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

 

[galaxy_plumbing]

not at all :/ very very bad out there pal. customers want to do jobs themself and question every penny.

 

[Mike Jackson]

Work hasn't slowed up, it's stopped. I've done 12 hours work in the last 3 weeks. Fortunately I've got a couple of big jobs starting next Monday but the phone is silent.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

[SimonG]

It's non stop and has been for a while, worked sat and sun morning. Just nipped home to grab a sandwich. Worked booked in well in advance and pricing something every other day. But it's not the same for everybody. I now lads who are doing very little at the minute.

 

[PlumbBobBob]

it's so slow done my way you'd think the entire populace had died

 

[jtsplumbing]

Seams the place to be is Teesdale lads, look out Simon ! ALL UK plumbers heading to County Durham, work down in west country is dead :skull: , prices cut for what is about, and general public getting advise on here and doing it themselfs :icon9: Thank god we have J Kyle & Springer to cheer us up ! LOL, Right bag's are pack'd off to County Durham !!

 

[PlumbBobBob]

right i'll raid the piggy bank to fill the van and be on my way

 

[Pipes Plumbing]

Pretty quiet for me too, so much so that I've just taken the offer of a part time contract doing some project management for a retailer...
Half decent income for the hours, so if the proper work doesn't pick up at least I can cover my outgoings and not end up homeless or in poverty.
Worked out quite nicely really, flexible contract so I can work it around my main business as and when required.

Was starting to get a bit down about it all, but spoke to a few of my local guys and they're in the same boat - Especially the guys specialised to boiler servicing, one of them was down >75% on last year. He reckons that loads of his regulars have stopped servicing (non essential spend), and will just waiting for breakdowns before calling anyone out - Allways the cheapest they can find too. Not a good place to be...

Last thing I ever want to do is walk away from this business but I have to keep busy or I'll go bonkers without constant work or learning to keep me occupied! - Boredom threshold of a fish with ADHD me, and daytime telly makes me want to punch someone!

Hope it picks up soon, but guess we've got a tough couple of years ahead!

 

[jtsplumbing]

Great steveb, maybe we can start a new thread on were to find cheep digs :21:

 

[jtsplumbing]

Whats your location Pipes ??

 

[Pipes Plumbing]

I can now imagine a traffic jam of plumbers vans pouring into County Durham, like a copper based version of the USA Gold Rush of old!

 

[grahamgas]

Just had a new build, all plumbing and heating , and three heating installs confirmed.Just need to get the van back on the road now!!!
Looks like it is going to be the busiest summer I have had for the last three years.

 

[Pipes Plumbing]

Whats your location Pipes ??

I'm based in Hertfordshire but cover from Essex across to Oxford for certain bits of work...

 

[gravytrain]

very slow for me, in fact the worst its been since i started on my own 3 1/2 years ago.
i've never felt so bad, its difficult to know what more to do when you've done everything you can think of and
the phone still doesnt ring.

 

[jtsplumbing]

Well done Grahamgas , but no van ! think steveb and me better come over to Portsmouth first ! on our way to County Durham. lol :auto:

 

[ajgas]

Work has slowed right down. Theres 2 of us and my mate is gonna get a job somewhere. Its national though definitely I know loads of lads from all over from site subbin an there all sayin the same thing. It'll pick up though I'm sure. Government should be offering something after all the only way they're gonna get things moving is the private sector

 

[PlumbBobBob]

I can now imagine a traffic jam of plumbers vans pouring into County Durham, like a copper based version of the USA Gold Rush of old!

that's great we can call it the copper rush, or if you're that way inclined the plastic rush lol

 

[Pipes Plumbing]

Haha, like it! The plastic rush, sounds like the thing I'm paraniod of hearing evrytime I pressurise a system where I've been forced to use plastic!

 

[Rickster123]

I've had to take on contracting work to earn a living. The phone is certainly quieter this year than last. It will pick up I'm sure. An awfull lot more new plumbing and heating companies starting up locally all the time and I'm sure that's the main problem. Graham if work slows up it is always a great excuse to go fishing!

 

[SimonG]

It's just slowed right down up here!

I just don't know what it is. Three boiler services (1 combi and 2 condensing conventional) and creating a new shelf on a semi recessed basin and concealed wc. Did two services this morning and one of the customers wants a shower in, picked some gear up and visited maccy d's then look at moving two rads and moving incoming mains for a new kitchen install. Then last service and she wants a shower fitting and then out to sort the shelf. It just seems that I cross one job off my list and add two too it. Mind you it's been bloody hard work to get into this position.

 

[hammers4spanner]

national issue few lucky ones who seem to be busy enough but reckon most doing nothing ,imo it wont get better either as materials are over costly plus the govt are pushing people who have lost jobs into learning trades etc.

Funny converstaion overheard in the merchants today tho 2 old guard plumbers saying that the youngsters are killing the game , judging by the colourfull language i would say tourettes was killing the game for them !!

 

[Mike Jackson]

A lot of the problem down this way is people are after as cheap as possible and going for guys doing foreigners at weekends with no PLI and without there own Gas Safe. Because they're just working for beer money they can go in dirt cheap and prob use materials from there weekly job so it's even cheaper. I'm hearing more and more tales of people being undercut by huge amounts. The prices some of these jobs are being done for a bona fide tradesmen would be making a loss after taking account of overheads.

 

[tomskinner]

I was thinking about leaving the firm i sub contract from to try and branch out solo but theres been a bit of a mixed response i may try to cut my days down on site and see if i can fill a couple days a week with work but fear as work gets tighter on site i would be one of the first to go, may rethink a plan

 

[barronbathrooms]

Things is merseyside are dreadful. Got 2 full bathroom refurbs this month but this will be my busiest month this year! Used to get £150 a day off local builders but they want you in for £100 a day now! only getting 7 or 800 for full house refurb bathroom kitchen heating gas! Really thinking of joining the handout gang they seem to do ok!

 

[jtsplumbing]

Hi hammers ! Who you useing for supply's ? Me , - City Plumbing & Dougfield's (Saltash) But prices are getting out of hand * still no work so no need to worry about costs.

 

[jtsplumbing]

Have you tried to get anything ! if youv'e been SE for any length of time you will get NOTHING .

 

[Destroyer2813]

I'm based in Hertfordshire but cover from Essex across to Oxford for certain bits of work...

Were in Herts?

 

[mfgs]

I'm reallt quiet at the moment. I have had a fair few quotes for new boilers recently but even though I have dropped my prices I am still too expensive and losing the job. To be honest for the amount of money these people are going to make on the job with the price they put in, they are welcome to it. I would rather sit at home and not work, than work for next to nothing and resent it.

 

[Guest123]

I'm really busy and booked up until the end of July, but getting scarce are the high end bathrooms that pay really well, mainly mid range ones now and in quantity.

Doing a roaring trade as well installing the £50 budget Triton electric showers that Screw fix have just introduced. Great wee showers for the money and a good earner.

Rated People keeps me busy with wee £100 jobs when I'm held up on a bathroom install. Not everyones cup of tea but I only buy the £3.50 leads and it's worked well enough for me, plus most jobs lead to something bigger outwith the Rated People site.

The time to advertise the most is when you're busy, coz when you're not, you've left it too late.

 

[Dannypipe]

I always feel bad for the guys with nothing on when this question gets asked and I'm busy.

I'm very busy though. I have a partner and employ a couple of blokes. We're not turning anything away and are booked up for the next 6 months at least. Looking for a dorment volcano as I prepare for world domination!!

Hope it picks up for you guys with less on. I win a lot on word of mouth, I don't advertise at all. I count my lucky stars.

 

[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!!