Starting a construction company.
Discussion
I have been in the building trade for nearly 20 years and specialise in paving and landscaping, its earn me a decent living but its hard old work and id like to do more, not only for money but because i enjoy building things.
I have worked for other builders and have turned my hand to many various jobs, not just bodged but often done better than some other builders i know because i actually take pride in my work. Some jobs at home i would rather research and do myself, I've done everything from wet rooms to rendered curved brick walls to plumbing to dry lining.
I know all the trades, some really really good sub contractors, i will say some are always busy though so using them may be tough.
Its become apparent to me as well that a lot of it is bloody easy, structural engineers tell you what to do, building control tells you what to do......
I know several 'builders' who are simply winging it, they have zero skill and almost zero knowledge. how are they getting the work? Some of them i wouldn't have them build me a step let alone a house!
Is it as easy as just putting adverts out there and hoping for the best? using subbies for stuff i don't do. I suppose its a confidence thing, with the paving i reckon there isn't a question i could be asked which would make me stumble however with.
i recently wanted a steel done with goalposts i couldn't get anyone to do it? eventually my mate did it and it was a piece of piss, the way i have envisioned doing it was 90% there, id confidently be able to do that myself now. it seems all builders are busy, most are crap and I'm seeing a gap.
How can i do it? how can i trust people to employ someone who is effectively new? low prices initially?
I have worked for other builders and have turned my hand to many various jobs, not just bodged but often done better than some other builders i know because i actually take pride in my work. Some jobs at home i would rather research and do myself, I've done everything from wet rooms to rendered curved brick walls to plumbing to dry lining.
I know all the trades, some really really good sub contractors, i will say some are always busy though so using them may be tough.
Its become apparent to me as well that a lot of it is bloody easy, structural engineers tell you what to do, building control tells you what to do......
I know several 'builders' who are simply winging it, they have zero skill and almost zero knowledge. how are they getting the work? Some of them i wouldn't have them build me a step let alone a house!
Is it as easy as just putting adverts out there and hoping for the best? using subbies for stuff i don't do. I suppose its a confidence thing, with the paving i reckon there isn't a question i could be asked which would make me stumble however with.
i recently wanted a steel done with goalposts i couldn't get anyone to do it? eventually my mate did it and it was a piece of piss, the way i have envisioned doing it was 90% there, id confidently be able to do that myself now. it seems all builders are busy, most are crap and I'm seeing a gap.
How can i do it? how can i trust people to employ someone who is effectively new? low prices initially?
Low prices; most SMEs go bust through not charging enough. If your USP is price, then there is nowhere but down to go.
If you know other builders are winging it, then there may be people willing to switch - not necessarily pay more, but their reason to move is the inefficiency and disorganisation of the competition.
AFAIK most work is gained through contacts and built-up through trust and, to an extent then, habit. Do you know people upstream in the trade who could pass work or recommend you?
If you know other builders are winging it, then there may be people willing to switch - not necessarily pay more, but their reason to move is the inefficiency and disorganisation of the competition.
AFAIK most work is gained through contacts and built-up through trust and, to an extent then, habit. Do you know people upstream in the trade who could pass work or recommend you?
Successful businesses provide a product or service that customers need, at a price that reflects the quality.
My suggestion as a customer, is don't do what drives me and it seems many others nuts.
I ask a builder to consider a new project, and an appointment is agreed.
Some don't even turn up. I have even had a telephone call from builders earlier on the selected day to revise the appointment time, and then still not turn up.
When a builder has seen the plans, I say "Is this a job that you want to do". Some of them say "Yes certainly", but that is the last heard from them. Why don't they just say, this is not a job that we can do? I do not understand.
I have found good people now though.
So there you are. Be honest, open, communicate fully with your customers, and stick to exactly what you say you will do.
You should do very well.
Customer service type stuff is really good, i always turn up when i say i will or i will call to re arrange, always give the price, stick to the price etc. That said its amazing how many people go with messers....
I may have some people who could pass me some work, i might well speak to them to see if i can get anything.
Im just amazed that some people i know get work and yet they haven't got a clue, zero standards, sending quotes by text, messing people about etc. It does seem theres a real shortage of general builders so it appears they get away with it.
I may have some people who could pass me some work, i might well speak to them to see if i can get anything.
Im just amazed that some people i know get work and yet they haven't got a clue, zero standards, sending quotes by text, messing people about etc. It does seem theres a real shortage of general builders so it appears they get away with it.
I just had an extension done by a joiner who subs out the other trades as needed.
I took a gamble on him as his price didn't take the piss. This was after sacking off the first chap that started by digging out the foundations incorrectly and couldn't handle even the slightest change in design from the quoted drawings.... even with me saying it'll cost more! He was an idiot and stressed me out no end.
Anyway. The chap I used was great:-
1. Rang me a few times a week with what had been done that day and what was planned a few days hence.
2. Small changes were no problem at all. He even suggested a few things that worked out well.
3. He was on the end of the phone whenever I needed something.
4. He was a very good joiner!
5. He didn't take the piss with pricing extras.
We had a couple of issues along the way but it all worked really well to be honest.
I agree with you that it really isn't rocket science, the actual building stuff, a trained monkey could do a lot of it. If you know how to be decent with folk then you can't go wrong. You'll get most work via word of mouth and a social media presence I reckon. The only thing holding you back will be the volume of suitable work out there for you
You'll not lose anything by having a go.
I took a gamble on him as his price didn't take the piss. This was after sacking off the first chap that started by digging out the foundations incorrectly and couldn't handle even the slightest change in design from the quoted drawings.... even with me saying it'll cost more! He was an idiot and stressed me out no end.
Anyway. The chap I used was great:-
1. Rang me a few times a week with what had been done that day and what was planned a few days hence.
2. Small changes were no problem at all. He even suggested a few things that worked out well.
3. He was on the end of the phone whenever I needed something.
4. He was a very good joiner!
5. He didn't take the piss with pricing extras.
We had a couple of issues along the way but it all worked really well to be honest.
I agree with you that it really isn't rocket science, the actual building stuff, a trained monkey could do a lot of it. If you know how to be decent with folk then you can't go wrong. You'll get most work via word of mouth and a social media presence I reckon. The only thing holding you back will be the volume of suitable work out there for you
You'll not lose anything by having a go.
Go for it. One or two decent jobs and the rest will come easy. You need a good reliable sparks and plumber. Many jobbing brickies are rubbish as are spreads. If you are hard working, honest and communicate a lot, then you'll get repeat work.
Don't get a sexy shiny Navarro. Battered pickup always says to me good honest guy not interested in image.
This could all be bs tho as my sparks has 2 new black transits.
Biggest thing is to understand a business, cash flow and get contracts correct. I'm guessing today you are a tradesman. You now need to run a business.
Apols if you know all this or I've called it wrong. If you do good honest work then you'll get loads of customers.
This is Bucks and getting a decent builder or any builder is a mare.
Mike
Don't get a sexy shiny Navarro. Battered pickup always says to me good honest guy not interested in image.
This could all be bs tho as my sparks has 2 new black transits.
Biggest thing is to understand a business, cash flow and get contracts correct. I'm guessing today you are a tradesman. You now need to run a business.
Apols if you know all this or I've called it wrong. If you do good honest work then you'll get loads of customers.
This is Bucks and getting a decent builder or any builder is a mare.
Mike
CoolHands said:
do loft conversions and kitchen extensions and that will be enough to keep you going for a lifetime I reckon.
And get a big discount with a bi-fold door supplier.........Feels like OP wants more of a challenge but agree "there's money in them there ( loft conversion) hills."
Mike
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