Small Jobs

Status
Not open for further replies.
J

jeff43222

Senior Member
Location
Minneapolis, Minnesota
I had a job today where I put in a new receptacle for someone, and took down a chandelier and blanked off the outlet. Not exactly a major remodel job, but it was a couple hours worth of work, and I made good money on it.

What I found interesting is that the homeowner told me he called four other ECs and only got their voicemail, and the one who did call him back told him he had better things to do than a one-receptacle installation. Since I have my business line forwarded to my cell phone when I'm in the field, I answered his call, and I was able to squeeze him in this week.

I'm wondering if there are a lot of shops who think that jobs this size are not worth the trouble. The homeowner was quite pleased with my work, and getting paid was not a problem ("How much do I owe you and who should I make this out to?").
 
Re: Small Jobs

I hate 'em.

On the other hand, they are good for the reasons you mentioned (fast money, usually easy work), provided the customer is not a PIA and trying to squeeze the nickels. (I am not an EC but I speak from second hand experience and doing many of these jobs for an EC.)

If it were up to me, I would never do a small job ever again. That's why I'm making a shift in my career into the commercial realm (hopefully!)
 
Re: Small Jobs

Interesting. I specialize in residential old work: upgrades, remodeling, and repairs. I've done a bunch of small jobs this year, and they were all pretty good experiences. Most of the PITA jobs I've run across have been bigger jobs where people have a long list of things they want done, then keep changing their mind, then want to add/subtract items, etc.
 
Re: Small Jobs

I guess it's a matter of perspective. I was raised on residential old work, and I'm getting sick of it. I need a change, you know? The only exception I would make is to do new houses. Clean, fast, easy, and I enjoy doing it.

It's a far cry from the attic I had to go into this summer: two dead, rotting squirrels, a stench you couldn't imagine, a huge pile of rat feces right next to the scuttle hole, and a pigeon colony to top it all off. I asked myself, "What am I doing here??"
 
Re: Small Jobs

I had a similar job this summer. I found a squirrel nest in an attic while troubleshooting a short circuit. Yep, plenty of odor. Found an eight-inch section of Romex with all the insulation gone. Replaced it and the short went away.

I haven't been in the game as long as you, so I guess I haven't gotten sick of it yet. I imagine it could very well happen to me at some point.
 
Re: Small Jobs

Originally posted by jeff43222:
I haven't been in the game as long as you, so I guess I haven't gotten sick of it yet. I imagine it could very well happen to me at some point.
Click to expand...
I haven't been in the game terribly long myself, but I'm the type that craves variety and new challenges in electrical work. I can't see myself doing the same thing for 10 years, not even 5. It's in my personality, and perhaps explains my fear of marriage.... :D

I think all electricians should make shifts in their careers to different areas, like going from residential to commercial to industrial, but that rarely happens. I'm now at the point where I would like to make the jump into commercial work as I stated before. I've done enough to know that I really enjoy it and want to do more. OK, now this thread is really off course. What is the topic again???? :D
 
Re: Small Jobs

Looks like this thread has become a dialogue. :D

I like variety, too, of which I get plenty from all the old work I do. I don't do new construction, mainly because I'm sure I would get bored fast, and I hear it's a low-margin game. As a one-man shop, I'm not interested in any low-margin work.

Maybe someday I'll make the leap to commercial. I had a restaurant owner invite me to his place the other day to look at a light that wasn't working, and he said my meal would be on the house. Maybe I could dip my toes into commercial work from time to time?

I'll probably stop by the guy's restaurant. I've eaten there several times before, and the food is excellent. :cool:
 
Re: Small Jobs

Originally posted by jeff43222:
Looks like this thread has become a dialogue. :D
Click to expand...
That never happens here.


I guess we must be the diehards if we're hanging out here on a Friday night.
:eek:
 
Re: Small Jobs

What I have always done is small jobs. Got sucked into a large remodel of an apartment complex and have made more money doing that then I have for the last 3 years. I still like the small stuff but now realize it just doesn't pay the bills AND make a profit.
 
Re: Small Jobs

The reason that some contractors don't bother with small jobs is that they are not set up to handle them. They don't have service techs. and the electricians that they employ are more geared for construction. As a small shop it's easy do service calls and remodeling & additions but when you set up with crews and equipment for large projects it's not worth it to take on the little jobs. I have talked to many of the local contractors and Rule seems to be " your either in the service business or your not, but you have to make a decision". There are some very large service contractors around here but they don't touch construction, their prices would be to high. Only we small shops can afford to take on service calls and still do small construction projects. It is my understanding that in order to grow, you would have to make a choice and concentrate on one area of business. It does make since that it's hard to do everything with the same efficiency.
 
Re: Small Jobs

Hey guys, it looks as though most of us seek variety in our work. After 3.5 years of residential I wanted out. The service work was cool but you had to deal with the attics and crawl spaces. I then went into new residential, but it was boring and making splices all day long for a year left my wrist sore and weak. That was 9 years ago and my wrist will become sore even if I stress it lightly. I then went into commercial and fell in love with running emt. Well after 2 years of that I wanted to get back into residential service work. Such is life, one month you want a redhead, the next it's a brunette.
 
Re: Small Jobs

my comments probably fit better in the "the trades gone to hell" catagory..but..although there are the rare exceptions to the rule, I've found few "electricians" excel in both service & construction. I know many a "sparkey" that can do conduit type construction like a champ, but totally screw up the residential remodel and vice-versa. Of course this has a lot to do with experience, but it also seems some are more "at home" with 1 and not the other....also..i think most of us who have been in the busineess any time know that you need to watch those brunette anti-short bushings..they can sure take all profit out of the job.
 
Re: Small Jobs

Such is life, one month you want a redhead, the next it's a brunette.

Sigh no wonder life is so confusing
I thought
a redhead was a concrete anchor.
A red devil was the anti short gizmo in BX.

Now I suppose you are gonna tell me the girls on the Rigid calenders don't exist.

Of course the swimsuits must be nomex to comply with NFPA 70 ??

Dan Bentler
 
Re: Small Jobs

Very hard to set up a van to do everything and anything.Service and new construction are worlds apart just like commercial and residential are.Ideal job for me is a mixture of service,remodel,new residential,commercial.Maybe its just that after 23 years you get bored of doing same thing everyday.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top