• Trouble logging in? Send us a message with your username and/or email address for help.

Welcome to America

New posts
Status
Not open for further replies.
Bob Wells said:
There is/ was a school on Lewis Turner Blvd in Fort Walton that had building trades, plumbing, carpentry, I think HVAC. They used to build homes at the school and you could bid on them to cover cost and have them moved. Knew a guy who bought and had them moved to his property.
Click to expand...
Bob
I can't find the name of the place
By any chance do you know it?
Thank either way
 
James Bentwood said:
Interesting post - the situation you left sounds like a good model for young people, like European system that gives them a real opportunity to make a life without the need for higher education in the academic setting like University.

I'm curious if you regret moving your business here and if you're life is better, business harder, income opportunity better ... would you tell your past self to hold up moving?
Click to expand...
The trades school programs were great for everyone involved
Not everyone is meant for college and this gives them a leg up right out of the chute
I do miss seeing these young people become valuable to the workplace

I do not regret moving my business here
I do miss the work
The homes we built up north were special
The client up there had a different mindset
Here most of the homes go on the rental market or are spec's so people want them cheap, quick, and they just want to check boxes (# of bedrooms, # of baths, pool, rental income, etc), up north the homes were family legacies
The owners wanted the house to be built so it could be passed down for generations
The thought of renting them out was extremely rare
Another major difference was how realtors were viewed, down here they have a lot more power and sway then up north
Architects up north were treated with a lot more respect and the plans up there were very thorough

Usually each builder up north built 2 homes per year, some did more, some only did one. One year our client only let us build his home and was willing to pay for 100% of our attention. In my company we had between 25-35 skilled guys at all times and then another 8-10 in the shop (doing millwork)
I do not miss the payroll of all that skilled help

If I had to do it again I would have brought more guys down with me

One thing that drives me crazy about this area is the lack of planning and infrastructure. This area is still trying to figure itself out. The islands we worked up north were old and established and this area is so new and still growing. The traffic and the golf carts drive me crazy.

I should have moved hear years before I did. I don't miss shoveling snow before work
 
FFS. We have a house with more metal in it than wood. All thread attaches the slab foundation to the top plate every couple of feet. It's high and dry and built to withstand over 140 MPH winds and is a little over 1k air conditioned space. We pay over 4k a year in insurance. There's something seriously wrong about this.
 
Lou Deman said:
Don't dodge the question
How much money is a living wage, in your honest opinion? Lets get to a dollar amount not post some generic equation
What makes you think an illegal pays less in taxes in your honest opinion?
What makes you think their cost of living is less, in your honest opinion?
Do you pay your people for the task they are performing based on their skill level or do you pay people based on their personal situation?
You find me a college graduate that is willing to work in the construction field and I will pay you $5k on their 1 year mark, if they don't make it 1 month you pay me, does that sound fair?
Do you honestly think a college degree makes someone aware that they are being taken advantage of?
I would love to teach a few young people how to make money but none want to play the long game or put in the work (generally speaking)

I know you are politically right down the middle, as long as the middle means the middle of the left

Who do you think spread covid more, the vaccinated or the unvaccinated?
Why did you get vaccinated?
Do you believe the vaccine helped you? What proof do you have for your answer? Were you ever really at risk? If you weren't at risk would you have taken it?

My choice to not take the vaccine had nothing to do with politics and everything to do with education
Click to expand...
You had your chance to ne honest but you can’t do it. Your questions have been asked and answered. Did your kids who work for you go to college or did you advise them not to? Where do you educate yourself? Why do you keep asking me to help you with your employees? You just turned 50 and you think you know everything but you don’t. That my friend is your issue to figure out. Until you do you will continue to hurt people around you. My advice is to turn off whatever you are listening to about politics and educating yourself from different sources. If you enjoy being outdoors respect nature. If you enjoy being right then respect the truth. If you enjoy being happy then respect life and live and let live…
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
New posts


Sign Up for SoWal Newsletter









Share this page




                               
Back
Top