I am just getting my remodeling contract biz off the ground. I am booked til sept. I am assuming that calls will dramatically fall off during the fall months. How do I push customers( who are calling today) start times into those fall months with out loosing them?
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You would be surprised at the customers that call November 1st wanting a new kitchen by thanksgiving... or the December 1st calls wanting a basement by Christmas.
If customers want you they will wait. The most important thing is communication. If you can't meet their expectations tell them up front, because there are 10 contractors telling them what they want to hear with no intentions of delivering.
January 10 to March 15th is the time I'm slow. People stacked up the credit cards at Christmas, then get the bills in the mail then. And the Oil bill. And the higher than usual electric bill. This winter passed was the worsted because winter lasted so long.
Best to you and yours, Chris.
Building as thou art paranoid never harmed anyone.
I push off for the winter as much interior work as I can. Customers are pretty understanding when I tell them that because of the weather I only have 6 months to do a 12 months worth of exterior work.
If your customer is willing to wait for you, put a contract in place and if at all possible get a non-refundable schedule deposit to lock them in. You can use the next few months with them to iron out design details and material selections so they feel there's some progress.
I have a very steady and loyal customer base so we're a known quantity to each other, makes it easier. As the other poster said, communication and honesty are key.
-Norm
thanks for the info fellas.
red
As a fellow Upstate carpenter, I can add a couple of ideas.
I tried to stay on friendly terms with all the local real estate agents. I let them know that I was willing to handle anything that came up with their listings. After performing well on a couple of jobs, my name and rep were golden. I got lots of referrals. Anyone with multiple skills can easily make a good living this way.
Another way to cope with winter, one that I enjoyed, is just packing up the tools and toys and heading for Florida. The money isn't great but you can't beat the weather and the opportunities to recreate.
Our work history has shown that this time of year is our slowest time. Projects that were supposed to start in the spring are not ready to go. It could be design delays, money problems and this year it is an asbestos snafu.
If you have a good business going the only thing that will stop you from working through the winter is your unwillingness to brave the cold. We have always preferred food to warmth; so we work.
When you get a lead and sell them for later, be sure to get the contrat and deposit, so they don't jump ship and gt somebody else meanwhile.
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Used to be like that around here, but things have been so busy these past 5 yrs that it isnt the case any longer. Local building supplier smashed their records for Nov, Dec and Jan monthly sales volumes again this past winter. People are so happy to find someone who can do their project they will accept a start date 2-4 months away. So if it's an interior job, you bet that gets put on the winter calendar.
I would sometimes give January discounts. I always found Jan. & Feb. sometimes slow. If a client found a price too high in Sept., I said if they can wait till Jan. I'd discount it. Once you get established, you might find that you don't have to, but in the meantime, some money is better then no money.