Ok were do i start.....works been pretty ok since leaving school, worked at a car wash at 14 and built up to have my own unit with some contracts, ive a house, wife, 3 kids a car and a van.

Over the years ive always put my hand to things probably down to my dad building his own house when i was 12 -17, i can do most plumbing, tiling, decorate, ive fitted raised decking and bridges over ponds....can even change a light bulb and understand flat pack instructions...

For the past few years ive helped out a friend who has a large portfolio and ive done many jobs on the side and weekends from fitting a batroom suite to recently refurbishing an 8 bed student acc in manchester new laminate floor the lot

Today ive took on a huge job strip to the shell and rebuild a 3 bed semi for here in between my own work....its a mess but im getting a buzz out the whole job...

My Dilema is id like to make a future career out of this and move into handyman/multi tradesman.

Can a decent living be made i get asked for jobs quite regular and im begining to feel daft turning good paid work down, ive most tools and a van..........


Would i be daft to chase this dream now.....Should i stay as a car valeter....Would it be a good career move...I feel im at my limits now with valeting ill never earn more money and only 1 holiday a year...


Help UHM if you can......


Thanks in advannce


Simon

mate,

your never to old to start something, i was talking to a guy only yesterday who used to be a builder, now is a taxi driver, but as work is pretty dire is looking tio get back into the game,

the way he is going to do it is like a natural progression, so in the begining you will get more work from valleting, but slowly the scales tip the other way when you get more and more carpentry work. Also bare in mind that in a recession TRADE is the first thing that goes, so maybe alway keep the valeting there in the background.

one other thing worth mentioning, there is a saying that "anyone can hang a door, but everyone can do it well", might be worth having a few non family member critics have a look at your work and see what they think, maybe put some photos up on the forum for people to look at, it should give you an idea of whether the quality is there too.


regards

Did you mean "but NOT everyone can do it well"

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Simon,

Don't think twice, it's OK, I had my dilema at 45!

I was an office based account manager until three years ago and would never go back to being employed. I have a great business model which works well if you have a decent populated area surrounding you and you are prepared to travel a couple of miles to pick up work, even if it's just for a couple of hours. Just don't get out of your comfort zone for jobs you take on initially, keep within your own skill level.
Take a look at my website (just Google Mr Toolbag) for an idea of what I do, give me a call if you want!

Chris

if you can get the work give it a try, just remember theres alot more skilled/quallified tradespeople than work at the min, its pretty slack out there

Thanks for the reply Alexanderjames, I will certainly be keeping valeting for now just work them both and see what happens i think,

Got plenty of pics i need to upload

Thanks for the advice Chris


just googled your site very impressive and to the point very good model i agree, may take you up on that call !!

Yeah i know what you mean speed, the valeting isnt too busy either, works defo there and willing to give it a go,

Mooncat you are right. That is funny that completly changes the saying. Lol

the comment regarding the lack of work at the moment is true however people with the work tend to have a client base for warrent of a better word, which is where the good recommedeation comes in.

Dont let the "lack of work" put you off. Its just after xmas and its supposed to be dead but i have loads on atm. Prob busiest its been. Hopefully it continues. At the end of the day if you half decent, honest and work hard, it doesnt matter how old you are, you can still get the ball rolling in the trade. (and think yourself lucky in that you already have by the sounds of it)

Theres nothing to stop you going for it.

I wouldn't worry too much about anyone who says there isn't much work out there - there is plenty if you are willing to look for it. Trades are notoriously bad at marketing themselves with most not even having a web site or directory listing.

Build things up slowly until you have a good solid customer base with repeat / receommendation work coming in and you'll be set.

If I were you I'd get to the point where the valeting business can be run by a trusted employee maintaining a decent turnover while you are elsewhere making more money.

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If at first you don't succeed - remove all evidence that you tried.

My only advice would be to you mate, If you valeting business is turning over a profit and your able to get by with a few nice things in life at the moment like 1 hols a year then don't give it up completely, These times mate it is really hard for people to earn a living none have been effected more than the building trade etc but if you are prepared to work at a reasonable daily rate then that will often reap rewards with work of mouth. Offer your services as a handyman like what your doing and build a little portfolio of your own over the next year or so and see where you are, Over that year whatever you earn do like side jobs put it all in and maybe think about auction properties that need a little doing to them as you will save £ and sell them on or rent them as a future pension. Plenty to think about but don't chuck away something that at least is giving you a living.