I’m getting depressed hearing people saying how much work they’ve got. The past month I have – 1) advertised in a phone book 2) advertised in newspaper (basically a copy of my business card) 3) left my card at 4 building supply stores, 3 real estate offices, and 2 offices of the big contractors in Maine. Result – 1 job. Not even getting tire kickers. What am I doing wrong? Wife says I need patientence. I’m not real worried, this isn’t how I pay the bills (have small cleaning business), but I’m already frustrated. I’m trying to specialize in doing small repair work (read -but don’t say – “handyman”) and working on older homes that contractors don’t want to deal with. I’ve seen many contractors that “remodel” by completely gutting everything, it’s almost like new construction. I think many would like work done w/o disturbing the whole house. Anyway, any ideas how to reach my potential customers? If it helps, I live in a small , mostly rural area in western Maine. As always, thanks for any advice. You guys are the best!
Discussion Forum
Discussion Forum
Up Next
Video Shorts
Featured Story
This compact detatched accessory dwelling has an efficient layout with a vaulted ceiling that enhances the sense of space.
Highlights
"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.
Replies
I don't want to make you more depressed, but I am swamped. It's taken me over 30 years working in the same general area to develop my reputation. All the work is referral or repeat. Believe me, there was more than a lull in work for quite a while. Do you have a senior center in your town. Take your references and introduce yourself. Building a satisfied customer base is worth its weight in gold.
And, don't sneeze at a full gut. Many's the time it's the only smart way to go. Best of luck.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
Quittin' Time
Your wife is right. Keep making contacts, do the work well and you will soon be turning away work. Keep working the contractor angle. We are constantly asked to refer someone for small jobs and are always on the lookout for someone who is hardworking and honest(Those usually go together).
A friend of mine just went into business doing home repair. He gets most of his work over the bar of the local Elk's club.
You probably wont be Swamped like the rest of us until you've been at it a while. Every one goes through a transition period at first. Good luck
Your wife is right, have patience.
It has been a wierd year or more in our area. I have gone from being extremely light on work, to comfortable, to swamped in about 6 weeks. Not just immediate work but into fall and early winter. The plumber I use is moderately light right now, the electrician I use has not been this slow since he started 12 years ago. I am finishing a cabinet install on a new house and the builder said he has work lined up, but leads have really dropped off, from the pace they were. Another remodeler is putting people off until spring. I don't know what the deal is............phases of the moon or something.
What type of repair work are you seeking? Plumbers knock holes in walls to get at pipes. Carpet people sometimes need doors cut off. Electricians sometimes need walls opened up to fish wires. Plumbers and carpet people need rotten floors around toilets repaired. Curtain companies will sometimes be looking for installers. Cabinet shops look for small job installers. These are leads you get from tradespeople, not the homeowner.
What about asking your cleaning company clients? Or if you are cleaning for them and see something that needs to be taken care of, point out to them what needs to be done, and that you can do it.
Good Luck, and keep smiling.
Have you tried sending a press release to the local newspapers? When I first started in this business (I am a handyman, and I say it proudly) I did just that.
I live in a fairly small town (pop about 12000), with a newspaper that runs twice a week. They do a bit of "hard news", but mostly its school, church, and local business news. They are usually looking for stories.
So, when I sent a press release announcing the startup of my business, they sent both a reporter and a photographer. About a week later, the story ran on the front page of the business section (which is also the "feature" section, and the classified section).
They made me seem like a Jewish carpenter who was recently resurrected, and that I was now available with a simple phone call.
For the most part, I've been busy since. Sure, there's dry times. And for you, maybe that's when you concentrate more on the cleaning business.
Unless you're the lead dog, the view just never changes.
I recently relocated 350 miles from my comfort base..getting new work was not too hard..here's what I did. I contacted my Insurance agent ( homeowners that is) and asked about the "do not call" contractors..you know the ones that make the rest of us look bad..and, if they had any leads..
got some small stuff from them, then, they had a community get together..I was invited. Went armed with cards, and now a foot in the door..the insurance folks born and raised here know everybody..
fortunatly the small stuff I did was for a oneroom schoolhouse restoration..just for field trips for kids..it also made the local paper..and many came out for the dedication..I also am re-roofing the agents house as we speak..so MANY folks in town are getting an earfull of my work, and my persona..best advertising there is.
I'd say hang in there, look for community gatherings, and befriend some people "in the know"..it works.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations.
You are right, there is a market for the kind of work yuou offer, you just haven't found the bunghole to tap into it yet.
I have found real estate agents a good market for a new business but irregular. You have to do more than leave your card with them. Keep on making regular comtact toi sell your sevices. offer to view propertiews and make suggestions how you can improve curb appeal.
Check in with the local lumber yard occasionally. Here in the midcoat area, there are always people looking for handyman sevice, especially this time of year. Maybe you have less seasonal traffic.
.Keep your head up and your butt behind you.
Welcome to the
Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime.
where ...
Excellence is its own reward!
I can feel for you. I've started out twice. The first time and once after being called back to active duty for a year. Here is something that always works for me.
Find something that will keep you busy two or three days a week. Maybe apt. Miant. or some type of subcontract installs. For me it's stair and stair rail installs. In my area few people know how to do both so the work is available. Might be something different near you. Anyway, now you have a few bucks coming in. The biggest thing about having a few bucks coming in is it makes you feel better. When you feel better customers are more at ease with you. Also, it makes you less desparate and less likely to jump at something you shouldn't. Plus the more your out there the more people you meet who might feed you work.
Now make a plan for the rest of the days. Maybe something like " this week I will talk to two designers, Show my portfolio to three homeowners, and contact three realestate agents" Treat every day like it's a work day. Up, out of bed and in the truck at the same time. Don't be pushy but keep at it.
People will see you working and selling and soon the leads will roll in.
Oh yeah, take lots of pictures of everything you do.
Just keep on plugging.
I went out on my own 14 months ago. I hit my first real "wall" in early March and was here asking the same questions. Best advice I can give you is to just keep at it. If I don't have any work, I don't treat it like a day off. I don't sleep in, I don't play video games all day or watch 4 hours of Sportscenter. I get up and head upstairs to my office. I used the time to thoroughly read through my insurance policies and understand them. I read "Markup and Profit" cover to cover. Although it was only March, I got my first three months of the year worth of tax information organized and ready, just one less thing to do in the future. I clean the truck, clean the trailer, fix busted up tools.
One other very important thing I can share is to, at least in the beginning, look at every job that the phone rings for. I had someone call me about a "loose tile" in their bathroom. My first reaction was to pass or not even return the call. I didn't have anything else going on, so I figure what have I got to lose? Turns out the tile was loose from water leaking behind the shower wall. Bathroom ended up being a full gut and remodel and then rolled immediately into a kitchen remodel. You just never know.
By the time I got finished with that kitchen remodel, the "spring" work began to pop. I've been as busy as I'd ever hoped to be since. I'm now booking into September. Not miraculous (I know guys booking next spring already), but not bad considering where I was a few months ago.
I also got re-aquainted with two architects I did alot of framing for at my last job. At first they would just send me small kitchen or bath remodels involving the existing footprint of the house. They liked my work. In May they send me two sets of plans for proposals. In June four sets. It's July 9th and I've already received two sets to look at this month including one of the architect's own homes. They work they've sent me has gotten more and more desireable.
I also got friendly with the "competition". I had an aquaintence (we went to the same gym) who was a partial owner of a long established remodeling co. (He was one of the sons in a co. consisting of this guy, his brother, his father, and four employees) They were slammed at the time so I told them to keep me in mind for overflow work or to handle the framing on some of their additions. The first job they sent me was 4X13 pressure treated deck on the back of a condo. Not very exciting. I gave them a very fair price, but still made wages, small profit, and covered overhead. I gave them the very best pressure treated deck I could possibly offer. They've sent me to four jobs since then. All decks, but the most recent one was a $15,000 Geodeck with lots of cuts and PVC trim work. It's a nice job and quite profitable. They now trust me with their most finicky customers. It's a good feeling.
Just keep working. If you feel like you don't have anything to do, go to a dedicated "office" space and sit there quietly and think, "what else could I possibly be doing to further my business". Something will come to you....then take action.
If you do the footwork, work hard, and stay honest, I am confident it will happen for you. It's a wonderful feeling to have the work coming in steadily and know that it is a direct result of the efforts you made during the slow times.
That first real slow period I experienced also taught me an invaluble lesson. I learned that I need to plan for these slow times accordingly. Both financially and mentally.
Keep at it, and good luck.
thanks for the info & encouragement. I am working a little today, just helping an older friend by putting down those "stick down" tiles & replacing a sink. I also have a deck to help out with next week & then going down to Mass. for 2 weeks to work for my brother in law doing cedar shingles. I guess I really want to see some response to my advertising, but work is work no matter who it comes from. Once again, thanks a ton for your encouragement & I'll keep plugging along.
lots of good suggestions, if you should really get desparate, you could remove part of your roof, then you would be guaranteed to become tremendously busy...
<G> - best wishes and good luck from one self employed to another
"there's enough for everyone"
I had gotten (in my early days many many many moons ago) work by stuffing mailboxes with my rap and my logo.
I actually hired my A/C guy which was a $10,000 job for him cause he left me a flyer in my mailbox.
We talked and I felt real comfortable with him. Theyre doing a fantastic job by the way.Will be here this Sat at 7:AM to finish it.
they over did things for me to please me like adding 2 -4 ton units
instead of 2 3 1/2 ton units...added 7 extra registers....some (3)in the area above my shop cause I mentioned how nice that'd be.
So far I've recommended him to three definates that are my clients and my electrician.
Theyre all waiting to see how my job comes out.
You land one right customer like me and you may have more work than you want.
Be.... patient and creative and network network network (not that I ever have <snicker> but its really worked for my wife in RE and many others).
My work comes because I'm different...and lots of people want me because of that.
andy
The secret of Zen in two words is, "Not always so"!
http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
I actually had my best responses specifying "Handy Man" in big letters on my first ads. I hated it, but it worked...and it doesn't intimidate people like my "licensed construction supervisor, engineer in training, furniture designer/builder, electrician, plumber, computer network and appliance repair, painting, tiling, fine finish carpentry and more!" ads might have. It's a GREAT way to get your foot in the door, for instance, I did a simple 250 dollar barnwood and glass shelf unit for a guy and the next year, I was doing a 50,000 dollar 2nd floor addition for him. This has happened many times over, a window replacement turns into a deck or structural damage is discovered...Be knowledgeable and honest, and clean up after yourself. If you do alot of small jobs for 6 months or a year, and do them well, there are so many, MANY people passing your name you may find that you don't even need to advertise anymore unless you want to hire a secretary, an accountant, and employees. I grabbed one employee, raised my rates, stopped advertising, and say "no" alot now. Good Luck!
make up a portfolio ...
and ... a brief flyer that describes you and the work you do ...
a resume with pics ...
now ... go thru the sunday want ads ... and call each and every "carpenter" ad ... and ask if when they'd like to "interview" you to be their go-to sub for smaller pick up work ....
Just assume they really don't want to hire another employee ... assume they're looking to find you ...
one outta 10 ... or 20 ... or maybe 100 will think ... then agree with you.
But hey ... that's one more, right?
I'm pretty busy myself ... but I do just that ...
of course ... being busy ... I prequalify the ads ... and only call those that I think may be looking for a sub ... and doing the kinda work I want ...
the odds are against me ... and the results show that ... but ...
when that one guy says ... Sure ... come on in and lets talk about it ...
the small amount of time invested is well worth it.
I avoid handyman work ...
You live close?
I'd be glad to sub out a good handyman ...
Jeff
Buck Construction, llc Pittsburgh,PA
Artistry in Carpentry
I'll second what Jeff's saying. My business is new (recently relocated) and not busy enough yet with homeowners, but I pick up work from established contractors by calling them and asking for it. Those guys love picking up a few weeks of help from a journeyman mercenary carpenter... especially when their own guys are burnt out on a long job, having a personal crisis, or they have a particularly tough client that no one will go back to... but me. Call them up, be persistent, and work at it until you have three of those guys calling you when they need something done. Show up promptly, well equipped and ready to go, and you'll become A-list pretty quick. There hasn't been a year in the last 20 where I haven't subbed some work. Lots of contractors with crews have one or two A+ guys and the rest have attitudes, issues, and bad habits. You can be a breath of fresh air to a contractor like that.
Jeff's right, a portfolio with nice pics does wonders to impress potential customers.
But one thing no one has mentioned is that the type of community you're in can matter a great deal. Now I've never been to Maine, but heard great things about its geographic splendor. But I've also heard the folks there are not what one would call friendly or outgoing, and in general, are not trustful of outsiders.
This could be a big part of the battle. I think the only remedy would be to socialize as much as you can and figure out what they need done as opposed to what you'd prefer to do.
Have faith! As the good book says, those who work diligently will stand before kings.
Sorry Jeff, but I think a commute from Me. to Pa. would be a little hard. Appreciate all the advice. Looks like I've got to be the more sociable type & convince people they want me. Think I'll start taking the camera w/ me too. Just wish I could at least get a "tire kicker" response to my ads, seems like they've been a waste of money.
I've recently been informed that, in this business, there isn't any such thing as a "waste of money".....only tuition payments.....lots and lots of tuition payments.
Thanks for the reminder, I saw that comment too. I didn't go to college when I was younger, guess I'm paying now.
"Looks like I've got to be the more sociable type & convince people they want me. "
That pretty much covers it all.
for subbing to getting new leads ....
it's been said here once or twice before ....
sales ... it's all about sales.
Life is about sales .... getting the leads ... landing the client ... getting your price.
sociable .. then convince them.
sounds about right to me ...
ever call the Dr's office at the last minute to convince them they "can" fit ya in at the last minute for that sore throat?
sales ...
JeffBuck Construction, llc Pittsburgh,PA
Artistry in Carpentry
Western Maine is a funny place. Covers a big area that has lost it's paper mills, shoe shops, farms and the supporting businesses. The economy is just a little tight. Are you from Maine? Are you in Oxford or Franklin county? If you don't have a couple of generations in the local cemetery people may view you with some initial skepticism. The folks in that region are self reliant, resourceful and frugal. The best way to get to know the locals is at the bean suppers. There's one at some Grange hall every Sat. night and the pies alone are worth the few dollars they charge. Keep putting your name out there in the Franklin Journal and other local papers. The local chamber of commerce may be a place worth investigating. They often put out pamphlets that may reach some of the summer people. Farmington fair is coming later, August 17-25. Some local businesses set up booths, make sure you go if you have never been before. People will get used to seeing your name and start thinking about you as a possibility or at least recognizing the name. If you are so inclined, churches and fraternal organizations are good ways to meet folks. As far as any business sending you referrals such as building suppliers or real estate offices, forget about it. The liability issues for them are too great. There's no shortage of old homes up there that need work. You must be licensed to do plumbing or electrical work. You may have heard of the phenomenal success of one of our local boys down here in the big city. Rent a Husband. He is franchising across the country. There is certainly a need to get just simple chores done. I may have some specific ideas depending on where you are. Good luck.
Nice meeting you Hammer. I live in good ol' Strong, Maine. Have my ad in the Franklin Journal under directory of home services (Classic Renovation & Repair). If you see it, let me know how to improve it. Also have ad in Franklin County Big Book under Home Improvements. Lived in Franklin County since about '88, was almost 14, so I am from "away". Have good relationship w/ the local yard (Dexters) & they have no problem w/ leaving my card on display & giving out my name. Love to hear any info on how to better market this area. Won't be able to check this site until next week; working in Mass., they throw around alot of money down that way. Look forward to your suggestions.
Jeff, Just starting out myself, I advertise in the yellow pages, and newspaper. But were I get most of my work from is my business card being posted on bulletin boards in the local bars, dinners and c-stores. My card says handyman but most my work is carpentry, so don't be afraid of the handyman stigma.
Cody
Like Schellingm said in his post, takes time to build up a rep and a client base. Eventually word of mouth will get you more work than you need. But it takes time. Hand out cards to friends and maybe (others may have better advice on this) put cards or notices up on bulletin boards around town--like ask at restaurants if you can do it. Don't know from any experience if this helps and you may not get the best customers, but...it'd be a start.