Are you busy !?

[tomskinner]

How are you taking the recession? Has work slowed up, got busy, prices dropped? Is now a good time to put yourself out there. Share you thoughts

 

[jtsplumbing]

Well dannypipe you are one of the lucky one's, see some of the guys in Scotland seam to be doing ok as well, just hope it lasts for you ! Beem realey slowing down in the West Country, summer on it's way work gets quite bad then, serviceing work nill, install work nill ! just picking up odd plumbing jobs, still keeps the van in Derv..

 

[Dannypipe]

I count my lucky stars. I pop to a local pub every Friday after work and a lot of local tradesmen get in there. Its a real mixed bag. Some are totally dead, others are super busy. Famine or feast!

 

[Guest123]

Same here, I hope that work gets better for you guys with not a lot on. One good bit of advice I can give, is be prepared to travel and don't just stick to your own backyard. That's where my 0844 number comes in handy as I can advertise in any area with it without it looking like an area code from my own town.

Should be more pushing for plumbers from this forum to go round and do the work, instead of us all blindly giving free advice to Joe Public seeking answers for free just to save a few bob.

 

[dontknowitall]

I wanted to have all of this week off and some of next but unfortunately I've been dragged out for tomorrow and will have to do at least a day or so next week. Reason I wanted the time off was I've been flat out for the last 3-4 months.

However, I do sense a quiet patch coming up.

I have a feeling that interest rates might rise later in the year and this will push up mortgage payments. Loads of reasons why interest rates shouldn't rise, but all this quantitive easing (aka bank loans) will have to be paid for and raising interest rates is about the best way to fight inflation. In addition, Greece has not been solved, nor Spain, nor Italy or Portugal and if Europe has a crash, bang, wallop this will affect the UK quite significantly. Also the US is not in the best of health and China's economy is starting to contract from it's major growth.

Governments in Europe, US and UK are just plugging small holes at the moment but missing the elephant in the room for fear of losing elections.

 

[Dannypipe]

I'm on a fixed rate mortgage for the next year. If it goes up the minute the fixed rate stops, I'll be a bit screwed. I should do something about that I guess!!

 

[Guest123]

I'm on a fixed rate mortgage for the next year. If it goes up the minute the fixed rate stops, I'll be a bit screwed. I should do something about that I guess!!

I know quite a few folk up here who have sold their homes and got rid of their mortgages and now rent from a Housing Association. Many of the rented properties are new builds and work out far cheaper to rent than a mortgage, plus all the maintenance is thrown in for free. Besides a mortgage is just a rent to a bank.

 

[Dannypipe]

Well except that in 30 years I get to keep the house, and with rent it's never ending.

We spent thousands and thousands, renting for years. It's money down the drain in my opinion. We've left those homes now, and all we've done is pay the landlords mortgage for him.

 

[Alpha man]

No, Im quiet at the moment, so much so that Ive been wall tiling today,

But I have got a 6 boilers to install in July.

 

[Barry98]

would love a day off right now

 

[diamondgas]

I'm looking forward to the summer coz if it keeps on going as it is I'm gonna have one heck of a holiday with all the time I've prayed for

I trully hope you're all keeping your head above water ... If not consider the shallow end :lol:

 

[Barry98]

you not busy diamond ?

 

[diamondgas]

you not busy diamond ?

I'm plodding along, best description Busy for me is working after 2pm I've noticed a drop in my private work though! A couple of regulars have not responded to my calls or letters *shrug*

I'm fortunate in that I don't need to make much to get buy I reckon Bod! House is paid for, van's paid for .. got no debt! Cupl of hundred a week covers it

 

[hammers4spanner]

Think i have earned couple hundred quid in last two weeks , thank god for ebay!!!

 

[Barry98]

I'm plodding along, best description Busy for me is working after 2pm I've noticed a drop in my private work though! A couple of regulars have not responded to my calls or letters *shrug*

I'm fortunate in that I don't need to make much to get buy I reckon Bod! House is paid for, van's paid for .. got no debt! Cupl of hundred a week covers it

got a contact insouth shields who uses plumbers gsr guys if thats any good to keep the beer fund up

 

[diamondgas]

got a contact insouth shields who uses plumbers gsr guys if thats any good to keep the beer fund up

Thanks for the offer bod .. Shields is hike I'd do if times become desperate I still have enough to get buy though for the near future! I'm loving the time with the missus and family TBH

 

[Barry98]

no worries

 

[Mike Jackson]

I've had a complete turnaround from the last 3 weeks. I'm now going to be flat out for the next 6 weeks, which is nice as I've avaeraged less than £200 a week turnover for the last 3 weeks. I've actually had to turn some work down which isn't nice but it's urgent and I'm on site that day awaiting deliveries so can't even nip off. I'm even going to have to do a couple of evenings next week as the log cabin I'm plumbing up will be ready for first fix.

It would be nice if the work would space itself out properly rather than coming all at once.

 

[hammers4spanner]

One thing i learnt very quickly as a one man band or small firm is that work never seem to space itself out .
I 'm either nothing on /plodding along earning not alot and stressed from lack of work then suddenly jobs i have priced roll in same time and phone rings for small works and get stressed as cant find enough hours in the day .

 

[Bobleponge]

I'm just starting off on my own, and in my first week of being in existence I did 1 job. Small, couple of hours. At least it was something. I have a days work next week, and nothing after that for the moment. *scratches head and wonders if setting up on my own was a good idea??

 

[Rickster123]

At least you live in a lovely spot to be out of work!

 

[smtplumbing]

i am back working with the council, Been put back on kitchen and bathrooms which is great cause its all price work, only down side is that i now need to go on 24hour call out, tho is good in money terms 40 jobs just the other week £20 a call £10 a shut and £100 for the week your on just going on it no matter how many calls you get,

Still got my other own business, just doing small jobs at night and big jobs at the weekend, i am busy with my own stuff even looked at getting a other plumber to give me a hand, but the work just now peeks high then peeks low.

My problem now is i get phone calls asking for boiler breakdowns etc and i just cant attend them, and finding a plumber round here that you can trust can be a nightmare,

My jetter that i use is allways busy he travels allround scotland jetting for normal day to day customer right up to big companys, tho i dont fancy getting covered in **** every day

Steven

 

[smtplumbing]

o and i have bought a house so my business will be going on hold slightly

 

[Rickster123]

i am back working with the council, Been put back on kitchen and bathrooms which is great cause its all price work, only down side is that i now need to go on 24hour call out, tho is good in money terms 40 jobs just the other week £20 a call £10 a shut and £100 for the week your on just going on it no matter how many calls you get,

Still got my other own business, just doing small jobs at night and big jobs at the weekend, i am busy with my own stuff even looked at getting a other plumber to give me a hand, but the work just now peeks high then peeks low.

My problem now is i get phone calls asking for boiler breakdowns etc and i just cant attend them, and finding a plumber round here that you can trust can be a nightmare,

My jetter that i use is allways busy he travels allround scotland jetting for normal day to day customer right up to big companys, tho i dont fancy getting covered in **** every day

Steven

I wish I had the stomach for drainage. I couldnt do it for any money. I think I'd even pay someone else if mine were blocked!

 

[Atouchofgas]

Smt why not let us know where you are based and one of us might be able to help out

 

[Bobleponge]

The week starts well for me. Had a call yesterday to go and price up a job this morning. If I get it, thats possibly 2 days work.

 

[galaxy_plumbing]

Good for you Bobleponge. I had nothing for 2 weeks now. At least doing some training at Baxi this week for 3 days so keeps my mind occupied and not depressed of not being working. :/ damn recession, when this will end?

 

[Barry98]

atleast another 5 years

 

[Roger Welton]

I just seem to be incredibly patchy at the moment I'll have a quiet week then the phone won't stop ringing for another. Give it another month or so and the autumn rush will begin, then we'll be wishing we could get a few hours of peace to catch up!

 

[Dannypipe]

Good for you Bobleponge. I had nothing for 2 weeks now. At least doing some training at Baxi this week for 3 days so keeps my mind occupied and not depressed of not being working. :/ damn recession, when this will end?

I take it, that's the Baxi Combi appreciation/electrical fault finding course?

Its really good. I did it last year.

 

[moony]

I take it, that's the Baxi Combi appreciation/electrical fault finding course?

Its really good. I did it last year.

how much was it?