Tips for Contractors
Compliments of: Erosion Technology Consulting
The scenario usually goes something like this:
Prospect- Would you put the quote in writing, I need to show it to my banker, wife, credit union, insurance company....
Contractor- Yes, I will get it to you in a few days.
Contractor hand carries written quote to prospect to make sure he gets it.
Prospect promises to call within a few days to let you know if you are going to get the job. Days turn into a week sometimes two and you decide to check with your prospect to see what's going on. You call and he is not in. You wait another few days and no return call....Need I say more? I hardly think so. If you are a contractor, you could tell a dozen such stories in short order.
The big surprise and disappointment usually comes when you find out your prospect is doing the job himself using your ideas, plans, etc. I have had general contractors, under the pretense of wanting to subcontract work to me, pull the same tricks.
Well, you don't have to put up with it anymore. I found a way to stop them dead in their tracks, without hurting their feeling or losing your prospect to competition. I now use a simple clause in my proposals that will make them stop and think about the consequences before they try such tactics.
If I suspect foul play may be in the making, I have the prospect read and sign the nondisclosure agreement before I give him any ideas, prices or discuss the project in anything other than general terms.
After spending over forty-three (43) years in the construction industry, both here and abroad, I have seen most every trick in the trade. You young contractors would do well to monitor The Construction Site on a regular basis. I intend to offer FREE tips along the way, that will save you money and heartaches.
Update: June 15, 1995
Would you believe, that just last week, a young man tried, and succeeded, in causing me to believe he held the position as property manager for a large insurance company. I drove over a hundred miles to look at a job he wanted done. I then spent about four hours preparing a written proposal for him.
Tip:
Typically, this type always leaves all their business cards in another vehicle, at the office or ....
Anyway, after not returning my calls for several days, I got suspicious and started doing some inquiries. Yep, you guessed it. The dirty blankety, blank had taken my proposal, added fifty percent to my price and passed it on to the owner as his proposal.
Stupid, yes. Un-ethical, yes, to say the least. Expensive, yes. Very expensive, because the young man will never work for that insurance company again. He had been contracting from them until this happened.
Get Your Stop Doc (members only)-(join) This document alone is worth much more than the price of a membership. Think what a lawyer would charge you for something that just may be less effective.