Contractor, if YOU do not value YOUR time, no one else will. 

Contractors must value their time. Contractors must set a precedence so that the customer will value their time. A customer will waste a contractor's time without thinking twice about it. Some of them don't care, but many of them don't understand. You must understand the real costs that go into all of your services, including things that you think are good marketing items such as offering FREE estimates. 

How often does a contractor write an estimate only to have a customer use the detailed scope and cost to hire someone cheaper? 

We will discuss creative ways that contractors are being clear and consistent with their client intake, onboarding, and sales processes. At a minimum, contractors need to understand their costs in offering FREE estimates. When a contractor provides an estimate they have actual costs in providing this service, items such as travel, fuel, time, and resources spent. With limited time to spend, the contractor should also understand the drain on opportunity costs. What could a contractor have spent that same time doing if they weren't wasting time on a bad lead? 

How much additional work and revenue could you add to your load if you reduced the amount of time wasted on the wrong "customers"?

This is PART 2 of a conversation that we started on The DYOJO Podcast Episode 90. The listener will hear from more peers in the construction industry as well as a deeper dive (as promised) into the implementation of the Letter of Intent (LOI). We will also share a portion of a slideshow presentation on the cost of wasted time and the potential gains of more intentionally applying that time to productive activities for your company. Reduce the time that you spend with tire kickers so that you can grow your business with people who actually have a scope of work in mind and a realistic budget that they are willing to work with. 

When the contractor is the only one with "skin in the game" they often are the ones left "holding the bag"; it's time to do better. 

In this episode: 

0:00 What is a contractor's time worth?

1:50 Recap of TDP 90 - The MYTH of FREE Estimates

3:20 The consultation or staged approach 

6:30 Our sponsors

8:20 Testing the LOI with Restoration Rundown 

13:00 Assignment of Benefits with Dave Mason & Ed Cross 

17:24 A breakdown of the costs of wasted time 

Thursdays are for The DYOJO Podcast - helping contractors shorten their DANG learning curve for personal and professional development.      

Thank You To Our Sponsors:     

The Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) is a professional certification and standard-development non-profit organization for the inspection, cleaning, and restoration industries.       

Advocate Claim Service was founded to provide policyholders, brokers, and attorneys with a dedicated claim professional to develop a comprehensive claim presentation strategy. Read David Princeton's column, Dear David, in C&R Magazine.       

Author Jon Isaacson, The Intentional Restorer, shares his two decades of professional experience to help anyone involved with, or interested in, the art of estimating to shorten their DANG learning curve for improvement. How To Suck Less At Estimating: Habits For Better Project Outcomes.