The positive side of the large slump: Finding contractors is a snap
Posted by: in MortgageThere’s a positive side to everything, right? Sara Lin, a writer for the The Wall Street Journal’s on the web edition, found something good about the current housing slump: It’s easier, and cheaper, to find contractors to either build a home or renovate one.
You can read Lin’s story here. Basically, she writes that the housing slump has pushed down prices on lumber, drywall, labor and design fees. Carpetners, landscapers and general contractors are no longer busy, and are looking for work. Architects on concurring to small projects that they would never have considered during the height of the residential housing boom.
Lin writes that some people in the building industry are even advertising their services on construction sites.
It’s a far cry from just two years ago. I remember trying to find a contractor willing to renovate a restroom in our previous home. Speak about Mission Impossible! It wasn’t a big enough project for most contractors to touch. Those that were slightly interested told me I’d have to wait six to nine months before they’d be available.
We finally did find someone, after several weeks of phone calls, and he did a great job. Today, though, I could probably find a contractor willing to take on a water closet renovation in just two to three phone calls.
Oh, how times have changed.
Tags: building a new house, remodeling, renovation, Wall Street Journal
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