Welp, I'm trying out a new job.

[NHCharger]

Well, kind of. I've been building houses for 20 years, 15 years as a general contractor. Seems like the last few years you can't please anybody. Plus with all these home improvement shows on TV and Home Depot giving seminars on how to be your own contractor every home owner I work for seems to be an expert on how to build houses. Also the amount of paperwork has increase tenfold.
Anyway, a friend called me last month and told me to come down to a job he was on and meet his boss. I'm still building houses, but I now work for someone else. That's going to take some getting use to. Downside is a 45 minute drive. The upside, no customers calling asking why the excavator can't finish grading the back lawn, even thou it's rained all week. No more free estimates that can take up to 30 hours to do and you still don't get the job. I could easily list another 10 but you get the idea.
The size of this house is 6 times bigger than what I usually build. And the amount of detail is staggering. This is for a retired couple who plan on using it about 2 months out of the year. 

[Silver R/T]

I think theyre bathing in gold, overcharge those old suckers

[Blown70]

Well working for yourself has pros and cons.  I think in your business I would rather work for someone.  For just the reasons you mentioned.  EVERYONE thinks they are an expert but have not real idea.

I guess see how it goes.  No law states you cannot go back to your own deal....

Tom

[Silver R/T]

maybe similar "couple" to my old bosses who underpaid mexican workers we had and didnt pay any benefits to full working employees and did bunch of other not so good things that I hope they get whats coming to them

[twilt]

Hope that it works out well for you. Its surprising how many people are experts at so many things. I have always been confounded when people bring their cars to the business i work at (automotive repair facility) for professional diagnosis, but want to debate with the diagnosis. While many people say that a good mechanic/technician is hard to find, the truth is most people wouldn`t know a good one if they saw one. Many times i have been encouraged to "open up my own shop"  That is one major headache i can do without.  Good luck!

[Troy]

I think theyre bathing in gold, overcharge those old suckers

maybe similar "couple" to my old bosses who underpaid mexican workers we had and didnt pay any benefits to full working employees and did bunch of other not so good things that I hope they get whats coming to them

Ok, this is annoying... NHCharger is now working as an employee of the company building the house (instead of being a general contractor on his own). What the hell does anything you say have anything to do with what he's talking about? Why is it that anyone who can afford a nice house must be ripping someone off, doing something illegal, or are just mean people? So what if they were successful in their careers and can afford a vacation home after retirement? You're making a whole lot of assumptions about people and businesses that you have no clue about. Ever thought about just saying: Congrats NHCharger on taking a less stressful approach with your work and I hope it works out great for you???

Troy

[TeeWJay426]

Best of luck with the new venture Brian..... hope it works out well for you!

[Charger_Fan]

Wow, that's quite a house! To me, it looks like they took about 5 houses on one block & squished them all together...sorta like a train wreck, but with houses.
Oh well, to each his own.

Good luck with your new change, I'm sure the lesser burdon will be helpful.


BTW, is there a big garage involved too, or is just all house?

[ChargerAndy]

Hey NH,
     Sounds like you are doing what I do occasionally, subcontracting work on a "McMansion". Personally I like it once in a while, especially when life gets hectic there is alot to be said for just showing up and doing your bit. It is also nice when the standard of excellence is supposed to be top notch and you don't have the demons of " gee, I gotta get this done or I lose money" whispering in your ear. I've been my own boss and subbed myself out and pretty much that keeps me sane to alternate it as it pleases me. It looks like a nice project to jump on for the winter so long as your'e on the inside. Houses like that are all over the place here  which is good for the paycheck but hard on the working folk when the price of everything goes up because your birth town has become trendy for the rich and famous. Right now Im finishing off a project where we put a swimming pool in this hot shots' basement, plus extra bedroom, steamroom, media room and billiard room.  Give it a try I hope you enjoy it!  Hey, out of curiosity, just wondering what full carpenters make an hour up in New Hampshire.... shoot me a pm? Andy

[NHCharger]

BTW, is there a big garage involved too, or is just all house?

Only an oversize 3 car garage, with a full basement under.
In the second pic it's on the far right.
I couldn't couldn't fit the entire house in the camera. You can't see the side with the indoor pool, spa room, sauna and gym. total square footage is around 15,000 SF.

[Silver R/T]

my point was why the old couple needs all this... theyre gonna die soon and they cant take this shit.

[Troy]

my point was why the old couple needs all this... theyre gonna die soon and they cant take this shit.

How do you know? Do you know how old they are now? Do you have any idea what their life expectancy is? People with terminal diseases and 3 months to live sometimes live for years. People can retire when they are in their mid-sixties yet live into the hundreds. You think they should go live in a rickety mobile home or a slum apartment until they die? Just when I think you've said the absolute most rediculous thing on the planet you manage to top it. When I bust my tail for my entire working career you can bet I'm gonna buy houses and toys when I retire (if not sooner) AND I will have earned every single one of them. I can imagine that you'll be a bitter WalMart greeter for your retirement.

Troy

[Vainglory, Esq.]

my point was why the old couple needs all this... theyre gonna die soon and they cant take this shit.

Speaking of, with your mental capacity, I'm surprised YOU'RE still alive.

[TheGhost]

my point was why the old couple needs all this... theyre gonna die soon and they cant take this shit.

Just shut up now, before you dig yourself deeper into your own pile of shit.

[Silver R/T]

my point was why the old couple needs all this... theyre gonna die soon and they cant take this shit.

hey arent cowboys supposed to clean up shit? if so Ill hire you


Just shut up now, before you dig yourself deeper into your own pile of shit.

[Charger_Fan]

my point was why the old couple needs all this... theyre gonna die soon and they cant take this shit.

Here's your sign...umm...hat.
All in favor of "clueless flagrant poster" say aye!

[greenpigs]

It's not to my taste, kinda ugly..but different I'll give it that.

[nh_mopar_fan]

Good luck Brian.

That looks a lot like the "summer camps" that are going up all over the big lake.

Having owned a biz for 3 years, I know excatly what you mean about dealing with the public. To quote Dice "People are pricks.". We got so tired of dealing with a-hole customers and braindead employees that we sold the thing and went back to work for others.

I like being able to go home at the end of the day and not take the whole damn thing with me.

Now, when people tell me that they want to open their own business, I can say "been there, done that". No thanks.

I used to tell everyone that I owned my own bix and only worked half days....12 hours.

Those were the short days to boot.

[dkn1997]

I used to tell everyone that I owned my own bix and only worked half days....12 hours.

[Nupe]

Good luck with that Brian.  I've had friends who ran their own businesses and it was always the greatest thing at first.  Then within a few months they would "dissappear" and always be in a crappy mood due to the bad customers. 


My  on the very rich:  Yes some earned it and worked hard, but who needs these monster houses or vacation homes used a week a year that are as big as mansions?  There are less and less places around here to go to the ocean, lake, etc,  and relax.  Keeps getting bought up for condos and huge mansions.    Greed is way out of control and people like me who like to live a simple life get run over for not being completely narcissistic.  Sorry for the rant.  Just sick of bling and $$$ ruining everything and turning people into mindless robots.

[ChargerAndy]

Just for fun, check out this article on this monster house that's 20 minutes from me   .... http://www.gladwell.com/1999/1999_01_25_t_rennert.htm

This one has an aerial view    http://www.easthamptonstar.com/20030605/news1.htm

I guess mankind doesnt need farmland for growing food anymore, right? 

[Silver R/T]

Good luck with that Brian. I've had friends who ran their own businesses and it was always the greatest thing at first. Then within a few months they would "dissappear" and always be in a crappy mood due to the bad customers.


My on the very rich: Yes some earned it and worked hard, but who needs these monster houses or vacation homes used a week a year that are as big as mansions? There are less and less places around here to go to the ocean, lake, etc, and relax. Keeps getting bought up for condos and huge mansions. Greed is way out of control and people like me who like to live a simple life get run over for not being completely narcissistic. Sorry for the rant. Just sick of bling and $$$ ruining everything and turning people into mindless robots.

exactly my thoughts

[TheGhost]

Just for fun, check out this article on this monster house that's 20 minutes from me  .... http://www.gladwell.com/1999/1999_01_25_t_rennert.htm

This one has an aerial view    http://www.easthamptonstar.com/20030605/news1.htm

I guess mankind doesnt need farmland for growing food anymore, right? 

Not as much as we used to.  Farming has become alot more effeciant.

[bull]

I hope the new career choice works out for you, NH. As long as you're making a good, steady income and the boss is ok it should be fine. Kind of nice to not worry about certain things I bet. I have a friend who is a self-employed contractor and he's living in an RV because of a couple bids he screwed up. His brother/business partner got hurt on the job just before that and it being a family business they didn't have insurance so now they're in debt up to their eyeballs. You gotta have insurance people. Even if the deductable is sky-high it's still cheaper than paying $40k in doctor bills.

[Arthu®]

Congrats that you chose to do what you like best (better), I know owning your own business can be a bitch with all the complaints, etc. But that's why not everyone is doing it (thank god) otherwise there would be no employees left to hire. It is just not for everybody.

Also quit your bitching Silver R/T you have absolutely no clue as to how those people got their money. So what you are saying is not backed up by hmmm anything. Do you know these people? No thought so. Also speaking about nice houses. This is my personal favourit, plan to live in something quiet simular before I die. I know it is a bit a high goal, but a man can try right.

http://www.realtor.com/FindHome/HomeListing.asp?snum=1&locallnk=yes&frm=bymap&mnbed=0&mnbath=0&mnprice=0&mxprice=99999999&js=off&fid=so&mnsqft=&mls=xmls&areaid=8091&typ=1,+2,+3,+4,+5,+6&poe=realtor&ct=Newport+Beach&st=CA&sid=05A83AB0DFCBC&sbint=1&sblo=0&snumxlid=1051025638&lnksrc=00002

Arthur