Even the Termite people are feeling it…

[Ricechex]

I had a termite inspection done today. The termite guy had been with the company for 15 years, and says that business has NEVER been this slow. A huge chunk of their business comes from people needing termite work done to be able to sell their homes. And, people aren’t selling. I would relish in Walmart losing money, but I hate to see the small businessman facing such losses.

[SD Realtor]

Actually in the upcoming housing induced recession small businesses will be driven out of the market first. Mega’s like Walmart will survive by continuing to slash pricing for goods.

Unfortunately we cannot have our cake and eat it to. If the housing induced recession is as large as some people portray it to be many jobs will be lost. Engineers and realtors alike will be looking for jobs.

[kewp]

Actually in the upcoming housing induced recession small businesses will be driven out of the market first.

Thats my feeling as well. Stagflation will hit the little guys hardest; shrinking business plus rising overhead.

[bsrsharma]

Correct me if I am wrong – the termite business seems like a gravy train (looking at their prices). Hard to shed more than a few tears.

[stansd]

I haven’t disagreed with you for awhile:

Then go be a friggin termite exterminator…that’s not a fun job, and I’m sure it’s more than a little dangerous due to the chemicals…between hazard pay and the fun of crawling through nasty basements (job description below), those guys are worth whatever they make (which incidently is around $13 an hour).

You know enough economics to know that there’s no free lunch, especially in a job like that.

“Working conditions depend on the job. A worker may spend one day working in the kitchen of a restaurant and the next day crawling through a dirty basement looking for rats’ nests. Usually workers do their job alone, without supervision. They work both indoors and outdoors. Pest control workers often have to carry and lift equipment and materials weighing as much as fifty pounds. They must be very careful when using poisons, because some pesticides are harmful to humans if inhaled or touched. Therefore, they may need to wear gloves, goggles, and respirators. They should have manual dexterity as well as some mechanical skill.”

Stan

[NotCranky]

Stan I have never disagreed with you before; Just think you might consider the business model and not the actual guy that does the work. The poor guy that does the work has an awful job.
I agree with bsrharma that it is a business of dubious merit at times. I will go even further, I think they all know it too. That said, some of the work they do is important.

[desmond]

“He did nothing wrong” Re:Mozilo

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-mozilo29sep29,0,3110113.story?coll=la-home-business

[nostradamus]

When the housing market bubbled up so did the housing service sector, termites being one. HVAC, plumbers, contractors, everyone’s prices shot up. I don’t have any problem at all with those guys getting the message that the gravy train has derailed. In fact, I look forward to getting some cheap renovations done by desperate, hungry contractors.

[temeculaguy]

Well I’ve probably disagreed with everyone at one point but I will agree with nostra on this one, last down cycle I had some great work done buy some of the best guys in the business at great prices, they just wanted to keep their employees working. I had master craftsmen working for illegal alien wages and I didn’t drive a bargain, that was their first quote. A few years later in the boom I called them for something else and the waiting list was months long and the prices had doubled.

[LookoutBelow]

Thats right TemeculaGuy….you dont need to grind or drive a hard bargain when the service or job is priced fairly to begin with…. I agree.

The problem comes when the termite guy wants to drive a ferrari and expects YOU to pay for it. NOW you must drive a hard bargain.

Shitstorm coming…..Fasten seat belts AND shoulder harnesses folks…

That is all

 

[SD Realtor]

I would agree about the great deals being everywhere. As long has everyone also has there own job then it is a slam dunk to buy… For people to espouse a sh-tstorm and not acknowledge extreme unemployment in non related sectors is a total fallacy. I like how it is conveniently sidestepped. I guess nobody really worries about it…I guess everyone must be a nurse or have a total recession proof job.

SD Realtor

[NotCranky]

Grown people who put themselves in a position to get fried if they lose their jobs,especially if they are not a nurse. have not been paying attention and/or taking precautions. I am not trying to be mean…This is supposed to be an honest blog. 15-20 years ago it became very clear that job stability and company loyalty were over with. We needed to look at that and act accordingly. Unfortunately many have adjusted by going for the brass ring or trying to take advantage of high flying times, even without consideration for a slow down.

“I guess everyone must be a nurse or have a total recession proof job.” …Or are in a habit of living on less than they make and having liabilities in line with the prospects for leaner times. Let’s not set the stage for another 100 million victims to step forward for a poor me bail out.

[patientlywaiting]

I agree, we’ll see the contractors slash their prices after they finish what’s in the pipeline.

I’m waiting the for the right time to redo my backyard with hardspace and drought tolerant landscape. I could use termite tenting in a couple of years also.

[SD Realtor]

Correct Rus… I would imagine that a number of people who post here who have jobs as engineers, or nice 6 figure income jobs with large corporations. In fact I am one of them. I have said it before and will say it again, I would also imagine many a poster here has not been through a severe recession yet. Once again, my post is simply one of those be careful what you wish for posts. Obviously the steps you have taken are prudent to insulate yourself.

Now of course many here are not in a situation where they have to worry. Let’s face it, this entire board does not represent what we would call even median income folks. The fact is (I would guess) that the income level of most who post or lurk here, is higher, perhaps much higher, then the median. Also that many who post are much more highly educated then the average person.

Your words are sage advice…

With respect to a bail out, if there is a sh-tstorm that some predict, there will be no bailout…there will not be any money for a bailout.

*******

Good reading for people… The Forgotten Man. This book brings up good points about how the government made the depression much worse then it had to be… (IMO)…

SD Realtor

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