Construction Contractor: Drowning in the abyss of AI consumers
Hello! I’m new to the site, but I joined searching for answers to a lingering question. Are there any specific sites that I can register for to be able to contact prospective clients and send bids in my area? Facebook is flooded with people who consistently undercut me on price but are not as good on professionalism or product quality. Whether it be residential properties or commercial? I’ve recently downsized and have been stuck sub-contracting for a larger business devoting all of my time and making pennies on the dollar. The financial strain of the decision has been weighing on me heavily. My wife has lost faith in our construction business, but I can’t help but to reminisce about how successful we were when we were at full operation with 6-10 guys. I can’t just give up on the dream. Anyone on here able to show us how we can make this embed of hope into a wildfire? We specialize in all niche trades in the construction industry, yes all from form to finish. There’s no lack of drive and determination, just direction.Will AI replace engineers in the construction industry?
What do you guys think about AI possibly replacing engineers in construction? Recently, I ran into a problem with my plans and couldn’t get the engineers on the phone quickly enough. Not to mention, the customer wasn’t too thrilled about the extra cost either. So I used AI, got the solution I needed, continued my work, and waited for the engineers to approve the new revised plan afterward. It honestly made me wonder if AI is going to become a real tool for engineers or eventually start replacing parts of the job altogether. Construction is changing fast. Humans built skyscrapers with pencils and cigarettes, and now we’ve got drywall guys arguing with robots at 7 a.m.Sole proprietorship versus incorporating
I have been a sole proprietorship for the last few years and a few people have told me to incorporate instead. I am not very good with the beaucratic end of things. Does anyone here have any information to share and help me understand the benefits of making the awitch?
NEW MEMBER INTRODUCTION
Hey everyone — I run Dream West Projects out of the Sea-to-Sky in BC. I focus on renovations and I’m currently scaling into multi-unit and larger contracting work. Looking forward to connecting with others in the industry and learning from the community. www.dreamwestprojects.com
How do you reduce or eliminate rework in field service jobs?
What systems or habits have helped you eliminate rework in the field? Our solution was bringing on a highly qualified individual with strong attention to detail. We compensate him well, and in return he consistently delivers top-tier work.Salary for In Field Staff? Good Idea or Bad Idea
Curious how others handle salary for field staff, especially hybrid roles. I’m in a bit of a management dilemma and wanted to see how other service businesses approach this. Ideally I’d like to hire a strong operations manager to help manage projects, but as many of you probably know, finding someone who truly thrives in that role can be tough. My alternative idea is to split some of that responsibility between my two most experienced technicians. Both of them have a wide range of knowledge and strong leadership potential. The idea would be a hybrid role where they still spend most of their time in the field but also manage a portion of the jobs. The management side wouldn’t be overly complex – mainly making sure the right technicians are scheduled, materials are ordered, and acting as the point of contact if the crew runs into issues on a job. In return they would earn additional compensation for taking on those responsibilities. My two questions are: has anyone here put in-field technicians on salary, and if so how did that work out? And has anyone successfully split operations responsibilities among senior field staff instead of hiring a dedicated operations manager? I don’t have concerns about their work ethic. They’re both very reliable and I think they’d take the responsibility seriously. In fact giving them more ownership might make them even more invested, and I could also tie in performance incentives if needed. At the same time I don’t want to create a structure that causes problems down the road. I also recognize that being a field tech isn’t necessarily a forever role, so part of me sees this as a potential growth path for them. Curious to hear what has worked or not worked for others.
Roofing Contract
Howdy all, I've been doing low-cost handyman work in my business for the last several months. I just got licensed as a roofer and would like to get started in the business. However, I want to make sure I have a good contract prepared so that when I start getting clients, I can make sure I'm protected. What would you all recommend as a starting place? Do you have templates you've used for client contracts? Thanks in advance!
