Contractors are facing three times the competition as they were just a couple years ago.  In order for your business to thrive during these tough times you need to ensure that you stand out among the crowd of contractors.  Here are a few ways this can be accomplished.

 

Local groups/organizations can be great lead generators.  Consumers often look to these groups to find a contractor they can trust.  Most of these groups provide an online directory of local contractors for the consumer to call when a service is needed.

 

When a customer is satisfied with your work they may tell their friends and/or family members who provided the great service.  Friends and family members will be more likely to choose the same contractor as they heard a firsthand testimonial from someone they trust.  Although there are many contractors they could choose, they would rather choose one they know can get the job done right. Do not forget thought that bad service will be told to far more people than good service.  Word of could be your best source of business or your worst enemy.

 

Homeowners want a contractor they can trust and they know will do a good job of cleaning up the mess made during construction.  Think of meeting a potential customer as a job interview, after all you are competing for a job.  This does not mean that you need to wear a suit and tie to meet them, but good grooming practices and being courteous is a must.  After all, they may be letting you into their home; they need to know they can trust you.

 

You may be the last contractor to view the work at hand; however you do not have to be the last contractor to submit a quote.  Always try and have your quotes to your customer within 24 hours; if you wait too long, you are much less likely to get the job. 

 

It is a fact that 80% of all jobs are awarded after the 5^th or subsequent follow up.  However, the majority of contractors only follow up two to three times.  You can stand out from the crowd and continue to resonate in the homeowners mind by following up five or more times.  The homeowner knows if you are willing to work hard for the job, you are more likely to work hard on the job.

 

Even if you lose one job to another contractor that does not mean that you can never win another job with that customer.  The contractor that the homeowner chose over you may have done a bad job and need repairs, might have cancelled the work and so many other situations could cause that homeowner to choose you at some point in time.  So even after losing a job, you still want to follow up by thanking them for the opportunity and letting them know you are available for any future work they may need.

 

Contractors are notorious for not returning calls.  There are many reasons why a contractor may not return a call but all that matters is that you do.  You will quickly stand out as a responsive contractor who cares about customer needs therefore you are more likely to be chosen among other contractors.

 

Software can help contractors increase their ability to provide quick and accurate quotes and ensure that follow ups happen and that no customer gets over looked.  GiddyUp provides template based quoting for quick turnaround times on quotes, we even offer an assistant who can help you build and send your quotes quicker than you could do it yourself!  GiddyUp also provides template based emails to ensure you follow up quickly and professionally.  A GiddyUp Personal Sales Assistant (PSA) can help you with your sales process so that you never miss another follow up.  Just ask GiddyUp!