I own my remodeling company and have for four years now, but currently am experiencing a slowdown in work. It seems that my referral base has dried up or slowed down a bit. Is anyone else going through this right now?
I have heard about these services through the internet(i.e. service magic and others) that generate leads for you and you only pay for the ones that you accept. Does anyone have any recomendations or other helpful advice they could give to generate some new leads or is this just a holiday slowdown that I’m not familiar with only having been in business for 4 years?
Thanks Guys!
Mark Barnhart
” If there is one secret of success, it lies in the ability to see the other persons point of view as well as your own”-Henry Ford
Edited 12/5/2002 10:04:47 AM ET by Barnee
Replies
I sell forklifts (differant but related. I can tell you that December which is normally one of my better months is absolutely dead so far. The only thing that carried me thru November and October were rental deals where they converted into sales.... sept. was a barn burner. early summer was terrible!
those referral services seem to come and go..
get a copy of "Guerilla Marketing" to help you get your head around this...remeber, building always runs in cycles.. what goes up , has to come down...your four years was during an UP cycle...
but some contractors will be busy and profitable even during a DOWN cycle.. figure out how to make your company one of them
Mike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
"but some contractors will be busy and profitable even during a DOWN cycle.. figure out how to make your company one of them"
One word -reputation
I agree with Mike. MARKETING marketing MARKETING. Mike Cohen's Remodeling Success Systems is a great start. Postcards and letters to neighborhoods that you are working in. Volunteer with Habitat for Humanity. Be lighthearted and witty with your customers, aint nobody that likes a sourpuss. Network!!
There is so much available to pursue.
I look down my nose at people who dare to look down their nose at people.
Its that way here , but you can shake a limb and fruit should fall . Lowest interrest rates mean people should be buying houses . Reports show that realestate is holding its own and will through next year. Its time for you to buy a repo and let it put you through till spring sales. Build new houses in the spring and buy repos in the winter if you dont have a nice big one in the dry. Sometimes you have to sell the work too. Sub for someone else who has work. I would buy a repo .
Tim Mooney
And old boss of mine would buy old run down homes in good neighborhoods, when work was slow we would fix those up and then he would sell them for a profit. Not sure if this would help with your current situation or if you are in a position to do it but it kept his workers busy and money in his pocket.
Things are pretty slow up here in northern Wisconsin (on the shores of Lake Superior.) Everyone seems to be struggling to get work and keep their crews busy. That goes for new construction and remodels. There are a few small commercial jobs, but hard to get in with the company. As for repo./reno. work, everything is far overpriced. There are some cheapies for sale in the neighboring towns (12 and 21 miles away), but the resale value is terrible! Maybe its time to buy a new snow shovel and try to beat the kids to the sidewalks...lol.
Later. MattyLittle Sawhhorse Construction, LLC -- Building, Remodeling, and Repairs. Bayfield, WI
lol go one step further you got a truck right? get a snow plow the kids wont have a chance :)
"but some contractors will be busy and profitable even during a DOWN cycle.. figure out how to make your company one of them"
What down cycle? I've been predicting that for years in my area. The last one in my area was more like '80-81. I wish you guys the best and hope things improve. Speaking of down cycles a fried that hauls rock in SE Pa kept busy cutting lawns this past summer. Not the case three years ago as he was raking in some serious cash. Now he'll take anything including snowplowing for the state.
Ken Fisher
Naples/Ft.Myers, Florida
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