07-04-2008, 11:00 AM
You know, honestly, I've done this sort of work for a long time now in several states, and the fact is that that's what's paid by quality builders. Again, read quality. That's the case here too, but some are playing mumm on this forum, and I understand why, but that's the truth.
Quality farmers do the same, as I remember my Grandpa doing that. It wasn't organic, but as a kid I'd see a peach the size of my head.
A quality builder makes money by:
Doing nice work for sensible money.
Not making lots of trips to the store and back for stuff he forgot. Especially here, as a trip to town takes two hours and costs 100 bucks worth of time.
Making sure all labor is running at 100% all the time. If you're making a trip to the store that's not the case.
Building himself, not supervising flunkies.
Not compensating for the fact that you don't know what you're doing by having big trailers, pickups and other crap all on borrowed money... as of course you'll have to charge to cover all that unnecessary nonsense. A lot of guys think they need to have that to look professional. No, the fact is people are a lot smarter than that. If YOU look professional, and know what you're doing, and don't blow smoke about what you don't, it's a very simple formula.
Most importantly, doing nice enough work that the homeowner glows about what you've just done for such reasonable money that you're recommended all over the place. Charging one sucker 90 dollars an hour is no good, you'll starve, if you only work 8 hours a year. The key is doing nice work, for reasonable money, very fast and reliably. Not much else to it. If you've a good eye, that really is the icing on the cake. For most, if you can just follow blueprints that's good enough.
In short being very efficient. That's of course the same everywhere and in any business.
So, no, not too lucky, as there's others here I'm sure would hire at the same, again, for some reason playing mumm, but again, I understand why. If it's my role to be the firebrand, I won't shy from it.
My dream here, really, and if anyone could help me out with it, well, THIS will go a long ways to restoring real community values too.
I'd love get a boat building program here. Not some historical restoration blah blah nonsense but real boat building. The fact is Hawaii NEEDS boats, and boat builders are far and few between. What is more rare yet, is boat builders that build useful, practical, cost effective boats that are seaworthy and valuable, yet something a normal person can afford. THIS is a tradition that has been wholly lost. It could be done here. Thailand is becoming a big boat building region, of course New Zealand, but the fact is there is no reason Hawaii could not compete as a major industry. I do not have the capital to put such a program together, but I do have the reputation. Perhaps someone has an idea of how to work all of that out. I think it would pay.
Heck, if anyone wants to learn this stuff, I'm building a boat in my front yard at the moment, designed specifically for Hawaii, and on those principles. I can teach sailmaking, rigging, boat building, or what have you. I don't do motors, and revile them. If you want to learn something, just give me a call!
Quality farmers do the same, as I remember my Grandpa doing that. It wasn't organic, but as a kid I'd see a peach the size of my head.
A quality builder makes money by:
Doing nice work for sensible money.
Not making lots of trips to the store and back for stuff he forgot. Especially here, as a trip to town takes two hours and costs 100 bucks worth of time.
Making sure all labor is running at 100% all the time. If you're making a trip to the store that's not the case.
Building himself, not supervising flunkies.
Not compensating for the fact that you don't know what you're doing by having big trailers, pickups and other crap all on borrowed money... as of course you'll have to charge to cover all that unnecessary nonsense. A lot of guys think they need to have that to look professional. No, the fact is people are a lot smarter than that. If YOU look professional, and know what you're doing, and don't blow smoke about what you don't, it's a very simple formula.
Most importantly, doing nice enough work that the homeowner glows about what you've just done for such reasonable money that you're recommended all over the place. Charging one sucker 90 dollars an hour is no good, you'll starve, if you only work 8 hours a year. The key is doing nice work, for reasonable money, very fast and reliably. Not much else to it. If you've a good eye, that really is the icing on the cake. For most, if you can just follow blueprints that's good enough.
In short being very efficient. That's of course the same everywhere and in any business.
So, no, not too lucky, as there's others here I'm sure would hire at the same, again, for some reason playing mumm, but again, I understand why. If it's my role to be the firebrand, I won't shy from it.
My dream here, really, and if anyone could help me out with it, well, THIS will go a long ways to restoring real community values too.
I'd love get a boat building program here. Not some historical restoration blah blah nonsense but real boat building. The fact is Hawaii NEEDS boats, and boat builders are far and few between. What is more rare yet, is boat builders that build useful, practical, cost effective boats that are seaworthy and valuable, yet something a normal person can afford. THIS is a tradition that has been wholly lost. It could be done here. Thailand is becoming a big boat building region, of course New Zealand, but the fact is there is no reason Hawaii could not compete as a major industry. I do not have the capital to put such a program together, but I do have the reputation. Perhaps someone has an idea of how to work all of that out. I think it would pay.
Heck, if anyone wants to learn this stuff, I'm building a boat in my front yard at the moment, designed specifically for Hawaii, and on those principles. I can teach sailmaking, rigging, boat building, or what have you. I don't do motors, and revile them. If you want to learn something, just give me a call!