Dale, I really appreciated your comments on professional deconstruction, and at the risk of asking too much of you, I'd love to learn more.
I'm a young guy in Eastern Washington trying to figure out what, if anything, I want to "do" with my life. So far, salvage seems like 1) an under-represented profession in my area, 2) interesting, and 3) intermittent.
2 and 3 are tops on my list, and 1 leads me to believe a semi-smart/skilled salvager could be very successful here.
When you write a book, I'll gladly buy a copy. Meanwhile, can you offer any more helpful hints, or perhaps even walk us through a typical operation?
- What sold best? worst?
- What wasn't worth salvaging?
- Were there top-dollar items you saved, transported, stored for niche markets?
- How important is being licensed and bonded, or having insurance?
- Are companies so eager to save a couple dollars that they're willing to have someone they don't know come in, or was it that you were able to build up a good reputation?
- What, aside from absolving oneself from responsibility for hazardous waste, is important to consider in a contract?
- ***How did you get started?
- How big of a job was "too big"?
- Essential equipment that a beginner might not think of?
You seem inclined to share your knowledge; I am eager to gain it, that I (and others lurking here) might better decide on whether to pursue such a career, and if so, how best to begin.
Also, winsol, thanks for the link to BMRA. The library on their site looks like a great start
