How do you find your work?

Discussion in 'Builders' Talk' started by C Windsor General Builder, Sep 22, 2014.

  1. Just wondering how most people find their work whether its word of mouth, long term customers, advertising in the local paper people getting the number off the side of the van etc and what seems to be the most effective form of advertising
     
  2. plumberboy

    plumberboy Well-Known Member

    Word of mouth most of the time for me and having an old customer base helps,I don't have my van sign written.
    Playing golf is a good way to pick up work apparently according to my friends,but I can't hit a golf ball straight so it's no good for me.:(
     
  3. tom.plum

    tom.plum Screwfix Select

    I agree, its mostly word of mouth for me, any form of adverts is buying work, I work to make MY living, not some desk jockey, advertizers ring all the time wanting me to pay them to to promote my business, i say " ok give me a month free and if it works I'll pay you a percentage, " they won't give you the steam off their wee, they're money making leeches with no real job skills like us tradesmen, I work for a reasonable price,do a good job and come back and sort out any problems, so the customers pass on my name and i do the same for all and it works, course there's one or two arzsoles who push the limits but you'll get them anyway,o_O
     
  4. plumberboy

    plumberboy Well-Known Member

    Your right Tom there's always a few a...holes in the mix just to test us to the limits.:mad: But on the upside I find most customers pretty fair,but you can always sense which ones are going to be awkward before you even start I find,I always aim high with the quote with them.:)
     
  5. joiner1959

    joiner1959 Active Member

    Like others mostly word of mouth and a good customer base. Also other trades I work with passing on details.
    I count myself very lucky that I haven't advertised for years and don't need to go looking for work.
     
  6. chippie244

    chippie244 Super Member

    When I lived in London where no one talks to each other I used to advertise a lot and got a lot of work off it, now I live out in the sticks I don't bother.
     
  7. Bit more on the advertising front still getting most of my work through word of mouth (going down the pub ;) ) but got some business cards from vista-print the other day the ones they advertise on telly (the cheapest ones) didn't expect to get much quality for the money spent but i've got to admit there really good and they arrived about a week earlier than they said they would well chuffed :)
     
  8. R.W_Carpentry

    R.W_Carpentry Active Member

    Mainly word of mouth also, I've got a website, facebook page, twitter etc and occasionally get interest via those, especially facebook. I also got some signwriting for the van in the summer, it cost around £300 and you put it on yourself, but it looks really good, I've had about 6 or so jobs off of that so it's paid for itself.
     
  9. Yeah ive got a facebook page but theres not a lot on it as i forget to put the camera back in the van so i cant take many pictures of my work so i havent bothered promoting it too much
     
  10. malkie129

    malkie129 Screwfix Select

    I'm a retired engineer, so don't know too much about the building game, but I must admit that I have found all of the people that I have used, have been by "word of mouth". Most of them, I would not hesitate to recommend to others.
     
  11. Paul Sandford

    Paul Sandford New Member

    I've just started up doing handy-man jobs around my village and was thinking of getting some cheap business cards printed to leave around the village, eg on the counter of the local chippy etc :) Hopefully word of mouth will get me most of my business in the years to come.
     
  12. sospan

    sospan Screwfix Select

    Often it is neighbours from the current job. Often they come up out of curiosity / being nosy and start a conversation about something random or "you seem to have a big job ......" and then the keeping up with joneses kicks in and they go "we have been thinking of something similar to that ....." and then your in.
     
  13. razibpaul126

    razibpaul126 New Member

  14. Paul Sandford

    Paul Sandford New Member

    I didn't think of that. Perhaps I should leave some cards behind when I do a job so they can pass them around. I need to get some printed 1st ! lol
     
  15. Paul Sandford

    Paul Sandford New Member

    Have any of you had any plastic business cards printed rather than the normal card ones? I want some that will not get dog eared or damaged when they get wet. I found these interesting looking clear business cards http://www.cpcards.co.uk/transparent-business-cards/ any thoughts?
     
  16. Mr Rusty

    Mr Rusty Screwfix Select

    Cost a bit more, but get magnetic business cards - about £50/500 to give to anyone who expresses any interest. They're really good for tradesmen because people can stick them on their boilers, fridges etc. Most people don't need a job doing there and then, and it's a great way of keeping your name in the frame for a long time. Our heating engineer's mag card has been on our boiler for years.

    Don't forget to include a little message "Stick me up - I'm Magnetic" or similar, or people won't realise!
     
  17. sospan

    sospan Screwfix Select

    The other thing is if you are working at a house and have to park on the road, knock on the neighbours and mention you will be parking there and if your vehicle is in the way to let you know. This is a great ice breaker and they will think of you are a considerate tradesman. The other thing that works like gold, is if you need a skip and unlikely to fill it .... knock on the neighbours to see if they have anything they want to put in, some are there like a shot.
     
    FatHands likes this.
  18. Paul Otter

    Paul Otter Active Member

    I specialise in small carpentry jobs - the ones most other people can not be bothered with so I can charge a bit more, I never charge a day rate, always a quote and I am big on explaining that a quote is a quote and not an estimate, the only thing I will charge extra for is car parking as it can be up to £30.00 a day round here but as yet I never have.

    The downsides of doing small jobs like hanging a front door or making a bookcase are you have to be very organised - this does not come natural to me and you need 3 to 5 customers a week, that's over 200 a year so you have to be out there getting your name about.

    I have found the best and cheapest ways are;

    DL flyer, as opposed to a business card, a business card can be lost in a wallet, a smart flyer on good quality paper with photos will probably be kept. About £100.00 for 1000 from Vista Print. I also do the street with them on any job.

    Website, If you do it yourself about £15.00 a month plus £20 - £30 for optimisation.

    Facebook page, free and linked to website

    Facebook advertising, I pay £100.00 a month and it hits around 20 000 Facebook pages in the area I want at the age range I want, usually brings in 10 -15 times the advert cost. I only do this as and when required.

    Twitter, free, linked to website and Facebook and boost's Googles ranking. You can tailor you tweets to local events.

    Google mapping, free

    Local free magazine delivered by the Post Office £45.00

    Van signs

    Rugby shirts with logo and details

    My builder.com, works for me and you only pay for the work you quote - any extra and additional work is a free bonus.

    Word of mouth, do a good job the customer will tell 5 people, a bad one they tell 9.

    I know this can be north of £200.00 for a month but it is only £10.00 a working day which I easily cover in my quotes and with buoyant enquiries you can pick and chose the work.

    Above all, be polite and personable, know your trade, quote same or next day, take your shoes off when you go in the house, you are basically selling yourself so read up a bit on selling its really all about smiling and getting the customer to say yes.
     
    FatHands and GoodwithWood like this.
  19. sospan

    sospan Screwfix Select

    Always find that is the best way. I got some abuse on here saying I would charge about £100 - £150 for fitting some worktops but quite often these little jobs lead to a lot more work down the line especially if you are helping somebody out who is in a fix at the time.
     
  20. Paul Otter

    Paul Otter Active Member

    Yes, its nice to be nice but at the same time I have no problem charging premium rates as long as the customer has accepted a written quotation and my terms and conditions (no one is forcing them) . I completed a four year apprenticeship, stayed on at college for another three years and have 30 years experience . Not saying I could charge it but last time I used a solicitor I paid £365.00 an hour and there are a lot more lawyers around here than there are chippies who want to do small works.
     

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