Home, business repairs halted during the brunt of pandemic, leaving contractors out of work – Oklahoman.com

Now halfway through the month, new clients must wait about five weeks because of the backlog.

"It's typical of a summer. It's not unusual for me to be five and six weeks deep," Matthews said. "It's stressful, but I'm blessed I have clients who will wait for me."

Buildfax also expects maintenance and remodeling to rebound over the second half of the year as the economy returns to a semi-normal state.

While Matthews was able to string together jobs and now sees a rush of business, other contractors aren't so lucky. Rick Hitt, who works solely on commercial properties, had just three work orders over the past six weeks. There doesn't seem to be a light at the end of the tunnel, however.

"I've been starving here," said Hitt, who's done work in the past for Target, FedEx and other large companies in the metro area. "If I didn't know how to manage my money, I don't know where I'd be right now.

"The good Lord above takes care of me, and I take care of my money so I'm not in trouble yet. But I'm gonna be pretty soon."

Compounding the problem, Hitt said he never received his economic stimulus check from the federal government and can't file for unemployment.

He's been a contractor in Oklahoma City for the past 25 years. As he approaches 60 years old, Hitt said it's probably too late to consider another career if business doesn't pick up soon.

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Home, business repairs halted during the brunt of pandemic, leaving contractors out of work - Oklahoman.com