Re: resoration business

Posted by Don Wadge on January 20, 2005 at 11:51:25 from (205.200.74.201):

In Reply to: resoration business posted by Russell on January 20, 2005 at 05:10:28:

Like RickL says "word of mouth makes or breaks it" and you better know what you're getting into. If you think it might be difficult buying or selling a tractor sight unseen imagine how critical not just some but most of the guys are going to be about your paint job. It better look like a fine Mercedes. You'll have a whole range of expectations from the customers so you'll have to be good at ascertaining what those expectations are. I wouldn't discourage you from doing this if thats what you would like to do. I do know there are a number of guys doing this succesfully. Your location isn't so bad. You're right on the route that a large number of the wheatland tractors from Canada travel and I don't think that transportation is that big an issue for high end restorations. I'm not sure how much good business there is for what you might call a reasonably priced custom restoration.Once people start paying out money expectations rise. My perception is that if you're good enough there is business to be had and the $1,000 or so difference between one job and the next is not too important if your reputation is good and the customer is confident going into the deal that he's going to be satified. You said restoring so I'm assuming your not just talking about "painting tractors". Guys that can afford a custom restoration don't want oil leaks, worn clutch linkage etc., etc..
I used to buy and sell quite a few tractors and I never got into painting a tractor for a customer because I figured that's where the grief starts if the hasn't seen it and i could do a lot of work on another tractor in the time it takes to paint it. Today that might be a different story as it is much more difficult today to find an adequate supply of good collectible tractors for resale although that is still being done to a lesser extent.

There's always work if your good and priced right. The trick is to be priced right and be good on two fronts. Get the work done and get it good.

Just my thoughts, others may see it differently.

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