Expanding Your Contracting Business
That old adage of the "The more ways you give people to spend their money, the more they'll spend it" is very true.
If you are looking to jump start your contracting business, a great way is to offer more services. You can learn the popular method of pouring and finishing concrete counter tops to offer to your clients. These are already very popular in Europe and are fast becoming a growing trend for kitchens and bars in the United States. The technique isn't hard to learn and you can be head and shoulders above your competition by offering something that isn't the same old counter top refinishing.
Another valuable service you can add is swimming pool construction. Whether it is above ground or below ground, you can keep your revenue flowing in during the slower winter months by selling swimming pool plans and designs for early spring construction services.
Finish carpentry is another very valuable service you can offer your clients. After building a room for them, why not offer the services of finishing out the room with decorative touches such as corbels, cornices, moldings, specialty beams and other touches such as built in cabinets and bookshelves that can make a room look designer touched. If you're interested in adding finish carpentry to your already outstanding list of services for your customers, check out the guide titled Finish Carpentry and learn the tips and tricks from the pros that have been making a living at this for years.
You can add extra services that your customers will find valuable and expand your construction business to make an even better living at what you love to do!
posted by Contractor Guides
The Dreaded Change Order
It's a situation that can happen to anyone. You did your estimate for the customer and right in the middle of the job, you realize that your bid was missing one major component that will raise the price of the job. The client will assume you waited until you were the middle of the job to ask for more money so they couldn't say no to the extra addition to the bill and you want to keep the relationship you have with your client a good one.
This is a delicate situation and how you handle it will not only make or break the job, it can also become part of your reputation. Statistics show that someone who has a bad experience with a contractor will tell 5 people and those 5 people will tell an average of 2 people each. You don't need any bad publicity in such a competitive industry.
A very valuable book is the
Contractor's Guide to Change Orders which can help you find hidden costs and consider aspects of projects you don't do often so you don't underbid or worse have to submit a change order to the client for additional fees on a job bid.
This book is filled with helpful checklists, many examples of letters you can send to your clients to ensure you get paid without disputes or misunderstandings. You will learn the tips and tricks for finding hidden costs, negotiating payment - even on delays and added expenditures.
You're human and you're going to make a mistake now and then, be ready to make it right and keep your client happy by using the information in this book!
posted by Contractor Guides
