine than most. Also might have more extreme high end ( 2-5 million dollar) new construction and remodels than some others.

I came to construction after an accident with Fire Rescue that snapped some neck parts that had to be fused. Took several years to recover but am at 100% ( OK maybe 90%, some say I was never all there to begin with. I left Emergency medicine ...Paramedic, Flight medic , Trauma center, etc.. Just figured construction was interesting and should have the same careful attention to detail as saving lives.

Comes in handy when I work with expensive,difficult projects.

Got pics if you want em. Digital. Can email em.
Don't mean to get pushy though. Just never hurts to ask. Sometimes leads to work, sometimes to a friend which is far more valuable.

JIM

[Rick Tyrell]

Jim,Like to see some pics.when you have a chance.Thanks Rick