Tag: contractor jobs

How to Be a Successful Licensed Plumber

On: By: admin

As long as there’s pipes, there will be plumbers. If you’re thinking about a career in the contracting world, plumbing is a challenging, rewarding, and safe bet.

There are a lot of plumbers out there. In 2014, there were 425,000 plumbers working across the United States. How can you stand out against the competition? What can you do to make a name for yourself in the plumbing business?

For this article, we wanted to share some tips/things to think about when it comes to being good plumber.

  • Show pride and excitement for your work. Clients notice.
  • Communicate effectively and often with clients.
  • Be a salesman. Whether you work for yourself or plumbing business, sell yourself and skills! Lots of people need a good plumber at some point, and if they have your info handy, they can turn to you in their time of need. Actively market/sell your business or your own skills.
  • Don’t rely on others to find business for you.
  • Charge your customers fairly so you can make a profit, buy the best equipment, and grow your company.
  • Give your customers a flat rate with your services; if you leave your prices open-ended, they may think you’re too expensive.
  • Hire the best quality people and workers for your team. They will help you keep current clients and expand your clients.
  • Hire people with vast skillsets. Maybe if you can’t do something, someone else can! So now, your business can provide more services for people.
  • Look professional.
  • Drive vehicles with your name/contact info or company name/info on it. You’ll be a moving billboard.
  • Keep up with your skills and knowledge with frequent trainings. Take courses in finance, marketing, management and more to help you run your business.
  • Belong to trade associations and national organizations.
  • Be involved with the community.

Looking to get your Florida plumbing contractor’s license? Let us do the work for you! Click our plumber contractor’s license page for more info. We’ve helped thousands of people become licensed contractors. We are a Florida contractor licensing company. To start with us today, click here of call 239-777-1028.

Contractor Jobs 2018 Outlook

On: By: admin

Good news for our contractor community. In December, construction unemployment rates were down across 46 states. This was actually the country’s lowest rate of unemployment ever.

 

Compared to December 2016, the construction industry employed 250,000 more workers.

 

Why is this increase occurring? More work equals more employment. Unfortunately, a lot of the increases are due to natural disasters that happened in 2017 including hurricanes, floods, and wildfires. Contractors are needed all over the country.

 

There were 6 states with highest unemployment rates included New Mexico, Rhode Island, Alaska, Montana, Nevada, and Oregon. From lowest to highest, the top 5 states for construction unemployment rates were: Hawaii, Colorado, Massachusetts, Virginia, (Georgia, South Carolina and Texas tied for fifth).

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How is the career outlook looking for general contractors? On average, there’s supposed to be a 5 % job growth increase from now till 2024.

 

Construction spending is predicted to stay strong in 2018. According to ConstructConnect, the construction forecast for 2018 is a 4.8% increase. Commercial construction (offices, garages) is expected to grow 12.4% and continue to grow through 2021. Warehouses and factories is expected to decrease starting this year by 5.6%. Retail is expected to decline around 2.8% this year.

 

Overall construction spending for 2018 is expected to be a 2 to 7 % increase.

 

This is the time to get a job in contracting. The jobs are there because the work is there! Time to get into the field and make a name for yourself!  If you’re ready to become a licensed Florida contractor, or start up a contractor business, we can help your through the licensure process to make that happen. When applying for a contractor license or business license, there’s a lot of paperwork and requirements. It can be confusing and stressful; there’s a lot of deadlines to remember. As a Florida contractor licensing company, we know the process like the back of our hand, because we’ve helped thousands of people get their Florida contractor’s license. To get started with us

Housing sales ‘heat wave’ continues into July

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 Florida’s housing market continued to heat up in July, as it picked up steam for the second summer month.

 

Florida Realtors reported that July was a strong month for statewide housing sales, with higher median sales prices, more pending sales, and additional new listings. Single-family home sales totaled 24,546 — up 2 percent from July 2016 levels — while condo-townhouse sales totaled 9,246 – up 3.6 percent.

 

Sales and prices were also up in June of this year.

 

“Florida’s housing market gained momentum in July,” said Florida Realtors President Maria Wells in a news release. “More owners decided to put their homes up for sale. However, even with the increase in new listings, inventory remains tight and buyer demand is great. New listings for single-family existing homes rose 6.1 percent year-[to]-year, while new listings for existing condo-townhouse properties rose 5.5 percent.”

 

“Homes continue to sell quickly, resulting in increased pending sales – up 3.3 percent for single-family homes and up 3.6 percent for condo-townhouse units,” she added.

 

Statewide, the median sales price for single-family homes was $240,000 – up 7.1 percent year-to-year, while the median price for condo-townhouses was $170,950 — up 6.8 percent. July reportedly marked the 68th month in a row that statewide median prices for both sectors rose year-over-year.

 

Nationwide, the number of housing starts and completions was mixed in July compared to the same month last year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

 

The number of privately owned housing starts totaled 1.15 million – down 5.6 percent – while housing completions stood at 1.17 million – up 8.2 percent. Housing starts and completions have risen consistently since July 2012.

 

New housing starts are considered to be an indicator of economic strength, and present opportunities for contractors and workers in the construction trades. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a slight uptick in new construction industry jobs in July, with most of the increases seen in the residential construction sector.

 

Housing and real estate data for August 2017 was released in mid-September.

 

A Florida contractor licensing company can help individuals and companies navigate the state’s licensing requirements, with approvals as quick as 10 days. For more information on Florida contractor requirements or to get an application started, visit our Florida contractor’s license website or call 239-777-1028.

 

Report: Construction jobs increased in August

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The U.S. construction industry added 28,000 jobs in August, but contractors expressed difficulties finding experienced workers.

 

According to reports by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Associated General Contractors of America, last month’s employment gains followed a hiring dip in July. The construction industry has added 214,000 jobs since the start of the year, including 129,000 jobs in specialty trades.

 

The number of unemployed individuals whose last job was in construction fell to 448,000, the lowest August total since 2000.

 

“Construction firms have stayed busy, adding employees in the past year at nearly twice the rate of employers throughout the economy, but more than two-thirds of contractors report[ed] difficulty finding craft workers as the number of unemployed, experienced construction workers hit a 17-year low,” AGC’s Chief Economist Ken Simonson said in a press statement. “Although construction spending has fluctuated recently, many contractors are still looking for qualified craft workers and project managers.”

 

An industry-wide survey in August found that 70 percent of contractor firms had difficulty finding qualified craft workers. Forty-three percent of those surveyed expect hiring will continue to be difficult over the next 12 months.

 

“Half or more of the 1,608 respondents said they were having trouble finding carpenters, bricklayers, electricians, concrete workers or plumbers,” Simonson noted. “Some salaried positions — notably project managers and supervisors — are also hard to fill.”

 

Trade association officials have urged leaders at all levels of government to take steps that help recruit and prepare more young adults for high-paying construction careers, including increased funding for technical education programs.

 

“Exposing students to construction as a career path will encourage more of them to pursue these high-paying careers,” AGC’s Chief Executive Officer Stephen Sandherr said.

 

New to the industry? A Florida contractor licensing company can help individuals and companies navigate the state’s licensing requirements, with approvals as quick as 10 days. For more information on Florida contractor requirements or to get an application started, visit  our Florida contractor licensing website or call 239-777-1028.