Curious about side hustles around here. | GTAMotorcycle.com

Curious about side hustles around here.

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mimico_polak

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So I know that a few of the members here have posted with some side hustles that they do on top of their regular jobs, and doing the work today with my dad we started chatting and he seems to be keen (at a ripe age of 67) to pull me into his contracting world again.

We took a brief brake from it when I went away to BC, but before that we were doing fairly well. Had a couple of jobs in the 10-30k range on an annual basis, and after 3 years that pretty much dried up because I wasn't around, and he didn't want to do it alone.

Any recommendations for bringing it back to life? He's been a carpenter basically for 30+ years and is fantastic, but I'd like to put my own spin on it more this time. We have all the tools necessary except for lifts, genies, or any type of major machinery.

I'm fairly competent (and considering what I've seen at people's houses for work done by 'professionals') at painting, trim, wood work, decks, and power washing (as simple items). Completely staying away from electrical or plumbing.

Not looking to get into any major renovations as this would be a part time basis, but definitely weekend / evening work (which I know limits the potential) but we both have fair wages at work so this would only be in addition to our current roles.

What do you guys see as a good way to bring it back up? I know @Mad Mike is definitely into some of this work, and your kids are also doing well on their own ventures.
 
meme said:
Oh you post the sexiest thangs.

Blind as a bat, pics or ********!
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Lolz
You must be my prime target..... you've seen me in person.....you sure you still want pics??

Sent from my Pixel 3a using Tapatalk
 
Funny you are mentioning this now, my buddy is an electrician and he's getting into some computer networking stuff which intersects with his line of work but he's completely out of his depth in. I used to do this back in my old life and I've been pulled into one of his jobs purely as a favour to him.

He says that if I ever wanted more work, he turns down stuff regularly since there's more work than hours in his day and the more higher paying contracts have a networking and security component to them and he'd gladly take on these jobs if I committed to it. Which I'm not really looking for at this time.

Anyway, my advice would be to hook up with another contractor complementary to the kind of work you are doing. If he can pull you into jobs that he's not comfortable tackling himself, then it's a win-win for you both.
 
Freddy Fudpucker said:
Think logically, not emotionally. You have a busy life as it is, by the sounds of it. Most importantly, don't hire Kevin.
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Thanks. I don’t make these decisions lightly. Sure emotionally it’s good to learn and get more time with dad while he’s got the strength.

Logically…money and experience are always good. Plus you’ll always be employed if you can work with your own hands.
 
The hard part IMO is establishing the right clientele. They would be people that are prepared to pay for having it done right.

In the UK painting was a recognised trade with a long apprenticeship. Here it's "Dip the fuzzy end in the bucket and smear it on the wall."

A lot of repairs I see are quick fixes that either don't last or that cause collateral damage. Few of the customers know until it's too late. Too many handymen out there don't look beyond the obvious. Slap on a coat of paint where it's peeling. Ignore that the peeling is caused by rotting wood.

How many hours a week were you planning to put in?
 
mimico_polak said:
Thanks. I don’t make these decisions lightly. Sure emotionally it’s good to learn and get more time with dad while he’s got the strength.

Logically…money and experience are always good. Plus you’ll always be employed if you can work with your own hands.
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Time with Dad or Mom is valuable, so I do respect that. I missed out on a good father-son relationship.
 
Agree with you @nobbie48 …the right clientele is key. Dad was lucky as he had clients that were rarely in a rush, and they preferred he come on evenings and weekends instead of during the week. That’s the key.

A lot of garbage repairs are also due to clients NOT wanting to actually fix the issue but just hide it. One of my dads clients asked us to replace her floor due to leak in basement. He told her to fix the leak first in the foundation but she refused. We did the floor, it leaked and was damaged again. She got ****** that we wanted to charge her a second time to redo it (we did) after she fixed the leak.

I’m available majority of the weekends and I’m sure my wife would be understanding as I’m home 100% of the time nowadays (moto ride is the exception) and with winter coming a few extra $ wouldn’t hurt.

As for time with dad @Freddy Fudpucker I’ve realized a few years ago that we don’t have all that much time left together…so while my wife may not love the idea, I take a day every once in a while and spend it with dad. He can’t sit still for the life of him, so I help out the projects around the house/cottage to get that time in.
 
Take jobs that are quick in and out , backsplashes for baths and kitchens , paint rooms , decks and fences. The stuff fireman/ police use as side gig. I'd suggest not getting into huge renos that eat your life, involve permits and inspectors.
From where your located (mimico-polak ) , your surrounded by people that need services and will pay for it.

My playmate moved into a downtown condo , he's way too young to be retired (but is) , he is the only guy in the building with a ladder. Once word got around he was on site, he gets paid to hang pictures, change light bulbs , he strips popcorn ceilings while the owners live at the cottage. He paints rooms. And has now started walking dogs since the owners are returning to work .
Actual contractors hate condo work , access, rules , moving material , paying to park . As a high rise dweller you get to pay the premiums.
 
Heck I would build easy things with some carpentry skills. Easy coffee tables, cutting / charcuterie boards, even planters for gardens. Basically look through Pinterest or Etsy and see what is trendy and build that stuff
 
Right now these wooden Halloween boxes are all the rage. It doesn't look too difficult to make these with a mitre saw and a jigsaw or scroll saw. A few dollars worth of pine and some stain and they can be sold for some profit

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Good call @crankcall. One thing I hear continuously is that contractors aren’t taking the sub 5-10k gigs because everyone is chasing the big renos so there may be a void to fill there. Thanks.

Never even considered that aspect @matthew as my creativity is practically zero when it comes to artsy stuff.
 
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