Improving your customer service skills

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1. Remember there is no way that the quality of customer service can exceed the quality of the people who provide it. Think you can get by paying the lowest wage, giving the fewest of benefits, doing the least training for your employees? It will show.Companies don't help customers... people do.

2. Realize that your people will treat your customer the way they are treated. Employees take their cue from management. Do you greet your employees enthusiastically each day; are you polite in your dealings with them; do you try to accommodate their requests; do you listen to them when they speak? Consistent rude customer service is a reflection not as much on the employee as on management.

3. Do you know who your customers are? If a regular customer came in to your facility, would you recognize them? Could you call them by name? All of us like to feel important; calling someone by name is a simple way to do it and lets them know you value them as customers.

Recently I signed on with a new fitness center. I had been a member of another one for the past ten years, renewing my membership every six months when the notice arrived. I had been thinking about changing, joining the one nearer my home and with more state-of-the-art equipment. So when the renewal notice came, I didn’t renew. That was eight months ago. Was I contacted by the fitness center and asked why I did not renew? Did anyone telephone me to find out why an established customer was no longer a member or to tell me they missed me? No and No. My guess is they don’t even know they lost a long-time customer, and apparently wouldn’t care.

4. Do your customers know who you are? If they see you, would they recognize you? Could they call you by name? A visible management is an asset. At the Piccadilly Cafeteria chain, the pictures of the manager and the assistant manager are posted on a wall at the food selection line and it is a policy that the manager’s office is placed only a few feet from the cashier's stand at the end of that line, in full view of the customers, and with the door kept open. The manager is easily accessible and there is no doubt about "who's in charge here". You have only to beckon to get a manager at your table to talk with you.

5. For good customer service, go the extra mile.Include a thank-you note in a customer's package; send a birthday card; clip the article when you see their name or photo in print; write a congratulatory note when they get a promotion. There are all sorts of ways for you to keep in touch with your customers and bring them closer to you.

6. Are your customers greeted when they walk in the door or at least within 30-40 seconds upon entering? Is it possible they could come in, look around, and go out without ever having their presence acknowledged? It is ironic it took a discount merchant known for price, not service, to teach the retail world the importance of greeting customers at the door. Could it be that’s because Sam Walton knew this simple but important gesture is a matter of respect, of saying "we appreciate your coming in," having nothing to do with the price of merchandise?

7. Give customers the benefit of the doubt. Proving to him why he’s wrong and you’re right isn’t worth losing a customer over. You will never win an argument with a customer, and you should never, ever put a customer in that position.

8. If a customer makes a request for something special, do everything you can to say yes.The fact that a customer cared enough to ask is all you need to know in trying to accommodate her. It may be an exception from your customer service policy, but (if it isn’t illegal) try to do it. Remember you are just making one exception for one customer, not making new policy. Mr. Marshall Field was right-on in his famous statement: "Give the lady what she wants."

9. Are your customer service associates properly trained in how to handle a customer complaint or an irate person? Give them guidelines for what to say and do in every conceivable case. People on the frontline of a situation play the most critical role in your customer’s experience. Make sure they know what to do and say to make that customer’s experience a positive, pleasant one.

10. Want to know what your customers think of your company? Ask them! Compose a "How're We Doing?" card and leave it at the exit or register stand, or include it in their next statement. Keep it short and simple. Ask things like: what it is they like; what they don’t like; what they would change; what you could do better; about their latest experience there, etc. To ensure the customer sends it in, have it pre-stamped. And if the customer has given their name and address, be sure to acknowledge receipt of the card.

Remember that the big money isn’t as much in winning customers as in keeping customers. Each individual customer’s perception of your company will determine how well you do this and that perception will depend on the level of customer service you provide.

Source:

http://sbinfocanada.about.com/od/customerservice/a/custservtipslt.htm

Custom Homes Park City; Custom vs Production Builder

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Custom vs. Production Builder

With so many types of home building companies out there, it’s a little tough to figure out who does what and who builds what. Here’s a quick run-down on how to tell the difference between custom and production home building companies.

Custom home builders generally:

• Build on land you own. Some custom builders also build on land they own.
• Build one-of-a-kind houses. A custom home is a site-specific home built from a unique set of plans for a specific client. Some custom builders may offer design/build services.
• Build single-family homes.
• Are generally small-volume builders (those that build 25 or fewer homes a year).
• Tend to build high-end homes.

Production home builders generally:

• Build on land they own.
• Tend to use stock plans, but usually offer a variety of plan choices and options.
• Build all types of housing — single-family, condos, town houses, and rental properties.
• Are large-volume builders (those that build more than 25 homes a year).
• Generally build for all price points — entry level, move up, luxury, etc.

Source:

http://www.nahb.org/generic.aspx?sectionID=123&genericContentID=3911

Show your clients you care

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If you are fortunate enough to own your business and have been lucky enough to stay busy, there is no better time to appreciate the work you have. Often times after hiring the same subcontractor for months years etc.. I can count on one hand how many times we have received a card, a thank you, a gift basket that simply says thank you for all you have done for us. A little appreciation goes a long way. Everybody has to work hard for what they have and if they are spending there hard earned money and time with your company you need to show them you care! Here are a few ways to say thank you:

1. Share Your KnowledgeGive away helpful advice in your e-mail newsletter, as well as on your Twitter and Facebook pages--information that will better your readers' lives. Anticipate customers' questions and concerns and offer useful information to educate and guide them. Ask them what they'd like to learn more about from you.

Be different from others who are merely promoting products and services in their communications. Sharing your knowledge gives customers something valuable for free and proves your expertise. It's a win-win.

2. Ask, Listen, Respond, Adapt

• Ask customers what's on their minds regularly. That includes their satisfaction with their most recent sales or service experience and with your employees, as well as their general impressions of your business. Invite feedback at multiple contact points--via e-mail communications, online surveys, on your website, after online sales and on paper sales receipts. Keeping a finger on your customers' pulse is good for the heart--and bottom line--of your business.
• Listen to what customers are saying about you in surveys, on Twitter or Yelp, or anywhere else they give feedback. Publish survey results and answers to customer questions in your e-mail newsletter. Create a sense of community around your business based on dialogue with your customers.
• Respond to customers promptly when they contact your business, whether it's a complaint or a compliment. Show them you're listening and that you care. If there's a problem, fix it so they can go away happy to return to your business.
• Adapt your business based on customer feedback to better meet their needs. Communicate the changes you're making based on what they've asked for.

3. Reward Customers

• Coupon: A coupon can go a long way in this economy. Use your e-mail communications to offer coupons that stimulate business and give cash-strapped customers a break.
• Gift: Everyone loves a freebie. Offer a small branded gift as part of a promotion. Give customers something that helps them remember--and love--your brand.
• Information: Offer a free white paper, guide, or report about your industry, products, or services as thanks for signing up for your newsletter.

4. Hold a Customer Appreciation EventHold a "VIP Night" in your store or office. It could be a free seminar, early-bird sale, special access to new products, or a get-together with entertainment or a guest speaker. Promote your event in your e-newsletter and with links on social media websites so no one misses out.

5. Do GoodGet your business involved with a nonprofit or charity. Invite other local businesses and the community to participate. Use your newsletter and social media to tell customers about the cause you support. If you can, donate a portion of the proceeds from sales to the charity or match your customers' donations. Another option is to hold a fundraising event. Remind people when they patronize your business that they're doing something good.

Do these things again and again.

Showing customers you care should be an ongoing communications effort--not a once-a-year occasion the way we celebrate Valentine's Day. Whatever you do, be sincere. Customers can spot hype a mile away. Here are some additional hints to take to heart:

• Don't pass off promotional content as editorial content. Give your audience something valuable and useful in every e-mail newsletter.
• Only make promises you can stand by. Make sure employees understand your brand promise and communicate with them as you would with customers.
• Remember what your mother told you: If you make a mistake, say you're sorry. Then make things right.
• Offer your contact information in every communication so customers can let you know when they're dissatisfied--and when you've exceeded their expectations.

Customers demand more than good products and services. They want you to care about them and the world we live in. Show them you care all year long and you're more likely to win their hearts . . . and their business.

source:

http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/205184

How to avoid mistakes

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1: Learn from other’s mistakes

Find experienced peers who are willing to share their mistakes and then learn from them. I am somewhat biased, but the editors, writers, and members of TechRepublic seem willing to honestly share their mistakes — even if somewhat embarrassing at times.

2: Do your research first

No matter how much you know, you’ll encounter new challenges on an almost daily basis. Each challenge usually requires you to learn something new. Before you tackle a problem or task, do your homework. The trial-and-error method of learning may have been necessary and acceptable years ago. But with the resources available on the Internet today, there is little excuse for mistakes made because you didn’t do the proper research in advance.

3: Have a plan

You can’t know how to get to your destination without a roadmap. In project development, that roadmap is known as a project plan. Whether done formally or informally, you need to know how to get where you are going. Days or even weeks of programming time can be lost if the wrong path is taken. When done the right way, a project plan will help keep you from straying off course.

4: Follow standards and use templates

There are good reasons why experienced professionals took the time to create and publish industry and company standards. Standards detail best practices and procedures learned over years of trial and error.

Templates such as predefined forms can be useful since most of the work is already done in a standard format. A standard EULA approved by your legal counsel is another good example of a template that can come in handy if you are developing application software. A mistake in a legal document can be an expensive exercise — one best avoided.

5: Communicate and coordinate with others

If you are part of a team, it’s essential to communicate with other team members to avoid redundancies and to coordinate your work with theirs. Emails, instant messages, project status reports, and teleconferences are all ways to communicate and coordinate with others on the team. Unfortunately, each of these is far from perfect. You can spend the better part of a day reading and writing emails, participating in conference calls, and instant messaging with your peers. But it is a necessary part of the development process.

The perfect tool for communicating and coordinating with others in a team environment has yet to be developed. One of the better tools developed to share code is revision control software. Your project may also benefit from the use of a communication plan that ensures everyone involved — including customers and stakeholders — is kept apprised of key developments. (The TechRepublic downloads library has a free communication plan template to get you started.)

6: Allow enough time

It was at Hughes Aircraft Company that I first heard the phrase “You want it bad - you got it bad.” It didn’t happen very often, but when it did it was almost always made in reference to a part from a vendor that was badly needed, rushed through production, and upon arrival, failed testing. Failure to allow enough time for each phase of the project can lead to missed requirements, inadequate analysis, poor design, rushed programming, insufficient testing, and incomplete documentation. The result can be a system that doesn’t meet expectations and fails in one or more key areas.

Estimating the time needed to accomplish each phase of a project is difficult. I achieved the best results when I sat down with my supervisor and determined the time allotted for each major task in the project plan. I was overly optimistic in my estimates. He was much more realistic in his estimates, and he turned out to be right. As a rule of thumb, doubling my initial estimates came close to the actual time required. That information was useful for developing project plan timelines.

You may need to develop a similar rule of thumb until you can more accurately estimate completion dates. Ideally, you want to complete each phase of the project on time, and the best way to do that is estimate them correctly up front. Here are a few tips on creating realistic schedules.

7: Reuse proven code

If you’re an experienced developer, you should have built up a large code base over the years. Go blue and recycle this code whenever possible. You will likely have to modify the code to fit the new requirements, but proven core code is a good foundation to build on. Not only will you reduce the risk of introducing new bugs, but you will eliminate the time wasted creating similar code and the subsequent testing required.

Share your code with others so they can reuse parts of it. Proven code can be shared viaplug-ins or libraries. Good external sources of code are available on the Internet that can be legally used for free or for a small fee.

8: Use checklists

Before a commercial plane trip, the pilot and co-pilot are busy walking through a long, detailed checklist. Checklists can be used during various phases of the project development process. They are particularly useful when working with large systems and when a single person is responsible for multiple tasks.

For example, a list detailing the steps required for system turn-on will help avoid accomplishing tasks out of order and prevent errors of omission. It is all too easy for developers to overlook important items like system access when they are busy doing final testing and documentation.

For more on the virtues of using checklists, see Leverage checklists to improve efficiency and client satisfaction.

9: Test, test, test… and carefully review your work

There is a healthy level of paranoia about delivering error-free work. Test as much as possible as early as possible. Errors in the code are typically more expensive to correct when found near the end of the development process. The last thing you need when facing a critical release date is to find a bug that should have been found months ago.

Careful and thorough testing will allow you to find those mistakes before your users can. Double- and triple-check your work. Develop test data and a plan to test common calendar-based events like EOM processing and annual reporting. All functionality and every single possible scenario should be thoroughly tested. And, yes, this is also a good place to use a checklist.

10: Test again with a third party

Find at least one experienced person who can be dedicated to the beta testing. They will undoubtedly use the system in ways you never dreamed of and find bugs you missed.

Don’t overlook or rush this final quality assurance task. It’s typically your last chance to get it right. Once a bad piece of software is released or a system with a critical bug is turned on, a company’s image can be tarnished for years to come.

The final word

One of the most important lessons I learned very early in my career is that a mistake isn’t a mistake until someone else knows about it. I was but a young inexperienced pup when I accidentally deleted some system files on a Tandem PC. It could have been a disaster. But I had enough sense and problem-solving skills to identify and copy over the missing files from another Tandem PC.

I have never told anyone until now about my near disaster. This may be obvious, but you should keep unseen mistakes to yourself. There is almost never anything to be gained by telling others you have done something really stupid. It can negatively affect your image and possibly damage your career.

I hope these proactive tips will help you avoid making an embarrassing mistake that becomes known to your boss, peers, and users. If you find yourself in that unenviable situation, you might want to read Calvin Sun’s article 10 things you should do if you make a big mistake.

Source: http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/10things/10-ways-to-avoid-mistakes-during-project-development/1360

Funny Construction Mistakes

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WE MISSED A FEW INCHES

WHICH WAY SHOULD WE GO NOW?

SOME MISCONCEPTIONS IN THE PROCESS OF CONSTRUCTION

EVERYTHING SEEMS TO BE GOING DOWNHILL

WE DIDN’T HAVE ENOUGH CEMENT TO MAKE A PROPER CONSTRUCTION. SO WE USED SOME RECYCLED MATERIAL AND WITH LITTLE BIT OF IMPROVISATION…HERE IT IS

A BIT TOO STEEP DRIVEWAY FOR MY TASTE

MORE WRONG PLACEMENT

FUNNY FAILED DOOR DESIGN

FUNNY FAILED BATHROOMS

Communication in Construction

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We all know that nothing exists, progresses or can be manged without successful communication skills. In the construction industry, communication is the critical element that will determine how the project turns out. Here are ten steps on how to improve your communication with your subcontractors, engineers, architects, designers and most of all....YOUR CLIENT!! 

1. Speak not with a forked tongue: In most cases, people just won’t open up to those they don’t trust. When people have a sense a leader is worthy of their trust they will invest time and take risks in ways they never would if their leader had a reputation built upon poor character or lack of integrity. While you can attempt to demand trust, it rarely works. Trust is best created by earning it with right acting, thinking, and decisioning. Keep in mind people will forgive many things where trust exists, but will rarely forgive anything where trust is absent.

2. Get personal: There is great truth in the following axiom: “people don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” Classic business theory tells leaders to stay at arms length. I say stay at arms length if you want to remain in the dark receiving only highly sanitized versions of the truth. If you don’t develop meaningful relationships with people you’ll never know what’s really on their mind until it’s too late to do anything about it

3. Get specific: Specificity is better than Ambiguity 11 times out of 10: Learn to communicate with clarity. Simple and concise is always better than complicated and confusing. Time has never been a more precious commodity than it is today. It is critical leaders learn how to cut to the chase and hit the high points – it’s also important to expect the same from others. Without understanding the value of brevity and clarity it is unlikely you’ll ever be afforded the opportunity to get to the granular level as people will tune you out long before you ever get there. Your goal is to weed out the superfluous and to make your words count.

4. Focus on the leave-behinds not the take-aways: The best communicators are not only skilled at learning and gathering information while communicating, they are also adept at transferring ideas, aligning expectations, inspiring action, and spreading their vision. The key is to approach each interaction with a servant’s heart. When you truly focus on contributing more than receiving you will have accomplished the goal. Even though this may seem counter-intuitive, by intensely focusing on the other party’s wants, needs & desires, you’ll learn far more than you ever would by focusing on your agenda.

5. Have an open mind: I’ve often said that the rigidity of a closed mind is the single greatest limiting factor of new opportunities. A leader takes their game to a whole new level the minute they willingly seek out those who hold dissenting opinions and opposing positions with the goal not of convincing them to change their minds, but with the goal of understanding what’s on their mind. I’m always amazed at how many people are truly fearful of opposing views, when what they should be is genuinely curious and interested. Open dialogs with those who confront you, challenge you, stretch you, and develop you. Remember that it’s not the opinion that matters, but rather the willingness to discuss it with an open mind and learn.

6. Shut-up and listen: Great leaders know when to dial it up, dial it down, and dial it off (mostly down and off). Simply broadcasting your message ad nauseum will not have the same result as engaging in meaningful conversation, but this assumes that you understand that the greatest form of discourse takes place within a conversation, and not a lecture or a monologue. When you reach that point in your life where the light bulb goes off, and you begin to understand that knowledge is not gained by flapping your lips, but by removing your ear wax, you have taken the first step to becoming a skilled communicator.

7. Replace ego with empathy: I have long advised leaders not to let their ego write checks that their talent can’t cash. When candor is communicated with empathy & caring and not the prideful arrogance of an over inflated ego good things begin to happen. Empathetic communicators display a level of authenticity and transparency that is not present with those who choose to communicate behind the carefully crafted facade propped-up by a very fragile ego. Understanding the this communication principle is what helps turn anger into respect and doubt into trust.

8. Read between the lines: Take a moment and reflect back on any great leader that comes to mind… you’ll find they are very adept at reading between the lines. They have the uncanny ability to understand what is not said, witnessed, or heard. Being a leader should not be viewed as a license to increase the volume of rhetoric. Rather astute leaders know that there is far more to be gained by surrendering the floor than by filibustering. In this age of instant communication, everyone seems to be in such a rush to communicate what’s on their mind that they fail to realize everything to be gained from the minds of others. Keep your eyes & ears open and your mouth shut and you’ll be amazed at how your level or organizational awareness is raised.

9. When you speak, know what you’re talking about: Develop a technical command over your subject matter. If you don’t possess subject matter expertise, few people will give you the time of day. Most successful people have little interest in listening to those individuals who cannot add value to a situation or topic, but force themselves into a conversation just to hear themselves speak. The fake it until you make it days have long since passed, and for most people I know fast and slick equals not credible. You’ve all heard the saying “it’s not what you say, but how you say it that matters,” and while there is surely an element of truth in that statement, I’m here to tell you that it matters very much what you say. Good communicators address both the “what” and “how” aspects of messaging so they don’t fall prey to becoming the smooth talker who leaves people with the impression of form over substance.

10. Speak to groups as individuals: Leaders don’t always have the luxury of speaking to individuals in an intimate setting. Great communicators can tailor a message such that they can speak to 10 people in a conference room or 10,000 people in an auditorium and have them feel as if they were speaking directly to each one of them as an individual. Knowing how to work a room and establish credibility, trust, and rapport are keys to successful interactions.

11. Bonus – Be prepared to change the message if needed:  Another component of communications strategy that is rarely discussed is how to prevent a message from going bad, and what to do when does. It’s called being prepared and developing a contingency plan. Again, you must keep in mind that for successful interactions to occur, your objective must be in alignment with those you are communicating with. If your expertise, empathy, clarity, etc. don’t have the desired effect, which by the way is very rare, you need to be able to make an impact by changing things up on the fly. Use great questions, humor, stories, analogies, relevant data, and where needed, bold statements to help connect and engender the confidence and trust that it takes for people to want to engage. While it is sometimes necessary to “Shock and Awe” this tactic should be reserved as a last resort.

Don’t assume someone is ready to have a particular conversation with you just because you’re ready to have the conversation with them. Spending time paving the way for a productive conversation is far better than coming off as the proverbial bull in a china shop. Furthermore, you cannot assume anyone knows where you’re coming from if you don’t tell them. I never ceased to be amazed at how many people assume everyone knows what they want to occur without ever finding it necessary to communicate their objective. If you fail to justify your message with knowledge, business logic, reason, empathy etc., you will find that said message will likely fall on deaf ears needing reinforcement or clarification afterward.

Bottom line – The leadership lesson here is whenever you have a message to communicate (either directly, or indirectly through a third party) make sure said message is true & correct, well reasoned, and substantiated by solid business logic that is specific, consistent, clear and accurate. Spending a little extra time on the front-end of the messaging curve will likely save you from considerable aggravation and brain damage on the back-end. Most importantly of all, keep in mind that communication is not about you, your opinions, your positions or your circumstances. It’s about helping others by meeting their needs, understanding their concerns, and adding value to their world. Do these things and you’ll drastically reduce the number of communications problems you’ll experience moving forward.

Source:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/mikemyatt/2012/04/04/10-communication-secrets-of-great-leaders/3/

10 Custom Home Building Mistakes

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1. Selecting the Right Building Site.

This should be done prior to selecting the home design. To maximize finished value, the home plan should be designed to enhance the natural features of your building site.

2. Pitfalls of Poor Site Selection.

Some items to be careful of during the site selection process are:

• Slope or grade of the site;
• Water table underlying site;
• Soil grade, quality and compatibility;
• Geological factors ie) underground streams, earthquake faults, aquifers, and easements, underground utility lines, etc.
• Availability of utility connections;
• Costs of utility connectionsВ - surprisingly, some municipalities charge an incredibly high fee for hooking up to their sewer as an example.
• Well permits and septic permits for rural site selections.
• Adjacent properties – are they going to enhance or detract from the value of your new home? Example, gravel pit or gas station.
• Ease of building, using the terrain to your advantage.
• CC&R’s (Covent’s, Conditions, Restrictions) Know your requirements of the site if CC&R’s are part of the subdivision. If present read before buying the lot. This could take your budget through the roof. Example site requirements may ask for all brick, or?
• Watch out for busy streets. They may have a negative impact on value.

3. Watch out for boilerplate plans.

Using plan book plans can be like trying to insert a square peg into a round hole.

• Most counties have their own set of rules and codes, for wind and/or snow loads etc.. Buying mail order plans can result in having the entire set of plans re-drawn to meet local codes. This is one of the most common mistakes made.

4. Pitfalls of Poor Plans:

Probably the most critically important factor of all is that you begin this process with professionally designed plans. It is impossible to overly stress that one major factor. In the real estate industry, we learn that there is one mistake that is virtually impossible to overcome when re-selling a property. That mistake is called functional obsolescence. Simply put, this means that the property will not perform adequately the purpose for which it was intended. Poor home design will almost always result in functional obsolescence whether you’re re-modeling, adding on, or building a new structure altogether. Here are some prime examples of this huge mistake:

• Big house with large master suite, and little closet. Do you know of any family who can afford a large expensive home in which the wife doesn’t have a lot of clothing?
• Kitchen sink visible from the front door – what a way to impress your visitors and guests.
• Laundry room next to the formal dining or formal living room – this is where you’ll do your entertaining.
• Large tall garage with a little door amounts to a garage that won’t allow a recreational vehicles or boat or truck with shell through the door.
• Really strange rooflines to try to upgrade a fade. Big ugly things.

All of the foregoing mistakes were made at the design phase before the home was even constructed. If you do not consult with a professional in this area, the results, however well intended, can be disastrous.

5. Know Your Budget Limits.

Make sure when you select your plan and building site that the required improvements to the site, building costs, and site improvement costs meet your budget. There are a myriad of factors that are involved in calculating the overall price of a construction project. It is critically important that you get professional help in planning this phase of your new home. A mistake made by everybody is going over budget. Plan for this ahead of time. Small little things can add up to major cost overruns. Many people get so excited about building their home that they catch designer fever and forget the budget. Having to get 2nd and even 3rd mortgages. End results they loose their home.

6. Have a detailed budget in place

prior to starting construction. You should spend the time to research what the costs are before even getting a bid on the work. This will make people tow the line. (example) if you know that tile floor labor is $3 to $4 dollars a square foot and your bid is for $5 you can have the contractor explain why.

• Track your costs on a spreadsheet.
• Know where overruns and under runs are.
• Use a contingency fun, have one in place.

7. Decide if a custom home is for you

If this is your first home, or you have serious time constraints, a pre-built or spec home may be the way to go. Building a new home from a model home will avoid custom home pitfalls. Remember plan for cost over runs ahead of time. a. Custom home building. When using a General Contractor or if your decide to build yourself. Either way building a new home is time consuming and will require your full attention. The decisions all fall down to you. Even if you use a General Contractor many many choices need to be make daily by you as the real person in charge.

8. Get all contracts signed!

A good way to drag on building a home forever is letting the subcontractors have no timeline or deadlines. Not having a signed contract could cause price confusion, not everyone has as good a memory as you do. Remember signing the contract the sub-contractor gives you is not getting a contract signed for you. These are for the sub-contractor. Sometimes these are vague and leave room for more charges payment up front, no time lines, etc.. A well-written attorney reviewed contract with your interests, protecting you should be in place prior to any work being started. These contracts have many different clauses and you should have an attorney that specializes in construction law draft this document.

9. Make sure the work is completed

properly. Inspections are made, if required. Payment in full too early could result in the contractor never coming back to finish the work. Another very good reason to have the Sub-contractor sign your contract!

10. Check into the long term financing and construction financing.

Know your limits. Know what these costs are going to be and how log the time frame for building is. Keep you closing cost money for the long term loan saved don’t use it to build the house with. You will need this money to close.

Source: 

http://goodideas.front.lv/2006/05/19/10-costly-mistakes-people-make-when-building-a-new-home/

Should you turn down a client ?

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There comes a time in every independent contractor’s professional life to turn down a potential client. In fact, once you’re established, one of the great things about working for yourself is that you don’t have to take on every project that someone wants to throw at you.

However, no matter the reason you decide to turn down work, you need to do so in a way that doesn’t make you look bad and leaves the client with a good impression of you and your business. Let’s take a look at the reasons you might want to turn down a project and skillful ways to do it.

When to say no
When you’re an employee, you generally do whatever task your manager hands off, and the task may or may not fall within the limits of your job description. But when you’re the boss, you can write your own job description and take on only the tasks you want. Here are just a few good reasons to turn down a project:

• The client wants to pay you so little it’s insulting. Of course, be open to lowering your standard rates if the project might pay off in other ways, such as new skills or a long-term contract. But keep to your standards. Besides, taking on low-paying work can cause you to miss out on a much better opportunity.
• You have too much work already. Watch out for this one—it can be so tempting to take on extra work anyway. Assess your situation carefully. You won’t further your career or impress the client by turning in substandard work past the deadline.
• It’s work you just don’t want to do. Remember, you’re the boss now.
• You’ve heard that this client pays late, has Jekyll-and-Hyde managers, and demands a million revisions. (Run! Now!)

It’s okay to be picky
If you’re like me, you’ll do some hand-wringing about turning down a project. There’s the fear factor—you’re afraid that if things slow down, you’ll wish you took the project on after all, or perhaps you’re afraid the client will form a negative impression of you. Well, if your business does slow down, you can always inquire whether the client needs your help with another project. Or, you can use the downtime to find the client you really do want to work for. You could also use the time to sharpen your skill set so you can expand the type of clients you attract. You could even give yourself some time off.

The first few years you’re in business for yourself, you’ll probably have a constant, nagging fear that you won’t make it. This fear can drive you to take on drudge work for clients who make Cinderella’s stepmother look good. Don’t let it!

One of the best reasons to work for yourself is so you can enjoy your work and deal with reasonable people. If you maintain both your perspective and a healthy, accessible savings account, you’ll have the security to say no.

Saying no: “It’s not you, it’s me”
When you need to turn down a project, you’re dealing with one of two types of clients:

• Clients you’d like to work with later or on a different project
• Clients you wouldn’t work with if they offered you the last contract on earth

No matter which type of client you have on your hands, treat them both the same. One of your important skills should be the ability to say no tactfully. Do it in a way that doesn’t make you look bad (you never know who knows whom) and leaves you in a position to accept work from that client later, if you want. Plus, you don’t know when one type of client will turn into the other—that evil manager might be replaced by one of your best friends.

So, you need a line. Here are two standards that will get you out of any client’s offices and keep you looking like a pro:

• “I believe I could take on this particular project for you, but it’s really outside my specialty right now. If you have future projects that I would be more suited to help you with, it’d be great to talk with you again.”
• “This looks like a wonderful project, but I’m booked for (choose the option most suitable for that client: two weeks, six months, the foreseeable future, a really long time). If you need some help at that time with this or another project, please get in touch with me.”

Almost every client will respect the fact that you won’t overbook yourself and that you won’t take on a project unless you believe you could do an outstanding job. If you really do want to work for that client—just not right now—contact the client a bit before you are available to inquire whether they still need you. Or, try to set up a contract that either allows you to ramp up gradually or that has a start date in the future.

Look at it as a chance to do favors for your network
Whatever the reason you turn down a project, one of the best things you can do at this point is to refer the client to someone in your line of work who you know does a good job. This not only leaves clients with a good impression of you and a chance to get their project completed, it also helps out the folks in your network.

As soon as you leave the client’s offices, contact the people you referred so they know you’ve given the client their name. You can also give them a head start by passing on a few details about the project. Even if the client doesn’t contact those people, they’ll know you referred them and will be more likely to do the same for you in the future.

And then there’s the highway robbery method…
There’s another approach that I haven’t mentioned because, honestly, I’m not sure what I think about it. I haven’t used it. Here’s the story: I had just landed a project with a client whose business I wanted for many reasons: They accepted my going rate, I’d gain new skills, and I wanted to leave another client that paid well but was difficult to deal with. My only concern was that perhaps I had underbid the job—my new client told me that they had chosen me over another contractor in part because the other person had quoted astronomically high rates.

I shared my doubts with a fellow independent and friend with whom I often consult and swap stories. Well, my friend didn’t think I’d underbid. Instead, he suggested that perhaps the other contractor hadn’t really wanted the job.

He told me about a contractor he’d worked with in his days as a salaried employee at a large company that used a lot of contractors. While many of the contractors were obviously unhappy about working there, this more seasoned contractor was always laid-back and content. So my friend asked him his secret. Turns out, when this guy bid on the job, he knew about this company’s reputation for corporate brutality. So he quoted them an astronomically high rate, assuming that he would either:

• Price himself out of the client’s range and thus not have to deal with a demanding client, or
• Get the project anyway and laugh all the way to the bank.

He did the latter. However, is this really the way you want to do business? Besides, it might cost you clients down the road if word gets out that you charge sky-high rates.

If nothing else, this story can serve as a warning flag: If you think your pricing is in line with the market but your client is suggesting that everyone is bidding much higher than you, watch out—maybe the other folks know something about this client that you don’t.

Meredith Little has worn many hats as a self-employed writer, including technical writer, documentation specialist, trainer, business analyst, photographer, and travel writer.

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