For San Diego, has anyone here observed if contractors/re-modelers are still in very high demand or have they been noticeably more available? If anyone can post some information regarding this, please do so. Both “moonlighters” and small business remodelers should be less busy, but I would like to get feedback on this.
Surprisingly, I haven’t found that the people I use are having any trouble at all. I got a ridiculously high bid for a weekend side project and ended up doing it myself. I have been waiting for this to happen for a while now but the slowdown in that sector comes a bit later than in housing – a year or so, maybe.
One thing to do is ask around about architects. First the architects slow down, then construction.
I’m thinking that all the new house/condo developments are working everyone they can find to get their projects done so they can get their projects sold as soon as possible. There are still two major projects here in Ventura county that are going up fast. I think the job market for skilled labor is going to collapse after those projects are completed.
I fly all over California and all I see are nearly completed developments, nothing new.
My friend is a civil engineer, and I’ve been told there are only a few around who can do the structural calculations on buildings. He is still very busy, although the phone is not ringing off the hook as it used to. He is very busy with calcs and grading plans.
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