How is the construction boom? Still there?

But how long will the order books remain full? The rising construction costs have already brought one or another project to a standstill. In addition, there are the higher living costs.

But how long will the order books be full?

From my customer perspective: Hopefully not much longer.

It really gets on my nerves that craftsmen take x weeks for a first appointment, then either simply don't show up, or just don't write an offer, no matter how often you ask.

From my customer’s perspective: hopefully not much longer. It really gets on my nerves that craftsmen take x weeks for a first appointment, then either simply don’t show up, or just don’t provide an offer, no matter how often you ask.

Yes, that annoys me as well. Last year I became a stalker just to get a heating offer. The craftsman even changed his Sunday walking route so he wouldn’t see me. I have been waiting for the hall lighting since February. On the other hand, these are exactly the businesses that provide prosperity in rural areas, away from industry. They pay trade tax, unlike some small service providers or direct salespeople. They offer jobs and are still very involved in our clubs and volunteer work.

This drama I have gone through 3 times in my actually not so long career as an engineer in special plant construction...

You think. After the financial crisis, everything was flooded with money to cover the consequences. The diesel scandal was only a niche problem and had no impact on the broader economy. With Corona, even more money was distributed. Now, completely unexpectedly, we have high inflation because a lot of money wants to buy few goods. The war then adds an external shock. Getting out of this is difficult because the solution to the last 2 crises is what caused this crisis in the first place. Printing money as a solution is therefore out of the question. Added to this are the numerous zombie companies (and also private households) that have stayed afloat in recent years mainly thanks to cheap debt. When money becomes more expensive, they get into trouble. The suspended insolvencies just add on top of that.

I am quite pleased about this as well. The trouble we've had with craftsmen since buying the house is beyond belief. You just can't find any. Empty promises without end, waiting times lasting months, sometimes even a year. The only thing that always works smoothly: the invoice! It always arrives almost as soon as they walk out the door! Otherwise, you should always check the work again or better yet stand right next to them, even with local specialist companies. With 9 out of 10 businesses, we had a big mess. And all of them were local master craftsman businesses.

It really gets on my nerves that craftsmen need x weeks for a first appointment, then either simply don’t show up or just don’t write a quote, no matter how often you ask.

Yeah, that annoys me too. Last year I became a stalker just to get a heating quote. The craftsman even changed his Sunday walk route so he wouldn’t see me.

These are good reasons why I’m currently so glad that we hired a general contractor who has his specialists at hand, with whom he has been working for many years, building and renovating houses. That naturally limits the choices somewhat – for me, who has trouble making decisions, not so bad – but for that you know who’s doing the work, and that they’ll show up at the agreed time. I accept having to choose from their selection for that.