5 Tips to Break Through in the Construction Industry

If you’re new to the construction industry it can seem like it will be impossible to make an impression and be as successful as existing companies. However, with some hard work, perseverance, and dedication you will find your success. Here are 5 tips for contractors who are looking to break into the construction industry for the first time.

1. Join a Construction Industry Association to Make Connections  

Like any profession, in construction networking is an important – albeit often time-consuming – necessity. These days most people do their networking online through sites like LinkedIn that are made specifically for business professionals to connect. However, that doesn’t mean you should discount the potential benefits of joining an industry association to make connections.

Getting out – even if it’s once a month – around your peers in your same field will help you in many ways. Not only will you make lasting connections that will likely help you throughout your career but you also gain credibility because it shows you are serious about your craft.

Here are a few national construction associations you can consider – though this is by no means a comprehensive list of all associations, so if one doesn’t stand out keep searching!

• ABC: Associated Builders & Contractors, Inc.
• AGC: Associated General Contractors of America
• AIC: American Institute of Constructors
• ASA: American Subcontractors Association, Inc.
• CMAA: Construction Management Association of America
• MCAA: Mechanical Contractors Association of America
• NAHB – National Association of Home Builders
• National Institute of Building Sciences
• NAWIC: National Association of Women in Construction

2. Be Involved – Don’t Leave Everything to Your Contractors

If you’re the one heading the project – the owner of the property or even just the main person overseeing the contractors – make sure you stay involved with the project from start to finish. This means from the day a home is bought until the last inspection is done, you need to be involved and available.

This is important, even if it feels like you’re just going to be on the phone and in meetings day in and day out. You should be available to your employees and contractors who are doing everything they can to make things run smoothly. But don’t limit yourself to construction calls. Customers want to talk to a real person, especially upon initial contact. Plan to either hire great customer service reps or prepare to be one yourself!

In the end, this is your project – and only you can be responsible for making sure things go as planned. The construction industry is no easy career – but it is a rewarding one if you’re willing to put in the time and effort it takes to be a success.

3. Always Use the Best Business Practices to Build Brand Trust and Authority

A major problem for many contractors is a lack of efficiency. This will result in not only losing money through delays in building, but it will make you seem unorganized and unprofessional to your buyers. You will need to have some sort of system in place to keep track of concerns like bookkeeping, scheduling, invoicing, training, task management, marketing and more.

This is where you will want to invest in some sort of organization software.

For productivity and marketing:

• Microsoft Teams
• Trello
• Favro

For Invoicing and Tracking Expenses:

• QuickBooks
• PayPal
• SquareUp

For Construction and Project Management:

• Smartsheet
• Workfront
• FunctionFox
• Workamajig

All these suggestions are easy-to-use organization software for day to day tasks. The best part is that depending on your needs these sorts of productivity tools all have free versions. This will help you keep everything organized and easily within reach – ensuring everyone on your team and your buyers all have the same streamlined experience.

4. Hire People Who Know More About Construction than You Do

It might sound counterintuitive to your business to hire people who know more about the scope of the construction industry than you do. However, what you’re getting – and paying for – is their expertise, not their labor.

You shouldn’t fear that someone will take your great ideas and run with them.  Instead, pay a fair wage to someone who knows more about the industry than you. This gives you the advantage of years of experience, without having to wait until those years are under your best.

5. Invest in Your Business to Be Profitable

This trips up many business owners. We’ve heard it since we were children: “You have to spend money to make money.” However, until you’re a business owner, you can’t fully understand the scope of construction industry investments. There are expenses in premium software, the best tools, and often higher rates for experts.

Of course, this doesn’t mean you should go all-out in some areas and cut corners in others. You want to keep a balance of investing in your product and employees. Provide quality materials and tools for your workers – and invest in training for those who would benefit. You’re going to have happier employees when you invest in helping them further their careers as well – which will benefit your business down the line in productivity and efficiency.

When you’re breaking into the industry, there are many things to plan. These five tips are of importance to your construction industry business and will help you on your path. If you’re not sure what your next step should be when investing in your company, get in touch with Residential Warranty Company, LLC to see how we can help you succeed.