Thread: Builder's & Contractors - A few questions

Hey, I'm a custom home builder, also operate a retail store selling Cabinetry, granite slab, flooring the works.

I thought this could be a good place to share what works in this market as far as advertising goes, strategies etc.

So, I know word of mouth is the best form of advertising, but what else do you fellow builders/contractor's do for advertising?

All word of mouth for me, but it has definitely been slow in my area for the last year. I need to drum up some new business.

I am starting to get killed here in NY.. I am building in hot areas too but this damn bank stuff is stopping all of my buyers from getting a mortgage.

Yeah, I've lost quite a few projects due to lack of financing for my clients... it's a real pain in the ass!

Im about to pack up my stuff and head to another state. I need a break from this nonsense..

I have never done any advertising. I find that networking and word of mouth are the best avenues. Then again, I'm not a bulk builder. I do ~2 projects a year and have never done more than 10. So I am usually at capacity with prospects in the hopper. This will be the first year I haven't had a project on the ground for a while as I was focusing on some other interests.

I use to do advertising and spent big bucks on it. I did everything they wanted me to do. All the bids that came from it never worked out. It was always a drean of something they have been thinking about for years and you where biding against 7 or 8 other companies. We are not the cheapest company out there. We are more on the top of the rates out there. I am a very anal builder so things have to be done perfect. So its all word of mouth for me. But yes this year has sucked. We do between 30 to 40 remodels a year and build 2 to 5 houses. We built 1 house and did 3 remodels this year. I switched to commercial and are getting killed with work now.

What avenues are you using to bid commercial projects? We're making our way into that as well, but we still want to focus on high end customs.

As an addition to my previous statements, I would suggest this. Get a professional photo survey done of one of your completed, decorated projects and have that placed in a mag like LUXE, Robb Report, or any other mag that it would fit in content wise and intended market wise.

It might be semi-costly, but if you're going to advertise, do it by making peoples mouths water. "WANT" is the most powerful emotion.

Originally Posted by thomascrown

As an addition to my previous statements, I would suggest this. Get a professional photo survey done of one of your completed, decorated projects and have that placed in a mag like LUXE, Robb Report, or any other mag that it would fit in content wise and intended market wise.

It might be semi-costly, but if you're going to advertise, do it by making peoples mouths water. "WANT" is the most powerful emotion.

THat's pretty good advice but it has to be in an area where you are licensed and have access to resources. The worst thing that can happen is you get requests for work all over the place and can't service any of them efficiently.