Plumbers, electricians et. al---please move here!!!! (Old Town, Rockland: transplants, insurance, appliances)

[SulfurDog]

Living on the Midcoast for several years now and it's been a terrific move for us in so many ways (We are in the Rockland, Rockport, Camden area). Having said that, my friends who have been here forever confirm the severe lack of tradespeople. Now this is an area populated by lots of transplants, medical professionals, even ex-FBI in addition to the obvious fishermen!! Not the boonies. There is such a scarcity that vocational schools around the country should be informed that graduates who want a change from their current living situation could get work yesterday moving up here and setting up shop.

(BTW---I do NOT include auto repair shops in this list!!)

The independent appliance store in the area will only service appliances that THEY sell, so to purchase from Lowe's or Home Depot is not the way since they don't offer repair service (Sears was great for that back in the day!). When we bought our house, the previous owners did buy appliances from the big box stores so we struggle when we need to find someone to service for us.

A couple of years ago our fridge was in need of repair---GE doesn't have a certified repair person in the state--. (this was a year and a half ago) and if you sign up with an extended insurance plan that comes along with the appliance and need to use it (Assurant Customer Care" was the name of the outfit,) they told us that they couldn't locate a provider within their network to service our fridge. They actually sent a letter saying they'd cover any repair under $150, and if the cost was over that, "while the technician is still in your home and BEFORE starting the work, Assurant would discuss the estimate with the technician and provide and authorization plan."

I know that tradespeople in general are in demand. Now yes, we aren't in a bustling metropololis to be sure, cit-but this isn't further inland where it's truly very rural.

[Submariner]

I own a commercial building in downtown Old Town. The Code Enforcement office has been very insistent that I only ever have licensed tradespeople to perform work on my building.

One of my biggest problems has been that every Mainer seems to insist that he/she is a qualified plumber / electrician / carpenter. I can advertise for work I need done, these people will come in and give me an estimate. But when I ask if they are licensed, that starts the argument.

Maine is a state filled with unlicensed handymen. Guys who will insist that they know how to perform everything, but are in fact not qualified to do anything.

A couple of times, I have been tempted over some tiny small job, to allow a handyman to do something. It has come back to bite my arse each time.

[mtnbiker65]

Originally Posted by Submariner

One of my biggest problems has been that every Mainer seems to insist that he/she is a qualified plumber / electrician / carpenter. I can advertise for work I need done, these people will come in and give me an estimate. But when I ask if they are licensed, that starts the argument.

If you go to the State of Maine's Bureau of Professional and Financial Regulation's web site, you can verify whether these so-called electricians or plumbers are licensed. Carpenters do not need a license.


You're right. Maine is filled with unlicensed handymen. Back in the day, Maine did enforce licensing regulations. Due to cutback after cutback over the past thirty or so years, enforcement is minimal, if at all.

[OutdoorLover]

Originally Posted by Submariner

I own a commercial building in downtown Old Town. The Code Enforcement office has been very insistent that I only ever have licensed tradespeople to perform work on my building.

One of my biggest problems has been that every Mainer seems to insist that he/she is a qualified plumber / electrician / carpenter. I can advertise for work I need done, these people will come in and give me an estimate. But when I ask if they are licensed, that starts the argument.

Maine is a state filled with unlicensed handymen. Guys who will insist that they know how to perform everything, but are in fact not qualified to do anything.

A couple of times, I have been tempted over some tiny small job, to allow a handyman to do something. It has come back to bite my arse each time.

I have had all kinds of work done over the years, and some of it has been done by real craftsman - people who know what they are doing, and, care enough to try to do really good work. But I've also had people who cause as many problems as they solve for me, and then I am very sorry I hired them.

[mainegrl2011]

Maine could benefit from youth apprenticeship programs for the trades. Some training programs are available now through the vocational high schools and community colleges. Society needs to promote the trades as valuable professions. Too many think only a 4-year college education has value. More and more we see young people with a 4-year college degree who have no marketable skill. They either can't find a job pertaining to their degree, or maybe they don't want a job. A relative of mine was a master electrician, licensed by the Great State of Maine. Along his life's journey, he had learned carpentry, cabinet making, plumbing etc. He built his house and garage and only had to hire a mason to build his chimney. There are lots of highly skilled (not licensed by the state) people in Maine. Unfortunately, some of them are no longer living. Before hiring someone, get references, recommendations from people you know well. ... or... Watch YouTube videos and learn to do things yourself.

[NJ Brazen_3133]

Originally Posted by SulfurDog

Living on the Midcoast for several years now and it's been a terrific move for us in so many ways (We are in the Rockland, Rockport, Camden area). Having said that, my friends who have been here forever confirm the severe lack of tradespeople. Now this is an area populated by lots of transplants, medical professionals, even ex-FBI in addition to the obvious fishermen!! Not the boonies. There is such a scarcity that vocational schools around the country should be informed that graduates who want a change from their current living situation could get work yesterday moving up here and setting up shop.

(BTW---I do NOT include auto repair shops in this list!!)

The independent appliance store in the area will only service appliances that THEY sell, so to purchase from Lowe's or Home Depot is not the way since they don't offer repair service (Sears was great for that back in the day!). When we bought our house, the previous owners did buy appliances from the big box stores so we struggle when we need to find someone to service for us.

A couple of years ago our fridge was in need of repair---GE doesn't have a certified repair person in the state--. (this was a year and a half ago) and if you sign up with an extended insurance plan that comes along with the appliance and need to use it (Assurant Customer Care" was the name of the outfit,) they told us that they couldn't locate a provider within their network to service our fridge. They actually sent a letter saying they'd cover any repair under $150, and if the cost was over that, "while the technician is still in your home and BEFORE starting the work, Assurant would discuss the estimate with the technician and provide and authorization plan."

I know that tradespeople in general are in demand. Now yes, we aren't in a bustling metropololis to be sure, cit-but this isn't further inland where it's truly very rural.

You want someone to move up to Maine to fix one problem, and thats it? If no one to fix is because most people will buy new once something is broken. How many years you have refrigerator?

If you want to move someone up there, you will likely have to pay so much that you may as well buy a new frig. Especially if you had the frig a long time, it may as well be worth it.

[NJ Brazen_3133]

Originally Posted by Submariner

I own a commercial building in downtown Old Town. The Code Enforcement office has been very insistent that I only ever have licensed tradespeople to perform work on my building.

One of my biggest problems has been that every Mainer seems to insist that he/she is a qualified plumber / electrician / carpenter. I can advertise for work I need done, these people will come in and give me an estimate. But when I ask if they are licensed, that starts the argument.

Maine is a state filled with unlicensed handymen. Guys who will insist that they know how to perform everything, but are in fact not qualified to do anything.

A couple of times, I have been tempted over some tiny small job, to allow a handyman to do something. It has come back to bite my arse each time.

In NYC its handymen that actually do all the work. The License guy only pulls permits and self certifies.

[NJ Brazen_3133]

Originally Posted by mainegrl2011

Maine could benefit from youth apprenticeship programs for the trades. Some training programs are available now through the vocational high schools and community colleges. Society needs to promote the trades as valuable professions. Too many think only a 4-year college education has value. More and more we see young people with a 4-year college degree who have no marketable skill. They either can't find a job pertaining to their degree, or maybe they don't want a job. A relative of mine was a master electrician, licensed by the Great State of Maine. Along his life's journey, he had learned carpentry, cabinet making, plumbing etc. He built his house and garage and only had to hire a mason to build his chimney. There are lots of highly skilled (not licensed by the state) people in Maine. Unfortunately, some of them are no longer living. Before hiring someone, get references, recommendations from people you know well. ... or... Watch YouTube videos and learn to do things yourself.

But trades schools are expensive too. I find apprenticeships are largely children or relatives children of the tradesmen. Otherwise there is an overflow of workers.

[mainegrl2011]

Originally Posted by NJ Brazen_3133

But trades schools are expensive too. I find apprenticeships are largely children or relatives children of the tradesmen. Otherwise there is an overflow of workers.

If you (or anyone) are going to spend money (invest in a future) on post secondary education, it makes sense to choose a course of study that results in a marketable skill. If a person commits to excellence and gets excellent grades, he/she can get scholarships to help defray the costs. Many don't realize that tradespeople are paid quite well. Maine isn't even close to having too many skilled tradespeople.

Take some time and research apprenticeship programs in the United States. Some are part of high school course of study. They are not all based on relatives of master craftsmen. Don't rule out vocational high schools. There are on-the-job training opportunities that are not necessarily named or registered apprenticeships.

https://www.careerexploration.com/ap...rams-by-state/

https://www.franklinapprenticeships....united-states/

[SulfurDog]

[quote=NJ Brazen_3133;63251040]You want someone to move up to Maine to fix one problem, and thats it? If no one to fix is because most people will buy new once something is broken. How many years you have refrigerator?



Hi NJ Brazen (appropriate name btw!) . Kind of a bizarre response don't you think??. I mean if my blow dryer stops working one morning, I'm going to chuck it---a fridge I'm going to have checked out first--it wasn't an old Alice and Ralph Kramden icebox. (We moved in several years ago and aren't exactly sure of its age---owner just left a manual) Actually in my subject line I was bemoaning the lack of ALL the trades up here and used my fridge experience to illustrate a point that my longterm neighbors have been hammering home for years.

I remember the movie Marty with Ernest Borgnine. He was a butcher and he described it as"not an elegant profession." I think all blue-collar jobs are to be admired and encouraged and was hoping that the Midcoast Technical College was going to roll out various vocational workers, but looking at the courses offered, I see that that hasn't been the case.