The housing market in Wisconsin has reached its best point since before the recession, with more homes sold in the first quarter of 2016 than any year since 2007 according to the Wisconsin Realtors Association. However, if you're looking to remodel a new home in Northeast Wisconsin, you might not be able to do that anytime soon.
According to contractors, a shortage of skilled workers has caused many remodeling companies to limit the number of jobs they can take.
Adam Yeomans owns the Ripon-based business Adam's Remodeling Services. His company has grown about 150% each year since it started, he said, but he could be doing even more if he had enough employees.
"It's one thing to hire someone," Yeomans said. "It's a completely other thing to hire good, quality people, and that's one of the things we've just had a hard time with the last couple of years."
Not enough quality workers means not being able to get to every job.
"My backlog right now puts me at July 17th," Yeomans said.
Adam's Remodeling Services has had to turn down 42 jobs just since the start of 2016, he said. He has 8 employees right now.
"A lot of people ask me, 'Why don't you just hire more guys?'" he said. "There's no one left to hire."
Wisconsin's booming housing market has affected things, too.
"We're early now in spring and we're already seeing the market at it's highest we've seen in years, said Jennifer Dittmann with Adashun Jones Realty.
"I looked at four remodeling projects last week, all these younger couples that are buying homes," Yeomans said.
Homeowners are looking at 6-8 months before his company can work on their project, according to Yeomans. The problem won't be solved until they can find quality workers.
Yeomans said he's hoping high schools and trade schools will put more of an emphasis on skills needed in this industry to help the home remodeling and building business in Northeast Wisconsin.
