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How to Win Construction Jobs From Local Residents

Starting a construction business and developing a niche market depends on your trade, the skills of tradespeople you employ and the need for construction services in the area to which you intend to market your services. Many construction companies are focusing on local residential jobs for the sake of convenience and establishing a solid business reputation within their own communities. The American Community Survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau in 2005 indicated nearly one-half of construction jobs are for residential work.

Instructions

    • 1

      Define your market. Your market includes jobs within your local neighborhood or a geographic area that spans one to three zip codes. If you have the resources to manage jobs throughout a broader geographic region, identify a specific radius within which you perform construction projects. Aggregators of businesses in fields such as construction, home maintenance, remodeling and other trades create a Web presence for homeowners and other potential customers to easily search their local region for available contractors. Listing your business on these aggregator sites is an easy process. These sites are allow customers to rate your work by writing online testimonials to your expertise. Word of mouth, particularly through social media and networking, reaches many more potential customers.

    • 2

      Promote your construction expertise. When targeting your immediate area, advertise in your homeowners' association newsletter. In addition, while performing work on local residents' homes, post your construction company's sign in the yard so passersby will notice your name and contact information. Your advertising and promotion materials should emphasize your location, proper licensing and knowledge of local building codes, restrictions and other regulations that apply to the immediate area.

    • 3

      Conduct research on upcoming projects in your market. Register with local government agencies for bid opportunities and construct a standard introduction to attach to responses to requests for proposals on projects advertised through public agency websites. Keep abreast of changes to the local housing market. Subscribe to newsletters or notices of planned construction and be prepared to act immediately with an introduction that explains the construction services your company provides. Attend local town hall meetings to learn more about long-range construction and development projects for which you are qualified. Acquaint yourself with public agency purchasers, elected officials and others who are involved in construction, development and zoning issues.

    • 4

      Volunteer for local projects that will help make your construction company's name a household word. Visit neighbors and other local residents to introduce yourself. Engage them in conversations about home projects, additions and specialized trades where they need a professional who understands the area's codes and can work within the local area, which ultimately saves time and money. Hand out freebies such as refrigerator magnets or notepads that describe your skills and trades. Network with area construction firms -- large and small -- for opportunities they had to pass on because of lack of expertise, lack of experience or lack of licensed contractors who are familiar with the area.

    • 5

      Survey homes in your area as an additional marketing strategy. Offer to perform a no-cost survey of possible damage after recent storms in the area or other incidents that caused damage to homes. Talk to homeowners one-on-one or during homeowners' association meetings to discuss the damage you've witnessed. Capitalize on the fact that you are a nearby resident and trusted neighbor, and for those reasons, you are a suitable choice for construction projects within your area. As an incentive, provide free estimates for projects you are qualified to restore or rebuild. If potential customers ask for construction expertise in a field in which you are not licensed, be prepared to recommend another tradesperson who can be helpful. If you refer another qualified professional, when the time comes for that customer to hire a contractor with your expertise, you are most likely to get the job based on previous contact and referrals.

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