Helmarion Posted August 16, 2005 Share Posted August 16, 2005 Hi everyone,my husband is a french registered builder carpenter and we are finding that after 2 years working here there does not seem to be as many job's coming in. There seems to be alot of people selling up in our area after spending all there money and not being able to find work and not many new ones coming over, is it just us or have other builders artisans in Normandy found the same?We were in the south on holiday recently and ther seemed to be alot more work arround, if things don't improve we will be selling up and heading south too!Karen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Logan Posted August 16, 2005 Share Posted August 16, 2005 I live in SW France and local artisans quote 9-12 months currently before they will contemplate a start. The south and south west has always been more prosperous perhaps that's got something to do with it. Earlier this year our local carpenter finally came to measure up for new shutters all round the house. Time- only 15 months since I first requested the work! ce la vie! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phandm Posted August 16, 2005 Share Posted August 16, 2005 I am in 23 the Creuse and my husband has had a full diary of work since May to seem him through to December. Artisans around here seem to have more work than they can cope with we waited 12 months for garage doors to be made for us by a local french carpenter. However it's always the same when you are self employed you never know where the next job is coming from where ever you are. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coco Posted August 16, 2005 Share Posted August 16, 2005 Well when I started looking for a mason, carpenter and roofer in this part of Normandy back in February I was told December was the earliest start date. I have finally managed to get a start date of October (well so I'm led to believe at this moment in time!) Is your husband only marketing himself to Brits Helmarion? If so, he's really limiting his market. Has he tried Yellow Pages or the local newspapers? Or leaving cards at immobiliers and notaires? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alane Posted August 16, 2005 Share Posted August 16, 2005 Whereabouts are you in Normandy? In 27 we are finding it difficult to get work started within 10-12 months.RegardsAlan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Porth Posted August 17, 2005 Share Posted August 17, 2005 [quote]Well when I started looking for a mason, carpenter and roofer in this part of Normandy back in February I was told December was the earliest start date. I have finally managed to get a start date of ...[/quote]We too live near Villedieu les Poeles and its fact that considerable delays exist before artisans will even commit themselves to a commencement date. However we are seeing some changes and where there are a group of artisans involved if you are able to find the weakest link then the rest will exert pressure to ensure that they too are not mentioned in the same breath as the one who is holding up the job. I agree with Coco its marketing nothing else for there is lots of work around. Our carpenter quotes us spring of next year but we are very good friends with the whole of the family and we mix socially and providing you pay your bills prompty its still possible to have things done in a time frame that is acceptable. However please do not use a plombier to install a poeles. We did some four years ago when we purchased. We have now been informed through three independent sources that ours and I repeat only our poeles is dangerous and not up to standard. Result in comes out next week and a specialist cheminee firm is to install a new one. Yes guarantees exist but I live in a smallish village and I cannot be bothered going through the hassle of chasing the guy through the courts. We will put it down to experience as we have to live here and integrate. The rest of the artisans are throwing their hands up in the air and in horror. At least we all seem to have lost that rather rotund English guy who was causing all of us the misery of some years ago. Or should I not have brought up that subject? Sorry I have gone off the track. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monika Posted August 17, 2005 Share Posted August 17, 2005 Our builders (French) took ages to start and are snowed under with work (Suisse Normande). I think the "pages jaunes" are a good idea, I always look in there when I want something, also a small Ad in the Living France or FPN (that's how we found our Project Manager).I would be grateful if you send me a PM with your address (if you live anywhere near us) although most of our work now is allocated I am sure we need somebody later on to finish off things we can't do. We also have neighbours who are always looking for builders/carpenters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helmarion Posted August 17, 2005 Author Share Posted August 17, 2005 Thank's for all your messages and advice we have just advertised with artisan anglaise and dropped cards off at the immobliers as for pages jaune i was told it would cost about 1,000 euros so quite alot for a one man band! I think we do need to advertise more it's just where,p.s for anyone interested we are close to Gavray. Thank's Karen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helmarion Posted August 17, 2005 Author Share Posted August 17, 2005 Thank's for all your messages and advice we have just advertised with artisan anglaise and dropped cards off at the immobliers as for pages jaune i was told it would cost about 1,000 euros so quite alot for a one man band! I think we do need to advertise more it's just where,p.s for anyone interested we are close to Gavray. Thank's Karen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amp Posted August 18, 2005 Share Posted August 18, 2005 Took me 12 months to get plumbing work done in 27.I will keep in touch as we are hoping to get new windows and shutters next year.Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ty Korrigan Posted August 19, 2005 Share Posted August 19, 2005 Hello, I have spent 500e on pub for the van and trailer. Budgeted 600e annually on regular colour ads in various small publications. Cards around the area, bars, boulangeries and brico stores, annually I have no price, as its mostly time and fuel. The cards cost very little but are proffessionaly made in colour so stand out better than home made ones.Advertising works for me, I am only an Entretein Espaces Verts but every customer is asked how they found out about me and by this I measure the efficacity of the ads.Its an investment as important as tools for me. Also cold calling to drop off pub or speak to maison secondaire owners that I come across in my travels. I park the van trailer with its huge banners 3m x 60cm near markets and other prominant places on days when I have no work lined up or my days off.Its early days for me but my proactive approach seems to be working for me and I am happy with the results.Don't give up! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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