Cementing Client Trust with On-Time Excellence in Construction

Ever felt like the building industry could use a serious boost in customer service standards? We've got the blueprint for success, and it's all about trust and punctuality. This week on Epic Entrepreneurs, we delve into the concrete strategies that contractors and subcontractors can employ to stand out in a crowded market. It's not just about wearing the right clothes or showing up on time – it's a comprehensive approach to professionalism that can make or break your business. And the best part? These techniques are universal; no matter your industry, you'll pick up tactics that can help you compete with giants like Amazon.

Join us as we break down the essential components of exceptional customer service. From the initial handshake to the final invoice, learn how to build lasting relationships with clients that are founded on reliability and respect. We'll share insights from client conversations and the wisdom of industry pros, giving you actionable steps to take your business to the next level. Whether you're laying foundations or crafting customer experiences, tune in for a fresh perspective on how to elevate your game and cement your reputation as a top-tier provider in your field.

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Transcript

Bill: 0:35

Welcome to this week's episode of Epic Entrepreneurs, powered by Action Coach Growth Partners. You likely went into business to have more freedom and flexibility so that you could spend more time with your family, do more things or travel or enjoy your hobbies or whatever it is that you like to do in your spare time. We're here to help you find better ways to make more money, build better teams and get that time back so that you can have that freedom and flexibility. We'll help you simplify things and make sense of business, investing and wealth building, so that you can be epic and achieve all your dreams and goals. And now enjoy the show.

Bill: 1:09

Hey, there, I'm going to be talking specifically to people that are contractors and subcontractors today, but I got to thinking about it and this will apply to everyone because, hey, aren't we all in business some sort of contractor? What is a contractor? A contractor is someone who contracts for some service or some product at some agreed upon deal. Isn't that what we all do? But I want to deal specifically with the building industry, and there are lessons for everyone in this one. But let's take a hard look at the building industry now and I want to talk specifically about great customer service within the building industry and I was talking to one of my clients a couple of weeks ago about customer service in the building industry and they're a really good remodeling. We work really hard on customer service. But what we agreed was that, as an industry, the building industry has not done a great job with customer services. There are all kinds of stereotypes of the way people dress, the fact that they don't ever show up, that they're late, that they're messy, all kinds of things, so that, as an industry, the bar is lower. Now, part of our goal is to raise the bar as an industry. This is why this is directed at contractors and subcontractors, but it's also to raise the bar in all industries, because we all want to be served. At the end of the day, one of the companies that we're all competing against, who's doing a great job on customer service because they've got it so systemized, they've got the money, they've got the power is who? Well, it's Amazon. I don't care what business you're in. You're competing against Amazon. Amazon is they'll give you what you want. They'll refund you very quickly. They don't mess around. If you order something, you get it sometimes the same day or certainly a day later. So just keep in mind that it doesn't matter what industry in your bar is being set by other industries. So building industry, let's take note, a lot of our clients tend to be in that industry. Let's let's take a look at what we can do to be better in this industry.

Bill: 3:29

And this is gonna sound simple, but maybe it's not so simple to pull off. Otherwise, why wouldn't people doing it? Now, if they don't care, they're gonna go out of business anyway. We're gonna, we're not gonna put up with it. So here's the deal as a contractor or subcontractor, you have to know that people are already suspicious of you. Know Well, no matter how well they know. The first thing we have to do is Establish trust, which basically means that that you have to, as a friend of mine said. He here's the initials DWY SY AGTD, and what it stands for is Do what you say you're going to do, and I'll add a codicell which has the initials Wysy AGTDI.

Bill: 4:17

When you say you're going to do it, do what you say you're going to do. When you say you're going to do it, when you show up to do the proposal, be on time, be professional, be well dressed. Look the part. You don't have to wear a coat and tie, but you do need to look like you work for a contracting company now, for most of us, that would be khakis or neat blue jeans, decent shirt. You've got to look the part. You've got to begin to create trust right in your sales process. Then you have to do what you say you're going to do. When you say you're going to do it now, I get it. It is a Industry with a lot of moving parts. You have a lot of people that you're coordinating, but somehow the best, get it done.

Bill: 5:04

The second thing I would say is, when you're going to miss, shoot straight. Tell them the truth. If you're not going to be able to keep a time frame, if maybe they've changed it with a Change order, shoot straight. Tell them the truth. When things are bad, something bad happens or you screw up, just be honest. It'll. It's going to work out. You're going to be better. Will they be unhappy for a little while? Yes, well, they eventually be happy because you do great work. Yes, shoot straight.

Bill: 5:39

I think as an industry, we're scared that we're going to lose jobs as Subs or as contractors because we won't say, hey, I can't get there for three weeks, or Let me see what I can do. I know promises. Let me you know I'll be there, might. My goal would be there to be in two weeks. I'll keep you posted every day. Shoot straight. Something goes sideways. Let them know. And let them know you're going to fix it and how you're going to fix them. Shoot straight.

Bill: 6:07

The third thing I would say is Over communicate now. There's all kinds of software programs now that allow you to send pictures and texts and emails. It's a good practice anyway, so that all the legalities are taken care of, because a lot of these jobs and building are big jobs, a lot of money. So you want to use all those programs. But make sure you stay in touch. Make sure you go buy and visit Everyone. If you're the owner of the company, you need to go buy and talk to the clients every once in a while, even though you may not be the one having you make calls. Text, let people know what's going on. Over communicate now. You know sometimes things happen to get out of control. They just do it's okay. Shoot straight Over communicate.

Bill: 6:56

Do the best that you can to do what you say you're gonna do. When you say you're gonna do it, overestimate some of your time so that it'll work out, because, let's face it, in every job things go wrong. In a Building contract, you're in a short term, essentially marriage with these people because they have, they have input and you have input. The fourth thing I would say is most of you will do some sort of change orders. You've got to be super clear on how much money that adds and how much time that adds. You need to stop the job and get them to sign the deal so that you're communicating, you're shooting straight Everything, because I've we've seen everybody gets to the end of a job and they're like, oh, I didn't know it was gonna be this much. So that's my thing do what you say you're gonna do. When you say you're gonna do it, shoot straight Over. Communicate. Make sure, when there changes, that everybody's on the same page, that everybody knows how much we're gonna get paid and how much more Time is gonna add to the job. Otherwise, you're going to disappoint your clients. You're not gonna be giving them great customer service. I hope this was useful for you in the building and the trades and everywhere else, and until next time all the best.

Bill: 8:14

Thanks for joining us for this week's episode of epic entrepreneurs. Here's four things you can do. First, you can listen every week on biz radio, mondays at one Second. You can subscribe to the podcast. Hey, you get it. The more subscribers we have, the more cool things we can offer you. Three you can also go out and give us a five star rating everywhere. And number four If you'd like a free copy of my book, the coach approach five principles to build an epic business, just go to gift from bill calm. It's your roadmap to building your epic business. That's gift from bill calm. Until next time, all the best.