Does size matter?

[O'BrienConstruction]

I was wondering if how I feel is the same with everyone else.

When I started I had a 6X12 enclosed trailer and thought it was huge. Matter of months and its so full you can't get in. Dealt with that for a long time. Upgraded to a 8.5X24 trailer and thought when I brought it home that it was like a cadillac of jobsite trailers. Now its full and feels like there is no room to move. I build shelving units and work benches in my trailers so everything is stored neatly and not just thrown on the floor. I've got the 6X12 full of stuff again and we occasionally drag it to a site for extra on site tool storage.

Now my current shop has about 450 sqft and my office has about 120 sq ft. It seamed great at first, but feels cramped now. My shop that I just broke ground on will be 1750 sq ft and the office above will be 500 sq ft. I envision it being huge. I wonder how long before its closing in on me.

Does anyone else feel this way, like no matter how big something is when you first get it, it will undoubtedly gets smaller over the years.

Now to clarify, I don't put anything in the trailers other than tools, and I forgot to mention that I have a 16' flatbed rigged up to hold all my pumpjacks and walk boards as well. I don't hoard old materials or broken tools, but it seams like I can't stop buying tools. I run a crew of six so most of my tools I have 2 or 3 of so we can all be doing the same thing. Except nail guns, I'm a nailgun junky.

[Sonny Lykos]

Biggest I ever had was in MI; originally built a 24 x 48 (1152sf) warehouse on the 8 acres I had that included my house. On a country corner lot. Then I added a 16 x 34 (544sq) offices addition on the front side of the warehouse and allocated parking spaces also.

The offices were more than we needed and included a bathroom. In teh warehouse I had a rack set up (12' high) for variouis sizes and types of lumber we normally used. Only trailer was about an 8' x 16' flat bed.

We had a roofing division, siding/window replacement division, decks, kitchens and bath remodels, and built 5 Lindal Cedar houses plus a conventional house. Also did various types of HUD work.

So your new office should be more than enough. Back then I had 26 employees including a couple in the office.

We used Dodge Maxivans for most of the guys. Dune type snow tires and never got stuck in the snow.

Obviously, for most bigger jobs we had the materials delivered.
However, the last year ot two we started constructing walls for additions, deck railing assemblies, garage roof trusses, etc., in the ware house and trailered them to the site. We only did that during raining days and snow storms to keep preductivity up and to assure the guys got a full pay check each week regardless of the weather. But that was jsut my "thing" so to speak - I felt my responsibility to my people.

I also had who we called out "warehouse man". He tracked inventory, emplyees had to gign in or out any tools, compressors, table saws, ladders, jacks, extention wal board, etc., plus he brought excess lumber and stuff to the warehouse, changed out truck's oil, replaced brakes, hoses, belts - he was a good mechanic too.

The the economy fell out. That was back in 1981 when interest rates went up to 21% and remodeling, repairs, etc., dropped about 75% withn 6 months, and insurance work kept us going for a while. Funny, we all got a smile upon hearing of a fire job, or a tornado hitting our area, or roof collapses from the weight of wet snow. That's also about when the 1st heart attack hit.

So if anything as far as advice I might offer, is to plan everything, and set it up as much as possible to maintain productivity one way or another.

The 2nd thing is to NOT get caught up in buying excess tool "toys" that are not really needed often and can be rented as needed. Those toys take money, maintenance, ans a storage area.

[ARussell]

hey o'brien,, well it seems to me like your are growing in your business and if that means your getting too many tools for your trailer and then getting a bigger one and that one gets too full, well that has to be a good thing so i would quit complaining about you having too many tools in your trailer because in our line or work you could be complaining about you having to pawn your tools out of your trailer.( shut up and enjoy the ride,, yeah!!!!!!!!!)

[Sonny Lykos]

On another note, my wife says, "If you're good, it doesn't matter." And she's kept me for 44 years so I guess she knows her stuff. Sorry ladies, but I just could not resist.

[kreg McMahon]

I agree with you, that is why this will be my next truck........... lol

[Sonny Lykos]

Ahhhh. The dream of every working contractor.

[WarriorWithWood]

My dream is the piggy-back semi, 1 trailer for tools and 1 for material. ;0)

[O'BrienConstruction]

That is more than I want.

I wasn't posting as a complaint or anything like that. I'm very happy with how my business has grown, and like that it appears to still be doing so. I do every job to the best ability I can and never settle for "that's good enough".

I just keep looking back 6 months or a year and thinking what I had back then and how content I was with it, and now I think I need bigger or more. I hope it stops, and not becuase the money runs out. I hope I can ultimately reach a point where I don't honestly want a bigger shop or more space in the jobsite trailer. I was just wondering from some of you more seasoned home builders if that point ever comes, or if it is the disease of our profession.

The other builders I know around here seam to always be upgrading there office space or building larger or additional shop space. Maybe seeing that fuels some of my desire.

[Allan Edwards]

I hope I can ultimately reach a point where I don't honestly want a bigger shop or more space in the jobsite trailer. I was just wondering from some of you more seasoned home builders if that point ever comes, or if it is the disease of our profession.

I office in one of the more affluent areas, I want somewhat of a prestigious address. I don't have a warehouse or equipment. I used to own tractors and backhoes and dump trucks and owned a 3,000 sq ft warehouse. What a waste of time. Let others do that, spend your time promoting and building your business.

[O'BrienConstruction]

Allan,
I always respect your responses as you at least appear to be one of the more successfull posters on here. I'm friends with a strictly custom builder who did what you mention and he stays very busy and makes great money. He said he misses the times with his guys, but that he doesn't miss the worry about what they were all doing and keeping them all getting 40 hours a week. I still very much enjoy being on site and doing the work so I can't give that up yet, its why I started my business. I know as I age my body will tire of framing all day, or being out in the sun hanging siding. As it is now I probably only spend 2-3 days a week on site working, and the rest running from job to job checking on subs and meeting with clients, and to keep growing that time will shrink more. I just feel so good to sweat it out all day with the boys and come home sweaty and hungry. To feel like I really earned my salary. Like that saying goes "there should be a law against office workers saying, hard day of work".

[Allan Edwards]

Rob:

I still very much enjoy being on site and doing the work so I can't give that up yet, its why I started my business. I know as I age my body will tire of framing all day, or being out in the sun hanging siding.

We should all do what we enjoy. If you enjoy working on the job, then do it. I enjoy the same thing at my ranch. Yes, if you are framing into your 50's and 60's your body will take a toll.

I just feel so good to sweat it out all day with the boys and come home sweaty and hungry.

That’s why I run 4 miles a day, 5 days a week, in 100 degree weather, and spend 3 days at the gym. Physical activity keeps you young.

To feel like I really earned my salary. Like that saying goes "there should be a law against office workers saying, hard day of work".

I find mental strain and stress much more taxing than physical work.

Bottom line is I have to spend time running my business. I am not a carpenter. I could not build houses if I worked as a carpenter, just not enough hours in the day.

[O'BrienConstruction]

In time I will probably have to do the same, for now I'm a small enough builder that I get to spend some days on site as a carpenter, and some days I have to much to do. I have been thinking lately that I need to either try and find enough good employee's to ad another crew or start doing some of my homes 100% subcontracted. I'm backed up into next year and most new prospects aren't willing to wait that long, some are.

[Andrew R.]

All of the real estate that I owned for the construction company, warehouse and office is rented out. I think the longer you're in this the less you want to be the employer and the more you want to be the business owner. You can;t go wrong building a new facility, I would make sure it isn't too builder specific.

[Allan Edwards]

In time I will probably have to do the same, for now I'm a small enough builder that I get to spend some days on site as a carpenter, and some days I have to much to do. I have been thinking lately that I need to either try and find enough good employee's to ad another crew or start doing some of my homes 100% subcontracted. I'm backed up into next year and most new prospects aren't willing to wait that long, some are.

If you have enough work, the good subs will seek you out. It also helps to be able to sell at higher prices so you have the added dollars to attract those who do high quality work. Of course it's a chicken and egg situation, you have to have the primo jobs to attract the superior subs, yet you have to use the best subs to turn out the really eye-catching work.