billfires
Gold Member
veejay, I PM'ed you. It's the flashing letter in the upper left hand corner. Bill C
Excavating work
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Syncro
Platinum Member
<font color="blue"> "It's the periphial requirements at least in most areas of New England that prohibit or severely make it hard to do part time work."</font>
Right, not to mention insurance which is both expensive and hard to get.
Another reason small jobs can cost so much is to average in the cost of operating expenses and on site damage, like hitting an underground utility which are located generally only within +/- 3 feet. A second man is required with a shovel in the trench just behind the bucket when approaching a burried line. Even with extra precauitions we broke a hi-pressure gas line once that was quite spectacular, and get this, even though we were just outside the paint we got billed for the repair. Liability is a big problem.
Right, not to mention insurance which is both expensive and hard to get.
Another reason small jobs can cost so much is to average in the cost of operating expenses and on site damage, like hitting an underground utility which are located generally only within +/- 3 feet. A second man is required with a shovel in the trench just behind the bucket when approaching a burried line. Even with extra precauitions we broke a hi-pressure gas line once that was quite spectacular, and get this, even though we were just outside the paint we got billed for the repair. Liability is a big problem.
rdln
Veteran Member
Seems like one of these two brothers would have to be a licensed plumber in any state. And we know how much plumbers earn.
I'll bet one fifth of that bill paid for the ability to acquire, transport and operate the backhoe.
I'll bet one fifth of that bill paid for the ability to acquire, transport and operate the backhoe.
dummy
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<font color="blue"> even though we were just outside the paint we got billed for the repair. </font> How far outside the paint line? Why wasn't the locating co. liable for the repair?
dummy
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What types of customer market are you looking at? Homeowner, landscaper, plumber, rental management............? Each one has their own unique needs and can be better served with different types of equipment. Full or part time, you have to remember that your customer is your boss. And some of them can be extremely hard to please. The other tough one, at least for me, is bill collecting. I hate having to follow-up on people that haven't paid. And you can't extend what you can't afford to pay yourself back.
Let's say Joe calls and wants some work done. Before that job is paid, he has some more work. Second job is done and first still isn't paid. Promises and promises, still no money, but he has a settlement check coming this Friday. So how about doing this third job and I'll pay for all three on Monday? Next thing you know, you've got a big chunk of your time and money invested.
And, oh yeah, even a cashiers check can bounce.
Not to be negative, just some realities of doing business today.
Let's say Joe calls and wants some work done. Before that job is paid, he has some more work. Second job is done and first still isn't paid. Promises and promises, still no money, but he has a settlement check coming this Friday. So how about doing this third job and I'll pay for all three on Monday? Next thing you know, you've got a big chunk of your time and money invested.
And, oh yeah, even a cashiers check can bounce.
Not to be negative, just some realities of doing business today.
dummy
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House to curb can be done here on a septic license. But, some of the main taps can be 14 feet underground. Depends on how and where they laid the mains.
Egon
Epic Contributor
Most definetly the idea has merit.
The smaller unit may be of use for landscaping or very confined areas and may be good place to start.
The larger machine should be painted yellow and considered construction quality. The letter C comes to mind for backhoes. For a backhoe find out how deep most of the trenching is. This should be an influence on the size required. Too small may mean longer digging times per foot which may hold up the General's crew. A dump truck may be required in combination with the backhoes. Transportation of equipment?? Fueling ?
Check with local contractors for their needs. That would include machine size, insurance, if bid or by the hour and how much work. In some cases it may be possible to be covered by the Generals insurance??
If located in an area with snow winter could provide more snow removal work.
Plan it all out. Ask and talk to as many people on a face to face basis as possible.
Meet all the legal requirements.
And have reliable equipment. Breakdowns and holding up the General does not make one popular.
Good luck.
Egon
The smaller unit may be of use for landscaping or very confined areas and may be good place to start.
The larger machine should be painted yellow and considered construction quality. The letter C comes to mind for backhoes. For a backhoe find out how deep most of the trenching is. This should be an influence on the size required. Too small may mean longer digging times per foot which may hold up the General's crew. A dump truck may be required in combination with the backhoes. Transportation of equipment?? Fueling ?
Check with local contractors for their needs. That would include machine size, insurance, if bid or by the hour and how much work. In some cases it may be possible to be covered by the Generals insurance??
If located in an area with snow winter could provide more snow removal work.
Plan it all out. Ask and talk to as many people on a face to face basis as possible.
Meet all the legal requirements.
And have reliable equipment. Breakdowns and holding up the General does not make one popular.
Good luck.
Egon
Syncro
Platinum Member
<font color="blue"> "Why wasn't the locating co. liable for the repair?" </font>
Dummy: The contractor is responsible for breaking anything he touches and even a few that he just thought about. Its a stacked deck against us these days. In NV, our state has had so many frivolous lawsuits that insurance is all but impossible to get in the const biz, hence so many small outfits are going without any ins at all and even many of the larger co's are operating under different LLC's for each project to escape the huge insurance premiums. Its a sad condition, the doctors seem to get all the publicity with their high mal practice ins costs but unfortunately construction people are not so vocal. We pretty much retired because of high insurance costs, our minimum premium was about $75,000 based on us building only three homes a year, which of course is ridiculous as that would add $25,000 per house and I don't have the guts to go without insurance.
Hey Veejay, I'll bet you're sorry you asked!! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Dummy: The contractor is responsible for breaking anything he touches and even a few that he just thought about. Its a stacked deck against us these days. In NV, our state has had so many frivolous lawsuits that insurance is all but impossible to get in the const biz, hence so many small outfits are going without any ins at all and even many of the larger co's are operating under different LLC's for each project to escape the huge insurance premiums. Its a sad condition, the doctors seem to get all the publicity with their high mal practice ins costs but unfortunately construction people are not so vocal. We pretty much retired because of high insurance costs, our minimum premium was about $75,000 based on us building only three homes a year, which of course is ridiculous as that would add $25,000 per house and I don't have the guts to go without insurance.
Hey Veejay, I'll bet you're sorry you asked!! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
That's is funny but no I'm not sorry, thanks for all the replys they are very helpful. I have had a direct mail advertising business for ten years that has been very profitable, however cable advertising as of late has hurt me. their rates have become very competitive. I still make a fairly decent income but have quite a bit of free time. Also like Dale said it is getting just about impossible to get people to pay their bills. It was not like this just a few years ago, it is a sad state of affairs, what's the world coming to?
Jim
Jim
briggs_man
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Why wasn't the locating co. liable for the repair?
Thats why i dont trust miss utilities nor the utility companies either one...... We are held responciable for breakage but if these excuse my languge for a sec ,, If These Jackasses dont even know where their lines are how in sam **** are we ,,,, Thats why most of the work i been doing latley is land clearing cutting tress and diggin stumps , and Overgrown brush removal.... Enough work doing that for farmers to keep a Mini excavator busy year long if it wouls stop this **** rain ,,
Thats why i dont trust miss utilities nor the utility companies either one...... We are held responciable for breakage but if these excuse my languge for a sec ,, If These Jackasses dont even know where their lines are how in sam **** are we ,,,, Thats why most of the work i been doing latley is land clearing cutting tress and diggin stumps , and Overgrown brush removal.... Enough work doing that for farmers to keep a Mini excavator busy year long if it wouls stop this **** rain ,,
