Building Contractor

[momon121]

Hi

This is a post on behalf of my friend.

He is in the process of setting up a Building Contracting job with couple of builders that he has working with him.

Please could kindly suggest best ways to advertise for their services.

Any suggestions welcomed, and thank you very much for reading.

Kind Regards

 

[AllUpHere]

I'm not sure I really understand the question.

What exactly do you mean by ' setting up a building contracting job'?

 

[momon121]

My friend will seek the job and then subcontract it to the builders. The builders don't speak much English but they are very good in what they do, whilst on the other hand my friend is very good in organising and networking. It's a totally new field for him so he is looking for some advice from people who have knowledge and experience.

 

[momon121]

Basically my friend who is very good in networking and managing has teamed with couple of good builders who only speak little English. My friends role is to seek jobs and then sub contracts them to the builders.

This is a totally new field for him and he'd like some professional knowledge where he can promote his new services.

Kind regards

 

[Newchodge]

He should start by reading the CIS section of the Gov.UK website here, https://www.gov.uk/what-is-the-construction-industry-scheme

 

[TotalWebSolutions]

Correct me if I am wrong but couldn't this be seen as misleading the client? If they are dealing with someone who presumably speaks very good English and is arranging the job then when passed to the builders the communication with them could fall down. Who does the client then communicate with if they want to make changes or they feel the builders aren't following plans?

We once had a dispute with a neighbour's builders not following plans correctly. The builders didn't speak much English at all and made this point when I was trying to explain to them (pointing at the plans and pointing at the work they had carried out, to point out the obvious differences).

I think if your friend gains the confidence of the client in the first instance but then the client isn't able to communicate properly with the builders it could fall back on your friend to sort. The question is, would they expect to and be prepared to deal with this?

 

[momon121]

Totalwebsolution you've raised a very valid point. I've spoken to my friend regarding the potential dispute and this is what he has explained.
During a potential job viewing the main builder thats speaks decent English will be accompanying my friend all the time so any questions and clarifications can be asked to the builder direct. He then in return will delegate to his own workers.

 

[fisicx]

The best way to advertise his services is to pay for advertising. Newspapers, adwords, signs on vans, local radio and so on.

But as others have said, Your friend is the prime contractor, he is the one the customer will come gunning for when the builders get it wrong or bodge it up.

 

[TotalWebSolutions]

Totalwebsolution you've raised a very valid point. I've spoken to my friend regarding the potential dispute and this is what he has explained.
During a potential job viewing the main builder thats speaks decent English will be accompanying my friend all the time so any questions and clarifications can be asked to the builder direct. He then in return will delegate to his own workers.

What about after the viewing, when the work commences? Most clients will need a good English speaking builder they can approach with any concerns throughout. I personally think being a middle-man in this instance would prove problematic for your friend but I wish them the best of luck.

 

[john1989]

A few years ago my dad contracted a builder in what turned out to be an identical situation to the above.


One of the foreigners was using a wrong tool which caused a crack all the way up the side of the house. After much to and froing, the builder agreed to put the job right.


All well and good … until another invoice popped through the door for rectification work.


Ended up taking my dad to court. Of course he lost, and my dad was awarded costs.

 

[momon121]

John1989 how did you're father go about advertising about his business. Fortunately my friend informs me that builder has over 20 years experience in the building trade and is quite thorough in his approach.

My friends passes his appreciation regarding everyone's input. He now plans to eliminate as much issues as possible. John1989 anymore advice.

 

[Designanddetail]

All sounds ok, basically your friend is going to act as a 'main contractor'. He will tender for jobs, win them and then subcontract the actual 'work' aspect. As long as he keep on top of the projects and acts like a project manager then I see no problems. If he is approachable, then the customers can use him as a point of contact for and concerns.

This is just a small scale of what happened with large building sites, you will see the likes of Millers or Willmott Dixon building new schools etc, but inside they will just be providing the office people and managers. All of the 'donkey work' will be carried out by sub-contractors.

As for advertising, Facebook is good. People like to see examples and if they see other recommending your service. Good luck.

 

[dmckellar]

this has disaster written all over it to be honest

 

[momon121]

DCMKELLAR please kindly elaborate what kind of disasters can happen?

Designandretail this is exactly what he intends to do win jobs and subcontract the work and he stays on top of all project. He also explains that they will not take jobs that they could not manage and every job taken will be completed to customers satisfactory before moving to another job

 

[TotalWebSolutions]

@momon121 would it not be simpler for your friend to join UKBF and explain directly?

 

[momon121]

Passed on the message for him to join thanks for all the input

 

[estwig]

this has disaster written all over it to be honest

You're not wrong, it's bordering on farcical!

 

[ethical PR]

I don't know anything about the building trade, but have employed quite a few builders for major development work and smaller jobs.

These are my thoughts.

Your friend is going to struggle if he doesn't have knowledge of the building trade.

How is he going to price jobs if he doesn't understand what's involved in a project. How will he know how to project manage, schedule, source materials, juggling various projects etc? How is he going to manage cash flow? What is he going to do when something goes wrong?

Does he understand about building control and meeting regulations?

Does he have the right insurance in place?

How is he going to remain competitive if he needs to add his costs on top?

If the builders don't speak good English unless he shares their language how is he going to act as a conduit between the client and the builders if something goes wrong.

If I have builders in my home I want to know that I can communicate with them if I have a query, something goes wrong, they don't turn up or turn up late. I don't want to have to keep going through a third party to communicate with them. That together with a well optimised website with a strong portfolio and client recommendations should be al

Edit

Sorry I have just seen that you say one of the builders speaks good English and they will accompany your friend out on site visits....if this is the case and they are experienced builders, providing quality work with a twenty year track record, then I can't see why the builders need your friend.

Most of their work should be coming through word of mouth recommendations, advertising at sites they are working on and repeat business. That together with a well optimised website with a strong portfolio and client recommendations should be all that they need.

 

[momon121]

Hi,

My name is Abs my friend kindly posted on my behalf. Many thanks and apologies if the information came in dribs and drab.

I personally do not have any experience in the building trade however I do have good knowledge of the prices of material and what people charge for their services in my locality.

I am very good in promoting and finding new leads. The deal between me and the builder is that if I get new leads that translates into a successfull contract I make a nice commission. My part of the role would be log his work, take pictures and set up a website and social media platform.

I understand that one of the comments is that why have me around if one of the builders can speak English. That is correct however any works he gets he arranges everything but when he doesn't always get the chance to look for jobs and he isn't that known in the town he resides in.

This will not be my full time role it will be done on a part time basis and any enquiries that I get through Facebook and referrals from friends and families I'll be making a commission. I will not interfere and customers will have direct access to the builders. I also on the other hand will be working very closely with a very experienced architect who is very professional and knowledgeable who will help me familiriase with building regulation

 

[fisicx]

I personally do not have any experience in the building trade...

This will not be my full time role it will be done on a part time basis...

It's not going to work because of these two things.

Clients will want someone they can talk to daily while the work is ongoing. They will want someone who can answer technical questions and sort out the inevitable problems that will occur.

In short, you need to be a project manager which means being on site and looking after the actual build.

And if the job goes wrong it's you they will take to court not the builders.

 

[Mr A P Davies]

So are you going to be pricing jobs?

From what you have said, your basically going to be the marketing department for a gang of builders. Can't see any problem there.

If you have no experience of the building trade, and you intend to price jobs, expect a learning curve, that may cost you a bit. (Or a lot.....)

I'd be inclined to get the architect and builders to work together on a few projects, before to much money is invested. I've seen builders and architects get on well together. Seen them not get on well too.........

 

[Praktica]

Speaking as one who has retired after 40 years in construction (on the client side of the fence) even I wouldn't want to get involved in this. Construction health and safety is a complex business and dealing with workers who haven't come up through the UK culture...? (Believe me the ones who have are bad enough). In two words. Corporate manslaughter.

 

[dmckellar]

DCMKELLAR please kindly elaborate what kind of disasters can happen?

Because these things always sound good on paper, you up sell, then use cheaper labour to keep the price down and you pocket the change, simple.

Its just never that easy, how good is your polish? you could turn up on site, and unless you are 100% sure you know what you are doing/talking about these poles could botch something quickly to cover their time and you would be none the wiser. You could be next to them and they could be talking polish, would you know what they are saying? it would be like de-coding a message.

Within the construction trade its well known that they are partial to cutting corners, the whole "the poles stole our jobs" was a quick fix in construction, theres not so many of them now as theyve been found out. You get the odd good worker but a lot of them are lazy.

Personally, if i was having building work done and a guy in a suit turned up alarm bells would ring, salesman alert.
Then when you come on site to start and everyone is polish, i wouldnt be too impressed personally.

(source: i subcontract to a couple of national house builders)

 

[HFE Signs]

To my knowledge a good builder gets the most of his work through recommendation, as you are joining up with two others, presumably all credible and trustworthy you should have three times the recommendations to get you started? This is generally the reason people merge in the first place? Putting that aside, local advertising in you area, van signs, pavement signs, newspapers, leaflets, banners, local newsletters and so on.. and consider a website with good images of work with accreditations and qualifications

 

[ethical PR]

1. OP and friend you've mentioned generated leads through FB...I wonder how many people here have sourced their builder through FB? You've also mentioned the main builder not having time to go out an price jobs as a reason for him needing you. If he doesn't have time to follow up the leads he has...how is he going to go with you to all the leads you generate?

2. OP's friend - how do you have a good knowledge of prices of building materials and labour - when you have stated you have no experience of the building trade?

I get more confused by the minute with this post

 

[Redd]

I've got to be honest, as someone who does use sub contractors(all Scottish) occasionally this could have many pitfalls, none more so than recommendations, I would recommend the guy is up front from day 1 and explains to customer that his builders are foreign, if he doesn't the customers back will be up straight away and they will start to look for things straight away, this could easily cause disputes, Personally I can't see this working at all unless he's upfront straight off AND a lot cheaper, some folk will buy on price

 

[Redd]

If you are upfront from the off I reckon you have a chance and IF customers believe in you(I presume your some sort of salesman) then you will have an advantage over everyone else in that you Will have the time to go do quotes during day when others are building, SEO is vital, Facebook is ok, radio is pricey, leafleting is pretty poor, trade shows would be the key!