9 Ways to Find a Building Contract, Order, or Subcontract for Construction Work

The competition in the field of construction services is the highest, and to find a profitable order for a construction team or a small construction company, sitting in one place will not work. Even the highest quality of work performed and responsibility is not enough - it is necessary to act actively and independently seek customers. Experts joke that this problem has only one solution - just become famous, i.e. make a name, but there are tons of ways to do it. You can find a building contract, subcontract or order for construction work both in conservative ways (through newspapers and posters on poles), and more modern (online promotion). All methods work in one way or another, and ideally use several at once.

No. 1. Subcontract Exchange

The most obvious way to find an order is to appeal to the target audience, to study its habitat. This principle is based on advertising in newspapers, on pillars, handing out leaflets and other methods, which, unfortunately, do not always have the desired return, because only a part of passers-by or readers will notice a specific proposal, and only a small percentage of them at the moment really required services offered. You can act differently.

The method lies on the surface and it would seem that everyone knows - contact large construction companieswho have received a large order and obviously need help. The only thing left is to find such companies, and that is what often becomes an obstacle to getting a “bold” order. But this problem is also easily solved - today you can find a subcontract on the stock exchange, special a service that accumulates information on winners of state construction tenders hundreds of thousands and millions of rubles. If earlier these data were fragmented and it was necessary to study a lot of sources, now all the necessary information is collected together - it remains only to use them wisely.

The “Everybody in a row” service provides small and medium-sized construction organizations with the widest database of companies that have won the tender and entered into a major state contract. Large amounts are at stake, the conditions for fulfilling government orders are quite stringent, and meeting the deadlines is an essential requirement. To complete the work by the planned date, the tender winner often uses the services of subcontractors, therefore the service is actually a base of potential customerswho already, and not once in the uncertain future, need a contractor, and this is a real chance for a small construction company to receive an order.

Benefits for a Construction Organization:

• access to contact information of companies that have received the right to fulfill a large order, the ability to directly contact and offer their services;
• convenient search by region of the country;
• search by type of work, which, together with regional reference, allows you to quickly identify the most interesting companies for yourself;
• relevant and constantly updated information;
• service allows large companies place a subcontract application and find a contractor that for small organizations becomes invaluable information about real orders - even phoning and asking whether a subcontractor is needed or not is not necessary.

You need to understand that the database must be able to use. Firstly, not every organization that won a tender needs help. Secondly, if she needs help, there may be several companies, potential subcontractors, among those who want to provide her.

In order to highly likely receive a profitable order, carefully study the contract, and when you call, try to briefly and vividly describe the advantages of working with your organization. The customer must be convinced that the organization is worthy to cooperate with him. It is better to prepare in advance all the necessary data on the price of services, the qualifications of specialists, and the experience of such work. A personal meeting and conversation with the person who makes the decision, and not the secretary, is much better than a commercial offer sent by mail. You may have to make more than a dozen calls, but you’ll have to deal only with the target audience, which may need help now - much depends on the ability to present information, persuasiveness and perseverance.

No. 2. Relations with major market players

This option is somewhat reminiscent of the previous one, only involves, rather, establishing contacts so to be at the base of a large organization and, if possible, be invited to do some work. The construction organization will have to look for contacts of large construction companies and contractors, be interested in their current projects and options for cooperation. A plus lies in the fact that you can declare yourself and be taken into account in case of something. Minus - It is not known when the company will need your services, because it is not a fact that it has just received a large order, as is the case with the subcontractor exchange.

Nevertheless, establishing contacts with large construction companies is a necessary and important stage of activity. Sometimes they subcontract work, as they themselves do not have time to complete the order, but do not want to lose the client. Of course, part of the profits will have to be given to the general contractor, but high-quality and timely execution of work is almost a guarantee that in the future you will have regular customers.

No. 3. "Word of mouth"

The good old way also works today, although not as efficiently as in the old days. At the heart of the word of mouth high-quality and punctual work. If Finishing work, samena wiring, redevelopment and other work is done as it should, the customer will most likely recommend you or your team neighbors, friends or relatives. Moreover, while the work is being done in the same apartment, people living in the neighborhood may also decide to make repairs. The well-known logic is turned on: “if the neighbor has done well, then they will do the same for us”, and why go far and look for someone from the outside, not being sure of the quality.

A wide circle of acquaintances among potential customers is good, but it is equally important to have contacts and among industry experts, which also can sometimes help with the order. Often there are situations when the customer is asked to recommend someone to perform work in which the contractor is not a specialist.

It’s important to remember that on large orders rarely invite the brigade "from the street" - they go to those whose work the customer is sure of. So, connections and useful contacts need to be established actively, and for this sometimes you should not be lazy and even take on small orders. Today you were asked to replace the outlet, and tomorrow - wiring in the entire apartment, if your approach to work liked the customer.

the main thing advantage “Word of mouth” lies in the fact that it is thanks to the reviews that you can get a large order that is not trusted by a team that advertises its services on a post in the yard. In addition, there are no advertising costs, and the potential customer base is gradually expanding. Minus - there is no certainty in the number and volume of orders, but for word of mouth to work, you will first have to resort to other methods of advertising. The only thing that can be advised is to work efficiently.

Number 4. Billboard and Pole Ads

Post ads about your services on a board at the entrance, at a pole or at a bus stop - An old and well-proven way to promote their services, which does not need a detailed description. Despite conservatism, experts are confident that such advertising will work for a long time, and construction companies are convinced of its effectiveness by example.

Benefits:

• small investments;
• potential customers get the impression that the master offering services does not live close, which means that it will be easy to contact him;
• the ability to advertise in the most preferred and profitable areas, for example, in locations new buildings.

Minuses:

• there is a chance that the ad will be torn down, painted over, or competitors will stick their ads on top. On the other hand, this is just a probability, as well as the fact that the ad sags for a long time;
• a large customer rarely responds to such ads;
• focusing on random attention of people - there is no guarantee that a potential customer will notice an ad.

A similar option should be advised to those companies and private craftsmen who have just begun their activities, because investments are, in fact, minimal, and there is a chance to receive orders.

A larger and more modern version of such a promotion is big billboard. It makes sense to place it in the area just built residential quarters.

No. 5. Distribution of flyers and business cards

Ads can not be glued, but thrown directly into the mailbox. Then no one will peel it off or ruin it, and the chance that a potential client will look at it is higher. Flyers and business cards are also handed out. in construction markets, in construction stores, i.e. in crowded places of the target audience, as well as in busy areas of the city.

Benefits:

• large audience;
• the opportunity to receive a large order;
• some people collect business cards and flyers that interest them for future use when the service is really needed.

But business cards do not always fall to those who need them. Investments in the printing of advertising material are greater than in ads, but novice masters can save on the fact that they will independently distribute or distribute them. Experts advise negotiate with sellers of large construction stores, leave them business cards and promise a small reward for a successful advertising company. At low cost, the result will be good.

No. 6. Publishing in newspapers and magazines

Despite the fact that we live in the era of Internet technologies, there is still a category of people who are looking for services using newspapers. It is naturally necessary to publish local newspapers, and if there are any specialized publicationsthen in them. If the newspaper or magazine has an electronic version, then the advertisement can be duplicated there too.

Newspaper ads work, but not as efficiently as we would like. In addition, advertising must be constantly updated and paid for it, and only those who buy the newspaper will see it, i.e. limited circle of people. TO cons Such promotions include the limited size of ads and the inability to present their competitive advantages. True, sometimes construction companies (those that are larger) order entire articles on their activities: they describe all the nuances in the best possible way.

More colorful and informative advertising looks like radio and television, but it also costs more, and its wide audience hears, most of which the advertised services are not needed.

Number 7. Internet promotion: your site and online advertising

Today, a huge part of the population uses the Internet. Most search for the necessary products and services through the network. Moreover, the Internet through numerous tools makes it possible show ads only to users whom it may really be interested in.

It’s best to do an online advertising campaign with create your own website, where it will be briefly and succinctly described what services the organization provides, what guarantees and benefits it provides, what fees it takes, how to contact it and other organizational issues. On the Internet pages you can demonstrate your work as clearly as possible by providing relevant photos.

Benefits your site for a construction company:

• detailed presentation of information about services;
• motivating the user to action (with a competent and professional approach);
• the presence of only the target audience;
• effective tools for running an advertising company on the Internet.

Creating a site, filling it out and running an advertising company will cost a lot and will require the involvement of specialists, so it is unlikely for start-up companies to do this, but there are other ways to advertise your services on the Internet:

• advertising on city bulletin boards;
• advertising on city sites;
• advertising in social networks.

Number 8. Visit to construction sites

Perhaps the proposed methods seem not quite ethical, but still they should be borne in mind:

• you can search for orders visit construction sites and talk with the customer to find out if he is satisfied with the contractor. Perhaps he was already thinking of finding a more responsible contractor, and your proposal would be just in time. In any case, the organization has a high chance of being accepted and receiving an order in the future;
• at each complex under construction or just built apartment buildings there is sales department. If you promise managers a certain reward for each client they provide, then you can count on a decent amount of work.

No. 9. Intermediary Services

there is firms and individual Internet portalsthat connect the contractor and the customer. Construction company receives substantial advantage in the form of the absence of the need to look for orders - you can focus only on work. But intermediary companies charge a percentage for their services, and sites for access to the database of orders will require a fee, and this is in the absence of a guarantee that you can find something.

Of course, no advertising will help if you treat your work in bad faith, so the main thing is to do your work efficiently, communicate normally with customers and meet deadlines. In a customer search strategy, it is better to use several directions of promotion at once, choosing those that will be most justified at this stage of development.