Never been busier at the moment. Due to the lockdown (build up of work), furlough being paid, mortgage holidays, people not going on holiday.
Furlough finishing October, mortgage payment holidays finishing, bounce back loans starting to be paid back.
I reckon that it will be flat out upto Xmas, then it will nose dive massively. Usually jan/feb are a bit slower then it picks up, don’t think it will in 2021.
Batten down the hatches I think.

How much of the not working at the start of lockdown was because of shortage of materials, people postponing or builders taking a part paid rest? Or not wanting to be off and on claiming furlough?

I don’t blame them.

Thanks for the post. Good to hear. What I expected with few holidays taken.

COYP

I’m the same, can’t work out while I’m so busy but also expecting next year to struggle.

Rents going down though for first time ever that I can remember

"It feels much better than it ever did, much more sensitive." John Wayne Bobbit

Good to read that you and team have been working all the time, Good luck for the future.

It’s a physically demanding and damaging job. Bad backs etc. Knowing when to take a break can be a difficult decision when self employed. This made the decision that bit easier. Not saying it’s right but I can see why some people thought fvck it when millions of others were glad to be off. A team of builders were at a neighbour’s and I don’t think anyone said a word. Surprised really given the amount of snitching and grassing going on.

COYP

That’s fraud.

Deciding to take furlough after cancelling private work isn’t.

But you could’ve done the odd job for cash while on furlough. But I suppose only if the customer phones and says they’ll pay cash because they want it done and builders weren’t really wanting to disrupt their break in a heatwave and £2,500 a month.

COYP

Ironically, Paint (in particular, masonry paint) has been in very short supply.
Painting is a very common DIY job, so loads of punters furloughed from office jobs etc, have been painting at home.
I had my entire bookings schedule wiped out over 2 days just before the lockdown was announced.
(phone & email, everything was cancelled or put on hold by customers)
With exception of a 2k deposit paid a week before had no income for nearly 3 months, but did receive 3k grant.
I wont be claiming the 2nd grant in August as since I've been back I've been busiest than Ive been for many years, so dont need it & I believe not entitled either.

Kids,tired of being bothered by your pesky parents?
Then leave home, get a job & pay your own bills, while you still know everything.

I take my hat off to your morals Bob, but take the money.

This country is now so full of ponces that put nothing in and take everything, that you might as well join the fu(kers. I would.

I've always been PAYE and have paid proper tax unlike you self employed and I'd rather you had it than some illegal immigrant who rocks up at Dover and is given a handout.

Perhaps if everyone like you takes it, then we'll have nothing left to send to India to fund their space programme. Win win.

I was also talking about builders who thought fvck it I’ll put my feet upon £2,500 a month like everyone else in the heatwave and didn’t do any undeclared work. Why not. There’s now plenty of work.

COYP

Some of my blokes were moaning that they couldn’t claim , I said to them they hadn’t missed a days work , the pubs are shut and they couldn’t eat out. Should be the most flush they’ve ever been.
I haven’t had anything off the government personally, although I have been able to furlough my wife (she loves a good furloughing!)

Did have a result though as halfway through doing my house and needed to borrow some money, was all agreed but the plug got pulled when lockdown kicked in. Got a bounce back loan (£50,000 which won’t finish the house , but has helped.
Got all my builders on the bounce back loan, that way they couldn’t plead poverty when I put a bill in