[mrusk]

I stepped into a whole nother league this year. I finally figured out how to get leads from customers i want. I am trying to choose the jobs i want vs the taking anything that comes my way.


SO i am working on some big proposals for design/build projects. I have almost 45 hours in to one, between site visits with sub contractors, desiging, pricing out material, talking to zoning officals etc. I have been working on this proposal for 3 weeks now. Customer is currently out of the country and will not be back until late next week.

Even if he was in the country, i do not think i would of finished this proposal up much faster.

Then i am working with another client for a design/build for a 18k sq ft house. This job is huge. Luckily, were going to take this one project at a time instead of me investing a ton of time into something with the chance of not getting anything.


This level of work is a whole entire different mentality from doing small jobs. I used to be able to look at a walkway or something and go sit in my truck and work out a price. The people would call me a few days later and give me the go ahead, and then we would start later that week.

Now it takes what seems like a month of planning, then we got another month dealing with the towns for permits varances for set backs, etc.

I havn't even put one shovel into the ground this year and my head is already to explode!!!

Should be a great year though. Even though it will start out slow.

[Nathaniel Carr]

Swimming with the big fish now.

How did you finally figure out how to break into that market?

I have been talking with a buddy who is a project manager with a building company in my area. These guys are at the top of the market. I hope to be refered from the builder to the L.A. Our work looks as good as anyone's but will I be able to handle all of the bid requirements? Looks like that's where you are.

Good luck!

[mrusk]

I can not revel all my secerts, but honestly, its being in the right place at the right time. Thats what it comes down to. I got these leads from common advertising methods that are talked about on this site all the time.

I think it an accomplishment to even be considered by these clients.


Nathaniel if your buddy is a project manger that should get you in the door pretty easily. You want to work for the builders that are the top of the market. If you do work for the top guy in a certain area, people will hire you just because you did work for that guy.

[Nathaniel Carr]

Right place at the right time.

You do know how to run the $ on a big job right? Get your contracts looked over by a lawyer etc. They say it is easy to loose on the big jobs. I have made the mistake of thinking that the big jobs make more money. But they don't. My most profitable job is still in the 10G range.

I still have a milliion+ dollar house that owes me 2G's.

My connections with the builder will help but if the Landscape architect feeds the design to his contractors what am I to do. I have been trying to market us to designers and LA in the last year. It has paid off. I am working with a pro photographer to get some quality images on our web site. We are also going to have a nice printed brochure/portfolio aimed at the professional designers and LA's. Yellow pages ad just isn't going to cut it.

Check out these builders: http://www.birdseyebuilding.com/

[mrusk]

Most of the time, big jobs are just small jobs all done at the same time. So they are not that hard to price.

Its alot different then trying to price 75k sq feet of pavers or face feet of wall.

[GLAN]

Congrats on bringing it to another level


You are being compensated for the 45 hours you already invested?

[mrusk]

It will be worked into the price.

Now this is my first time pricing a job this size. Next time around it should be a snap.