Notes for builders: how to run a business without problems

Created with support FORUMHOUSE

Many people are accustomed to believe that a construction business cannot exist without difficulties. They attribute this to enormous competition and limited opportunities for small businesses in our country. - lack of normal lending, tax burden, a large number of regulatory and supervisory bodies. But it is possible to work successfully in this market, and we will consider such an example today.

Pavel Tsolbikov, performer FORUMHOUSE exchanges recently completed my next order - USHP for a house of 145 sq. m. The work went on as usual, the quality and terms were met, the customer is satisfied. So what's the secret to a no-problem business? Let's figure it out!

Briefly about the order

The application came with Exchanges, where among a dozen responses the customer chose Pavel. The reason, according to the client himself, is good responses, examples of work, acceptable cost, detailed estimate. The customer required an insulated Swedish plate of 145 sq. m for a two-story house. The total budget is up to 750 thousand. rubles.

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Pavel's team got down to work and completed the facility on time. At the facility, everything went according to the standard worked out scheme:

digging a pit and backfilling with sand;
drainage and sewerage installation;
alignment of the pillow and installation of the L-blocks in the design position;
installation of the first layer of EPSP insulation;
distribution of pipes for cold and hot water supply;
installation of the second layer of EPS insulation;
laying pipes for underfloor heating and knitting mesh;
acceptance of concrete, surface grouting;
installation of storm water and production of insulated blind area.

The work is done, the calculation is done, the customer is satisfied, and the contractor is sent to the next object.

Where are the orders from?

The main source of orders is FORUMHOUSE Exchange, with which, according to Pavel, 60% of all applications come. The rest of the orders come on the basis of recommendations from previous clients. The overwhelming majority of objects, and this is 90%, are located in the Moscow region. This is due to the high demand for USWB in the capital region. Pavel himself lives in Tver, but he has to work outside his native region - this is probably the only drawback of his work.

Specialization

Pavel is the person who does one thing - USHP, but does it perfectly well. This result is achieved by rejecting versatility and "grabbing" any orders in order to earn money. This provides strategic advantages to stay ahead of the all-rounders.

Firstly, it becomes possible to plan deadlines - one object takes no more than a month. Secondly, the actions of the team are perfected, which increases the quality of work and eliminates unpleasant surprises: for example, they forgot to draw a sewer outlet, but remembered after pouring concrete. Thirdly, a thorough knowledge of materials, which also affects the outcome of the work. Fourthly, the lion's share of potential problems are painfully familiar, foreseen in advance and resolved at the stage of agreement.

For example, Pavel traditionally installs technological drainage without crushed stone - this is about the same in terms of costs, and much longer in terms of service life. The fact is that it is problematic to find clean gravel for drainage, and if you use anyhow, the drainage will quickly stop functioning. Even these arguments when talking with a potential client are sometimes enough so that the client does not look for other performers.

Narrow specialization is a guarantee of high professionalism, which the customer, as they say, can smell a mile away. A potential client does not want problems and when choosing a performer he focuses on his experience and professionalism. Pavel answers without hesitation all the questions of the customer, which he asked or is just about to ask. This is one of the factors that the team is always provided with work.

Why UWB?

The choice fell on UWB due to the fact that the product is relatively new, and the competition in this market is not as high as, for example, in strip foundations. Due to its clear advantages, the product is gaining popularity, the market is expanding, which guarantees long-term work and business expansion. And due to the manufacturability and complexity of the USB, not every contractor undertakes this business.

And the financial side of the issue looks good - the average check for payment for construction services for the manufacture of USP is 350-400 thousand rubles. Even if you take into account the rental of vehicles and apartments for work at remote sites, a team of three people is good at it. Taking into account the constant demand for this type of construction, it is a profitable and profitable business.

How are orders accepted?

Each new order at the first stage is discussed by phone. Then the customer sends the project, and Pavel makes an estimate. Upon reaching a preliminary agreement, the foreman goes to the site and stipulates the details at the place. With the full agreement of the parties, the exact terms are negotiated, an agreement is signed, an advance payment is made.

In the overwhelming majority of cases, the estimate comes out quite accurate and may differ from the final one by 10%. This is also achieved by narrow specialization and knowledge of the market for construction services and materials.

How is the business organized?

Everything here rests on Pavel: he is an engineer by education, and he gained work experience in industrial construction on the construction of nuclear power facilities. It should be assumed that a professional who has worked for 6 years at large objects, organizing a business in private housing construction does not present any problems.

Pavel has been in this market for two years, but there are no problems with personnel - the backbone was initially formed, which is successfully operating to this day. The team consists of three people, including Paul himself. Everyone perfectly knows his job and the distribution of responsibilities in the work process, as such, there is no, except for the organizational load of the foreman.

Transport

Such work naturally presupposes the availability of transport. The movement of the brigade is carried out on a four-meter van, which is packed to the brim with tools. The van is not your own, but a rental one. The car is rented twice for one object. This is very convenient, since the purchase of transport for business needs requires large initial investments - up to 1.5 million rubles.

Transportation takes place as follows: after receiving the order, the team and the tool are delivered to the facility; the car is returned to the owner. Upon completion of work at the facility, the transport is rented again, the team and the tool return home. The cost of renting a car per day from 5 thousand. rubles. Renting a transport for the needs of one object costs from 15 to 25 thousand. rubles - the price tag depends on the distance.

Specialized construction equipment: dump truck, excavator - rented locally. Delivery of material is carried out at the expense of the customer or by his forces, but the purchase is carried out directly by the foreman. First, he knows in advance the presence of certain materials in the location of the object, which excludes a simple brigade. Secondly, it excludes the delivery of defective building materials to the site. Thirdly, some of the materials specified in the project are purchased of a higher quality, which benefits both the contractor and the customer.

Tools

Tools and equipment are all their own. From a hammer and a screwdriver to a generator and a trowel, Pavel's team has one hundred percent provision with everything they need.

But this was not always the case - in the first year, an expensive instrument was rented. It was possible to continue working with the rental tool, but a lot of inconveniences were revealed with it: worn out equipment; everything you need is not always in one place. For this reason, the equipment gap was filled in the first year of the business.

Have any problems with customers?

There were no problem customers, according to Pavel, since all the nuances are well known and are negotiated even before the start of work. The customer is always given time to think about changes in the project. Changes already in the course of work sometimes occur during the installation of a warm floor - the layout of this element is not always correctly displayed in the project documentation. In general, all 100% of Pavel's customers are satisfied with his work.

Conclusion

Business in any area is clearly divided into two unequal parts: 90% are those who do not know what to do; 10% are entrepreneurs who are fluent in their profession and organizational skills. This is evidenced by statistics - exactly 90% of enterprises are closed in the first year of their existence.

These notorious 90% are made up of people who do not fully possess certain skills necessary for the successful implementation of the business. They decided to try their luck without a clear plan, experience in the profession and knowledge of business processes. Some of this number succeed because of persistence and resilience.

10% are people who know in advance what and how to do. They do not ask unnecessary questions, but simply take the job and do it well. Paul is one of the people who have applied education and experience to launch their own business. The information he shared will help many businessmen in the construction industry to look at the business from a different angle, believe in themselves and achieve success!

How is your construction business progressing? Let's discuss, write in the comments!

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