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General => General Discussion => Topic started by: Tassie devils on June 29, 2012, 08:46:02 AM
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Hi fellow Swaggers
We keep hearing that the Australian economy is in good shape, one reason we left Tassie and moved back to south Australia was because work dried up in Tassie and when I mean dried up it was like someone flicked a switch and turned the work off.
I am a Carpenter and licenced builder with 25 years behind me and have never been this quite. Just interested to see if anyone else is struggling to find work or sales down around Australia.
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Lots of people with hands in their pockets waiting to see how Joolias carbon tax that she said would never happen hits.
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Hey Tassie devil.. Tasmania is particulary quite at the moment. I run business which has stores in both Hobart & Launcestion which involves the building and construction trade. I've actually budgeted both sites to post a negative result for the rest of 2012. No matter how much we have advertised etc it just isnt there at the moment.
Cheers
Greg
PS that means if you are quite... when I'm in Tassie next must go to pub for beer, my shout!
Greg
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Lots of people with hands in their pockets waiting to see how Joolias carbon tax that she said would never happen hits.
Remember... it's not a "Carbon tax" it's a "Carbon Price". You gotta love how they avoid the 'T' word!!!
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As I'm a green energy vendor - does that mean I get a Carbon
Tax Price rebate ??
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I'm in residential construction too (S.A), and it's been pretty quiet for the last 18 months. Plenty of people are wanting to build, but the banks are much stricter now on what they will lend - not as generous so to speak. Factor in it's harder to sell homes at the moment in some areas, and a quick sale means dropping your "ideal" sale price, significantly, resulting in people shelving the idea of building new in the hope things will get better in the future. Reno's and extensions are up, but not by huge amounts. I know of a couple of housing developments that are on hold at the moment simply because the developer won't make any money on it, based on the current $/sqm that houses are being sold for in the area. It will eventually go ahead, but not in the next 12 months, unless the market improves. My short experience in the construction industry leads me to believe it's a "boom & bust" industry anyway, with it being frantic for a cople of years and more work that you can cope with, then back to a year of two scratching around for work, and everyone undercutting each other. I'm hoping we're not too far away from it picking up again.
It's probably different in different areas and different states.
There is money out there though, but with all the constant negativity about what's happening to the cost of living in Australia and the global uncertainties with future, people are scared to spend their money and are sitting tight and paying off their current debts instead. I went to a seminar a couple of weeks ago and I'm pretty sure the speaker stated that people in Australia are saving more money & paying off their current debts at a greater rate than at any other time in our history (or something along those lines).
In some ways I view it a bit like a self fulfilling prophency - It's not really as bad as it seems, but the more negativity we hear, the less inclined we are to spend our money.
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heaps of buisnesses strugleing or closeing down .... heaps out of work ... ide say if it wasnt for the coal exports wede but F#$%&D.
craig
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I don't think we're in a recession, but people are being very careful with their spending that is certain. Australia has a strong economy, interest rates are low and employment is high, BUT, the populace feels uncertain. The federal opposition have done a great job of talking doom andf gloom, and the Government has done a lousy job of rebutting that or creating a sense of optimism.
On the carbon tax, I don't know one way or the other if is good or not, but the commentators I read and trust, like Ross Gittins economics editor for the SMH, say it is OK. I hear lots of people talking about the tax, but rarely does any individual mention the tax rebates we will all get to compensate for an increase in energy prices.
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Its certainly not getting any easier i tell ya .......
BD
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I don't think we're in a recession, but people are being very careful with their spending that is certain. Australia has a strong economy, interest rates are low and employment is high, BUT, the populace feels uncertain. The federal opposition have done a great job of talking doom andf gloom, and the Government has done a lousy job of rebutting that or creating a sense of optimism.
On the carbon tax, I don't know one way or the other if is good or not, but the commentators I read and trust, like Ross Gittins economics editor for the SMH, say it is OK. I hear lots of people talking about the tax, but rarely does any individual mention the tax rebates we will all get to compensate for an increase in energy prices.
We have been told we are in the well to do class so we don't get a tax rebate. Two coppers wages and we're rich???? What a joke. But never mind live life to the fullest, no point complaining ;D
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I don't think we're in a recession, but people are being very careful with their spending that is certain. Australia has a strong economy, interest rates are low and employment is high, BUT, the populace feels uncertain. The federal opposition have done a great job of talking doom andf gloom, and the Government has done a lousy job of rebutting that or creating a sense of optimism.
On the carbon tax, I don't know one way or the other if is good or not, but the commentators I read and trust, like Ross Gittins economics editor for the SMH, say it is OK. I hear lots of people talking about the tax, but rarely does any individual mention the tax rebates we will all get to compensate for an increase in energy prices.
Thats because a lot of us dont get any compensation, in fact Im much worse off. The thing that gets me most is that Im already very environmentally aware. Ive gotten the insulation, solar power, I dont have an air conditioner, Im careful with water, I take public transport to and from work, and yet, because the government have deemed me "rich" I have to pay and none of my efforts are taken into account. I should get credits for my low carbon footprint. I can assure you if I was rich, I wouldn't be driving a Pathfinder and a 1992 Mitsubishi Lancer.
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but rarely does any individual mention the tax rebates we will all get to compensate for an increase in energy prices.
thats cause they are not worth a pinch of Shit.
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We have been told we are in the well to do class so we don't get a tax rebate. Two coppers wages and we're rich???? What a joke. But never mind live life to the fullest, no point complaining ;D
Not a copper, but a single income family and we too, are considered the top end of town. Not sure how that works???
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We are one of the most overtaxed countries in the world and it is getting worse. Carbon TAX is the latest grab. Any handouts that get given to anyone will come from tax payers and it is us anyways. More and more manufacturing is closing down and going overseas too. We pay more for electricity than most countries and the coal comes from here (countries buying our coal get cheaper power than we do)What is left to do for us to do but shut up and keep getting ripped off by greedy corporations and useless governments
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Hey Tassie devil.. Tasmania is particularly quite at the moment. I run business which has stores in both Hobart & Launcestion which involves the building and construction trade. I've actually budgeted both sites to post a negative result for the rest of 2012. No matter how much we have advertised etc it just isnt there at the moment.
Cheers
Greg
PS that means if you are quite... when I'm in Tassie next must go to pub for beer, my shout!
Greg
Thanks for the offer for a beer but unless your visiting south Australia, Tassie is a long day trip from here,
As for construction work in Tasmania my phone has not rung for a single job from Tasmania in 6 months the other guy I worked with, took on my workshop making staircases but has no work at all and has made contact with heaps of builders and architects with no luck.
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Taxes...........
Lack of finance..........
Lack of confidence...........
Out of control infrastructure charges......for both commercial and residential construction are all playing a major part in the real estate downturn.
What generally happens in a market like this is essentially a retraction of available funds in to the major cities......with QLD and WA being the exception because of mining and gas. But holiday homes and non essential "investments" do tend to get sold off as well.
Then those major city markets have to capitalize again and begin the spread back out through the whole market.
When this starts to happen, as I am seeing on the Sunshine Coast in the residential market anyway, although early days, is that prices for established homes etc start to rise again until they get to a price point where developers or more importantly their bankers deem the risk / demand profile is acceptable enough to develop more land. They then bring that land to market and prices start to even out as people decide on new homes on new land / or older homes on older land, but often in a better position.
This is also the reason there is more renovation work rather than selling and buying.....with the costs (including time) to sell and buy, stamp duty etc, it is a much more palatable decision if you are able to sort your requirements by this method.
If you want to know where you area is in the property cycle to better gauge your actual position in the market it is best to talk to your (reliable) local agent or read market reviews written buy good quality real estate information providers such as HTW valuers or the like.
We will get through this crappy market and back to more normal cycles.........
Cheers Nomad.
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Taxes...........
Lack of finance..........
Lack of confidence...........
Out of control infrastructure charges......for both commercial and residential construction are all playing a major part in the real estate downturn.
What generally happens in a market like this is essentially a retraction of available funds in to the major cities......with QLD and WA being the exception because of mining and gas. But holiday homes and non essential "investments" do tend to get sold off as well.
Then those major city markets have to capitalize again and begin the spread back out through the whole market.
When this starts to happen, as I am seeing on the Sunshine Coast in the residential market anyway, although early days, is that prices for established homes etc start to rise again until they get to a price point where developers or more importantly their bankers deem the risk / demand profile is acceptable enough to develop more land. They then bring that land to market and prices start to even out as people decide on new homes on new land / or older homes on older land, but often in a better position.
This is also the reason there is more renovation work rather than selling and buying.....with the costs (including time) to sell and buy, stamp duty etc, it is a much more palatable decision if you are able to sort your requirements by this method.
If you want to know where you area is in the property cycle to better gauge your actual position in the market it is best to talk to your (reliable) local agent or read market reviews written buy good quality real estate information providers such as HTW valuers or the like.
We will get through this crappy market and back to more normal cycles.........
Cheers Nomad.
Makes sence let's hope things pick up soon or I might have to sell the camper.
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Mate, I run my own carpentry business in country QLD and have so for the last 4 years ..... I know what you mean about "someone has flicked the switch" I am so quiet it is not funny, in fact the decision has been made to wrap up the business, and find another job. Not a decision that has been made lightly, as I LOVE my job. But if the work isnt there , the bills dont get paid.
I honestly think that certain residents in Canberra live in there own insulated warm fuzzy world, and dont realise how the "common man" is doing it.
Cheers Chippy :D
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Hi chippy
I have been self employed for 12 years and also have started looking and applying for other jobs,still within the construction industry but you no what not even getting a reply to my resume.
A friend of mine is a supervisor for a local construction company, they advertised for a carpenter and got 45 resumes now that's a lot of carpenters looking for work.
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Technically speaking we are not in a recession but we are slowing (hence the rate drops), looking at the raw data though the economy is still in reasonable knick comparatively speaking. However, what's hurting many of us is that wealth has moved to the mining sector and the people with the money (and everyone else for that matter) have no confidence in the economy and have stopped spending and started saving again. For you poor buggers posting up above this means people stop buying non-essentials like new homes etc, unfortunately this won't change until people get some confidence back and probably all or some of the following will need to happen:
- more strength in global economy, in particular the Euro
- a strong Australian Goverment with a clear mandate to lead and clever fiscal policy that the people believe in
- new financial year (people stop spending on the lead upto 30 June)
- further reduction in rates
- the private sector to be encouraged to commit to capital projects and start spending in a big way
- this ones hard but it would be nice if our dollar weakened.
I know this won't make anyone who's doing it tough feel better but I thought it was probably worth explaining.
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How does it go again? A recession is when you lot are underemployed/unemployed but a depression is when i'm underemployed/unemployed.
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It's not a problem of money, there are a lot of Aussies who have money, if fact as a nation we now have more money in our bank accounts than ever before,
Who's paid off there credit cards? We did.
Problem is we now have 24hr news on tv and on the Internet and when no kittens climb a tree the easiest way to fill the news is to talk down the economy some more, GFC, euro, stock market, Dow, Aussie dollar, inTrest rates blah blah blah
It scares people, then they don't spend, so we don't get any extra money, so we don't spend, and so it goes on
There's money just no confidence to spend it, our sales are down 33%
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To all you chippy's/builders out of or looking for work...
Have you thought about heading a bit further in? As in further into the country?
I mean, our town here seems to be crying out for builders and the like as you can never seem to get any of them! I've got work I want done but it seems that someone else always gets in first! I mustn't be pushy enough! (or waving enough cash under their nose...I don't know!!)
Maybe the work will dry up for them and they'll finally get back to me!
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Agreed Duchess, I have some small rectification jobs to do but it seems the trades what the full house builds. If they do call back they want $50 to quote a job...
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To all you chippy's/builders out of or looking for work...
Have you thought about heading a bit further in? As in further into the country?
I mean, our town here seems to be crying out for builders and the like as you can never seem to get any of them! I've got work I want done but it seems that someone else always gets in first! I mustn't be pushy enough! (or waving enough cash under their nose...I don't know!!)
Maybe the work will dry up for them and they'll finally get back to me!
Hi Duchess
Do you mean relocate or travel daily, I do hear this all the time that small country towns struggle to get tradesman but where we are in central Adelaide a 2 hour drive in any direction would not get you to areas where tradesman are scarce. Mind you I have thought about the mines as a last resort,but I don't think they are crying out for carpenters.
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I'm a sparkie in Tassie the company I work for has shed about 2/3rd of our men . . . . . .
Some one just flicked the switch & then there was no work. . . . .
Of that not a recession I don't know what is.
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I'm a sparkie in Tassie the company I work for has shed about 2/3rd of our men . . . . . .
Some one just flicked the switch & then there was no work. . . . .
Of that not a recession I don't know what is.
I am with you pirate Pete and if it's not a recession can't wait to see how bad things get if we do go into recession ???
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Agreed Duchess, I have some small rectification jobs to do but it seems the trades what the full house builds. If they do call back they want $50 to quote a job...
You wouldn't think any tradie's are in a recession where we live. Judging by the arrogance and over inflated prices, the lack of service, nil interest in quoting etc,etc
Judging by the number of closed shops, empty shops in our town you think that they would have interest in each and every customer, afraid not. Went into tradelink store to view new bathroom vanities, was treated to the most arrogant/ignorant welcome or answer to my questions, I went to Bunnings and bought the same vanity from there by choosing it off the shelf,same lack of staff knowledge but at least there policy is to smile at you.
Discussion with my dad who used to work for another trade supplier briefly left me in agreement that as its its a more tradies shop,hence the arrogance. Same reason dad left a similar shop, arrogant tradesmen dealing with over the counter and arrogant staff.
(My dad is a tradesman himself before getting too old for tools and then doing the shop assistant thing. Fitter and Turner and cabinet maker /kitchen Builder)
obviously no recession in our town.!!
Dads latest job is supervisor. Watching over me while I renovate my old house. I can't get anybody interested in doing any work for me.
See the thread 'is this typically Australian '
Sorry tradies, but if your out of work come to south west WA, there's obviously enough here to warrant the ignorance arrogance and bad attitude cowboy tradies there are in this town.
Is Australia in a recession?? You wouldn't think so every time I pick up the phone to call for work to be doñe.
Hence my renovations have taken far longer than the wife would like, but I just can't bring myself to pay wankers with attitude large sums of money.
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Politically, this country is stuffed. Until that is sorted out, no one will be confident in anything. If Abbott gets in next year, there's still the problem of the Greens controlling the Senate until the following July. Abbott won't be able to do much to try and fix things, so we'll still be stuffed until the Greens are out of the picture. We'll possibly even see a double dissolution election if Senators elected next year won't give enough numbers to whoever forms government to let them just wait until July. Politically, things will get worse before they get better. Our economy won't get better until we fix the federal government. Put on your crash helmets, it's going to be a bumpy ride.
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Well, I guess I do mean relocate.
Mind you, if you were to look at what 2 hours drive would take you from say Tamworth, NSW...it would be a whole lot more regional area than Adelaide.
For example, at the moment the council was having a library built in our town. One of the builders was from the Gold Coast and he was telling me that he and his wife travel in their caravan to regional areas where the work is. He said that he was normally up north Queensland though.
So, maybe there's a thought. Get on the road with the camper. See what else is on offer...if you want work, I reckon you'll find it...or it will find you!
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Maybe we need to start a trades wanted thread...
I need a sparky, painter, roof tiler/restorer in MEL.
Sparky - run 15A circuit from house to garage
Painter - paint external windows and facias on brick house
Roof - fix pointing and broken tiles
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It's not a carbon tax, it's an air we breath tax. We are practically taxed for everything we do in our waking moments. The next tax will be a sleep tax. Some of us pay this one already, lying in bed at night unable to sleep because we wonder how we are going to pay the bills.
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I'm in FNQ .
The building industry is stuffed .... the ATO are shutting down so many small business's at the moment .
It will be interesting to see who makes it to the end of the year .
If you thought you had tightened your belt in the last year or so ... I think it's going to get worse before it gets better .
Cheers
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When is the next election?
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Well, I guess I do mean relocate.
Mind you, if you were to look at what 2 hours drive would take you from say Tamworth, NSW...it would be a whole lot more regional area than Adelaide.
For example, at the moment the council was having a library built in our town. One of the builders was from the Gold Coast and he was telling me that he and his wife travel in their caravan to regional areas where the work is. He said that he was normally up north Queensland though.
So, maybe there's a thought. Get on the road with the camper. See what else is on offer...if you want work, I reckon you'll find it...or it will find you!
Duchess love the idea of getting in the camper to find work, but with 3 daughters one at high school and we already just relocated back to Adelaide, would be just a bit unfair on my family. If it was just myself and the wife I would be on the road.
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It's not a carbon tax, it's an air we breath tax. We are practically taxed for everything we do in our waking moments. The next tax will be a sleep tax. Some of us pay this one already, lying in bed at night unable to sleep because we wonder how we are going to pay the bills.
:cup:
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It's not a carbon tax, it's an air we breath tax.
reminds of the beatles song verse "go for a walk we'll tax your feet", coming soon to imperialist Oz.
When is the next election?
not soon enough but the damage is done.
You wouldn't think any tradie's are in a recession where we live. Judging by the arrogance and over inflated prices, the lack of service, nil interest in quoting etc,etc
as far as trades people go i beleive they have priced themselves out of the market, unless its absolutey crucial that joe blow has to call one, at $150 - $200 just to come out then pay for the job, poor ol' average joe blow just cant afford their services.
as far as recession goes i haven't seen so many people buy so many toys in all my life, bikes, boats, vans, campers, cars, trips, the list goes on. my mates with bussiness's though have their moments, one week can be dead as a door nail, mostly automotive, then the next can be flat stick. i dont work anymore but i still hear the same old story from the industry i was in, heavy vehicles (double pivoting freight relocator), as to how everyones screaming for drivers.
i've also noticed how everyone no matter how well off they are still cry poor for that potential handout.
i could be wrong, just what i see.
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Some interesting feed back.
I have never heard or come across tradesman charging to quote, but I do hear all the time tradies not turning up to quote or never getting back to people.
Have we priced ourselves out of the market a bit unfair,maybe if you compare tradesman to cowboys then the answer is yes.
The last time a had my ute serviced the hourly Labor rate was $100+GST ??? Have mechanics priced themselves out of the market or maybe that's what they need to cover costs.
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Some interesting feed back.
I have never heard or come across tradesman charging to quote, but I do hear all the time tradies not turning up to quote or never getting back to people.
Have we priced ourselves out of the market a bit unfair,maybe if you compare tradesman to cowboys then the answer is yes.
The last time a had my ute serviced the hourly Labor rate was $100+GST ??? Have mechanics priced themselves out of the market or maybe that's what they need to cover costs.
According to someone, its because us tradesmen are arrogant...
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I wouldn't say arrogant, I would say unreliable. It seems to be the norm trades don't turn up to quote at the agreed time. That shows a lack of consideration for the customer's (my) time. My view is, if you can't make the time agreed to quote how can I trust you to get my job completed on time.
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The last time a had my ute serviced the hourly Labor rate was $100+GST ??? Have mechanics priced themselves out of the market or maybe that's what they need to cover costs.
People need to become aware of the true cost of doing business in this country, the true cost is whats sending the small bloke to the wall.
Hold on, it's going to get worse.
As for tradie's charging to quote, at least there's an incentive for them to go waste x-amount
of time looking at a job they might not even got, because the customer is so hell bent on saving $5.00 his probably going to get another 3 or 4 blokes to compare quotes against.
When pickings are as slim as they are at the moment you really can't afford to be fluffed around with the chance of an outside job. Most trades people at the moment are busy looking after there regular clientele and cant take the chance of letting them down (pricing a possible) for fear of not getting a second look if there unavailable for there regulars on the day there needed.
There is no confidence out there.
MHO. Where as close to the R word as we've ever been without anyone actually saying it, the government need to realize we can't all be miners and politicians.
This thread might have been better called. IS AUSTRALIA IN DENIAL ?
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People need to become aware of the true cost of doing business in this country, the true cost is whats sending the small bloke to the wall.
Hold on, it's going to get worse.
As for tradie's charging to quote, at least there's an incentive for them to go waste x-amount
of time looking at a job they might not even got, because the customer is so hell bent on saving $5.00 his probably going to get another 3 or 4 blokes to compare quotes against.
When pickings are as slim as they are at the moment you really can't afford to be fluffed around with the chance of an outside job. Most trades people at the moment are busy looking after there regular clientele and cant take the chance of letting them down (pricing a possible) for fear of not getting a second look if there unavailable for there regulars on the day there needed.
There is no confidence out there.
MHO. Where as close to the R word as we've ever been without anyone actually saying it, the government need to realize we can't all be miners and politicians.
This thread might have been better called. IS AUSTRALIA IN DENIAL ?
Isn't that the truth !
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Ok lets look at it like this .....
I I have to do a quote lets allow (min) 2 hrs to go look at the job travelling + actually measuring up. Then another 2 hrs in the office pricing, and sourcing product. So once it is posted there is 4 hrs straight up ... That 4 hr I HAVENT charged for, because aparently it isnt the right thing to do. I then wait weeks ( sometimes months) to hear back from people and to date in the last 4 years only ONE person has ever rung me to tell me they didnt want the job done. (out of hundreds). I use to ring potential clients back about a week after supplying the quote - and by the way I ALWAYS turn up early, and try to supply a quote with 48 hrs - however I got sick of hearing "it's too much" or " Im going to have a go at it myself". It is as obvious as tthe proverbials dogs tenders, when someone rings up just to get ideas from a chippy on what they want to DIY next weekend ....
I have found that people dont understand the price of materials, or how long it takes to complete some projects (thanks reality tv ... )
Anyway enough of my rant ...
Cheers Chippy :D
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Duchess love the idea of getting in the camper to find work, but with 3 daughters one at high school and we already just relocated back to Adelaide, would be just a bit unfair on my family. If it was just myself and the wife I would be on the road.
Ah...yep I get you. The bloke I was talking to was in his late 50's and I'd say his kids were probably all grown up! Anyway, something to think about for the future... :D
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I reckon a lot of the country is in a recession.
Especially the building trade out side of metro areas.
I was thinking about this carbon tax think after I mowed the lawn today, cut some fire wood with the chainsaw to start a fire to burn off some rubbish in the backyard, then I whipper snipped, Drove to the shop to buy beer and drove back the 4 k's.
I thought how good is this, 500 odd companies are being slugged a tax to compensate me for their polluting.
Why hadn't any other polly thought of this before?
Pure genius.
:cheers:
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Ok lets look at it like this .....
I I have to do a quote lets allow (min) 2 hrs to go look at the job travelling + actually measuring up. Then another 2 hrs in the office pricing, and sourcing product. So once it is posted there is 4 hrs straight up ... That 4 hr I HAVENT charged for, because aparently it isnt the right thing to do. I then wait weeks ( sometimes months) to hear back from people and to date in the last 4 years only ONE person has ever rung me to tell me they didnt want the job done. (out of hundreds). I use to ring potential clients back about a week after supplying the quote - and by the way I ALWAYS turn up early, and try to supply a quote with 48 hrs - however I got sick of hearing "it's too much" or " Im going to have a go at it myself". It is as obvious as tthe proverbials dogs tenders, when someone rings up just to get ideas from a chippy on what they want to DIY next weekend ....
I have found that people dont understand the price of materials, or how long it takes to complete some projects (thanks reality tv ... )
Anyway enough of my rant ...
Cheers Chippy :D
Your not wrong there Chippy.
We get that at work all the time, or they want a quote to put one power point, light or what ever in & cant understand when you say its not worth the time to even look at the job to do the quote because it will cost more than you can make on the job just to do the quote. Then you get in trouble because you wouldnt look at it.
The other good one is the person wants some work done, you go out & work out what they want to do as they dont know how or where to get power there, then take your quote all over town using your ideas & you end up loosing the quote to a 1 man band that will do it on the weekend for cash because you are too dear.
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Anyway enough of my rant ...
Cheers Chippy :D
Rant excused mate, we face this every week mate.
Or even better they don't get back to you, copy your plans that you have drawn, left with them to look at and you find they have either gone owner builder or got someone else.
What I find strange is, a mining co is prepared to pay me 80K plus to drive a truck, but some people reckon $45 an hour is to much at a Chippy.
:cheers:
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In our group of 8 close family friends, 5 of us are Tradesman working in Mining and 3 are in Brisbane working in Retail and Cabnit making. There is a massive difference between incomes with us blokes who work in mining and those who are working back here in Brisbane ($100,000 more).
Ask my 3 mates working back in Brisbane, struggling week to week if Australia is heading towards a rescission, and I bet they'll answer yes.
My wife and I aren't millionares but are comfortable financially, but are still to scared to spend too much money on any luxuries, and would much prefer to take advantage of the low interest rates and pay the mortgage off asap, and save as much as we can while we can. Just in case.
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We get that at work all the time, or they want a quote to put one power point, light or what ever in & cant understand when you say its not worth the time to even look at the job to do the quote because it will cost more than you can make on the job just to do the quote. Then you get in trouble because you wouldnt look at it.
So how do you suggest the consumer gets this type of work done?
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So how do you suggest the consumer gets this type of work done?
A bit off topic. I work for myself as a sparky, I give them an approximate price after asking a few questions (2 storey, tile/tin roof etc). I make sure they know it is an approximation, not a quote. Everyone has been happy with that so far and my approximations haven't been too far off the mark! Only had a handful of jobs go pearshaped... I don't advertise though, all my work is through recommendation so maybe the people "trust" me to a certain degree?
Chippy76, $45/hr? Wow, that is very low for being self employed. How does that compare to working for wages? I have worked out that I need to make almost $400/day otherwise I would be better off working for someone else as a sparky (including holiday pay/sick leave/super/van/uniform/phone etc)
All my tradie mates are flat out, haven't slowed down at all during the GFC. They are good tradesmen though, they do what they say they will when they say they will and have constant work up their sleeves.
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In our group of 8 close family friends, 5 of us are Tradesman working in Mining and 3 are in Brisbane working in Retail and Cabnit making. There is a massive difference between incomes with us blokes who work in mining and those who are working back here in Brisbane ($100,000 more).
Ask my 3 mates working back in Brisbane, struggling week to week if Australia is heading towards a rescission, and I bet they'll answer yes.
My wife and I aren't millionares but are comfortable financially, but are still to scared to spend too much money on any luxuries, and would much prefer to take advantage of the low interest rates and pay the mortgage off asap, and save as much as we can while we can. Just in case.
And good on you for getting off your arse and making the mining boom work for you mate! :D
My only question is ... how will you be able to afford to go back to a "normal" pay rate after you leave the mines? Or is this a long term thing ? It is a question I have struggled with for a while ....
Cheers Chippy :D
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Chippy76, $45/hr? Wow, that is very low for being self employed. How does that compare to working for wages? I have worked out that I need to make almost $400/day otherwise I would be better off working for someone else as a sparky (including holiday pay/sick leave/super/van/uniform/phone etc)
I didnt quote $45 an hour ,,that was Hairs, but for the record Im currently charging $40 an hour anything more and people are baulking at the price. The local building companies are paying around $30 - 35 an hr ... if you can find the work. I like the flexibilty of working for myself, however I dont like the stress of hoping I can make all my bill payments .....
Cheers Chippy :D
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Hi Nab
Just interested in what part of australia your in?
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All my tradie mates are flat out, haven't slowed down at all during the GFC. They are good tradesmen though, they do what they say they will when they say they will and have constant work up their sleeves.
Mate that's great. I guess it depends where you are tho.
It was Me that mentioned $45, not Chippy.
:cheers:
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And good on you for getting off your arse and making the mining boom work for you mate! :D
My only question is ... how will you be able to afford to go back to a "normal" pay rate after you leave the mines? Or is this a long term thing ? It is a question I have struggled with for a while ....
Cheers Chippy :D
Hoping to pay mortgage off and be able to live on "normal" wages when we can. I tell you what, earning a higher wage in mining has its down side too Chippy.
Once that mortgage is paid off I'll enjoy working 5 days a week back in Brisbane and being there for my wife's, daughters and my own birthdays, Mothers day, fathers day, Christmas's, school concerts, school fate's, Brisbane Ekka and cooking my own meals, seeing any football game we like not just ones that are on when I'm back home. Being able to choose what weekend we can go camping not just when I'm rostered off. And alot less bloody child care $$$$$$$$$$ were paying $98 a day 5 days a week because my wife also has a job she enjoys too back at home.
At the end of the day im only 30 yrs old, but I cant do this for ever. Missing out on way to much back home.
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Bnk08i know what your going through. I love my 'previous ' job, but love my family more....
Anyway,
Is Australia in recession .......?'
My wife is a fine wine manager.and judging by what her customers take out the door, you woullnt think so.
$1500 bottles of wine to top top shelf spirits, that ft mixed with coke.
One sale of $3700 the other day and 5 bottles of wine. 1500,600,550,500,500. That's not a rarity.
$320 bottles or champagne that young guys are buying,as its fashionable.
Who knows.
Has the mining industry messed everyone up.
On another note, I live in a town of 40k-50k pax.
Your never more than 10 minutes away from anywhere here.
I can't get people round to quote for laying 120m2 concrete driveway. I live 2 houses off a dual carriage way road that is main through fair from one end of town to the other.
Not only the concreter (lay a simple concrete driveway) nor the renderer,(simply render the outside of my 70s era house,nor the Roofers(replace my old tile roof for a zinc roof, are) interested in coming to quote. But the carpet fryer to come and measure for the new flooringto replacement the 70s carpet could even arrive on the time agreed. No phone call,no late arrival,no nothing. Just never got back to me.
must have a job on right now to be in the position of not bothering quoting ;or even communications.
none of the jobs I can do myself,are timeconsuming to quote on, or more than 10mins away from any other job in town and yet there seems such torment to get any one serious.
no wonder our house renovation ie taking so long.
Is Australia in a recession, you wouldn't think so.
Is Australia in denial.
most definitely.
When the bubble bursts, we'll be no better than US or euro..........
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Sorry for the mix up guys, was a late night last night... I am in Perth, the mining "boom" probably helps me out a bit.
I have noticed the amount of job ads(for sparkys) in Saturday's paper has decreased a bit in the last couple of months. It seems a bit mixed up over here, my supplier tells me that about half the guys are flat out and the other half are a bit quiet. All depends who you work for too, seems the new house guys are the quiet ones at the moment.
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I think it is fair (or obvious) to say that Tasmania is in a recession. Like on the Federal stage, we have a Labor/Green government in power. I cannot see how they can stay in power at the next election. I'm predicting a Qld like landslide, although I think it will be Labor that suffers, not the Greens. I think there is still 16% of the Tasmanian population that will vote Green no matter what. Since the last election the Premier and Treasurer have both quit.....
I have been in the trades as this is the worst by far that I have seen it in 12 years. Work has just dried up, nobody seems to be wanting to spend their money. Most tradesmen that I know don't have much work on at the moment, if at all. The government (through the Building Training Board) is offering incentives for employers to employ out of work apprentices. There is a lot of negativity at the moment and our government seem reluctant to do too much about it. The forest industry is dying, new mining ventures are strongly objected to and our local Greens member is suggesting that out of work forestry workers get jobs working in industries such as Blueberry farms...... It really is a worrying time.
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The forest industry is dying, new mining ventures are strongly objected to and our local Greens member is suggesting that out of work forestry workers get jobs working in industries such as Blueberry farms...... It really is a worrying time.
Don't worry mate, if it's any thing like the marine park debacle, all those people out of work will have plenty of opportunities for employment at $17/hr as tour guides - cause apparently we will be over-run with tourists wanting to see the thousands of square kms of ocean converted to marine parks, and also our vast network of untouched areas on land that have also turned into national parks..... ;D
It would be funny if it wasn't so true.
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Ok lets look at it like this .....
" Im going to have a go at it myself". It is as obvious as tthe proverbials dogs tenders, when someone rings up just to get ideas from a chippy on what they want to DIY next weekend ....
I have found that people dont understand the price of materials, or how long it takes to complete some projects (thanks reality tv ... )
Anyway enough of my rant ...
Cheers Chippy :D
Hah ha yeah - DIY TV shows have a LOT to answer for
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Isn't quoting for work a little like having your shop open so folks can browse to see if they want to purchase anything?
I understand where you guys are coming from; you can't quote the rats & mice work, it's not worth your time, unless you're not busy in which case it is the ideal opportunity to win work.
I still don't think we're in a recession, we're all just scared that one might be coming and so aren't spending.
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Isn't quoting for work a little like having your shop open so folks can browse to see if they want to purchase anything?
I still don't think we're in a recession, we're all just scared that one might be coming and so aren't spending.
Hi Julian,
Yeah you are right to a point, and I have worked in retail/Hardware where customers can tie you up for ages and walk out without purchasing a thing as well.
It just seems to be different when it comes to quoting building work.
I know some tradies that over price their quotes and don't care if they don't get the work.
I received a phone call from a HIA rep late today, we spoke about these very issues, he said that a lot of members talk about the time involved in quoting is very time consuming without reward. The paper work is growing.
We can all buy our materials for about the same price, so where we get under cut must be from those that aren't insuring themselves or cutting corners in other places.
We also spoke about the DIY programs on the telly, and how they give the perception that it takes no time at all to do the work or what is involved at times for doing the job.
I guess it is just another part of our industry that we have to deal with.
I believe you are also right about people not wanting to spend their cash.
A lot of people are wary of what might be around the corner.
:cheers:
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Just like the people who brag about going into clothing stores to try on clothes or get shoes fitted then use that info to purchase from OS.
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I hate that. Some of the guys at work do that. I refuse.
If a shop serves me faithfully then I will not turn around and stab them.
One day my kids will need jobs too.
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So how do you suggest the consumer gets this type of work done?
Nabs right.
I give them an approximate price after asking a few questions (2 storey, tile/tin roof etc). I make sure they know it is an approximation, not a quote. Everyone has been happy with that so far and my approximations haven't been too far off the mark! Only had a handful of jobs go pearshaped... I don't advertise though, all my work is through recommendation so maybe the people "trust" me to a certain degree?
But some people dont accept your word with approximations as they have no idea what the work involves. They seem happy to pay $100+ an hour for a mechanic where they dropp their car off but we have to drive to their place in a vehicle with $20,000 worth of stock just in case we need to do more than what they say on the phone & we are the rogues . . . . . .
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Nabs right.
But some people dont accept your word with approximations as they have no idea what the work involves. They seem happy to pay $100+ an hour for a mechanic where they dropp their car off but we have to drive to their place in a vehicle with $20,000 worth of stock just in case we need to do more than what they say on the phone & we are the rogues . . . . . .
hi pirate Pete hope this makes you feel better,been in Adelaide 3 months I have had an add running in 3 newspaper for carpentry work in that time i have had 2 calls one was a gutter repair on a rental property,when I went to quote the tenants said I was the fourth tradesman to quote for 10m of gutter. The second call was someone asking me did I have any work.
But hey on the bright side a friend of mine gave me 8 weeks of work renovating a heritage listed property @$40 per hour. I need $50 just to cover costs.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
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yep I am a gyprock flusher new homes, I think building trade in adelaide at the moment is up the poo
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I just lost my contract to Defence after 10.48 years. Quite a few on base who had contracts to renew at the end of the financial year all got them cancelled as well.
All the contacts I have are all putting staff off so it doesn't look good in SA..
At least I have time to do some camper modifications... :D
Kym
Julia Gillard Economic Refugee
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Of course we are NOT in a recession.
If we were in a recession we could not afforded to give our Federal MPs two pay rises in the last 3 months...
Bill
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Of course we are NOT in a recession.
If we were in a recession we could not afforded to give our Federal MPs two pay rises in the last 3 months...
Bill
Cost of living expenses going up mate. Things are tough for them. Everything's going up,of course they need a pay rise
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I just lost my contract to Defence after 10.48 years. Quite a few on base who had contracts to renew at the end of the financial year all got them cancelled as well.
All the contacts I have are all putting staff off so it doesn't look good in SA..
At least I have time to do some camper modifications... :D
Kym
Julia Gillard Economic Refugee
Hi Kym,
I am really sorry to hear that.
Any other prospects or taking a holiday for now?
I am still doing the same thing after all these years.
Are you still riding?
Cheers, Chris ( Mongo)
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By definition a recession is when you have two consecutive quarters of negative growth. So by that definition Australia is not in a recession.
However people are much more careful with their dollars than they were 10 years ago, mostly due to the stupidity going on in Europe.
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However people are much more careful with their dollars than they were 10 years ago, mostly due to the stupidity going on in GOVERNMENT OF THIS COUNTRY.
fixed it for you mate ;) ;D ;D
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Well, putting aside my thoughts on the current government, if you look at how things are overseas you have to admit right here is the place to be at the moment.
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Well, putting aside my thoughts on the current government, if you look at how things are overseas you have to admit right here is the place to be at the moment.
yes things could definately be a lot worse then they are now, but imagine how much better the economy could be if these idiots weren't in charge of the books hey. actually i think that of most politicians, the wastage of public purse money staggers me at times.
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By definition a recession is when you have two consecutive quarters of negative growth. So by that definition Australia is not in a recession.
However people are much more careful with their dollars than they were 10 years ago, mostly due to the stupidity going on in Europe.
Hi Symon I know not Australia wide but I believe Tassie has had 3 consecutive quarters!!
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yes things could definately be a lot worse then they are now, but imagine how much better the economy could be if these idiots weren't in charge of the books hey. actually i think that of most politicians, the wastage of public purse money staggers me at times.
Australia is definitely the place to be,but hang on to your seats I think things are only going to get worse :'(
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Hi Kym,
I am really sorry to hear that.
Any other prospects or taking a holiday for now?
I am still doing the same thing after all these years.
Are you still riding?
Cheers, Chris ( Mongo)
Hi Mongo,
I have a little work but no job...
Yes still riding a bit but have slowed down these days and do more 4WDing and camping (Birdsville, Vic High Country and Arkaroola)...
Bike Rallies are most of my riding these days... Well not riding to work any more... :'(