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<\/figure>\n\n\n\n3. They Hold the Power of Social Media<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Your business may be heavily reliant on word of mouth. Many people turn to the internet first for everything from buying toothpaste to finding a contractor. The equivalent of word of mouth online is reviews.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Your clients know they wield a lot of power online. They are used to giving reviews for just about every business transaction they are a part of. That also means that they watch closely so they can be prepared to write your review.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This may sometimes feel unfair, as you can\u2019t give homeowners a bad review. You may feel that they are breathing down your neck and there\u2019s a lot of pressure to impress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What You Can Do<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
There\u2019s enough pressure on the job site as it is. Diffuse the good review\/bad review worry with a little knowledge about how your future clients think about reviews.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Potential clients are looking more for how you conduct business rather than if you have all good reviews. In fact, it\u2019s a good thing to have a bad review now and then so you can show (publicly) how you handled the situation. Sometimes homeowners give a bad review in order to get problems solved, not simply to bad-mouth your work. Just keep doing great work and you won\u2019t have to worry about reviews.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
4. They Think You Have Superpowers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Though the homeowner\/contractor relationship can be difficult at times, for the most part, your clients trust you. They respect your expertise and experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They probably also think you can do things you just can\u2019t do. If \u201ccan you pull a few stings and get that inspector here sooner\u201d sounds familiar, you\u2019ve experienced this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Because they value you as a professional, they may ask you to move up the completion date, change a material at the last minute, or get things done for less money. They don\u2019t mean any harm; they just think you can do anything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What You Can Do<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Be clear about what you can and can\u2019t do from the start. Write into the contract deadlines for materials selections and penalties for changes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It also helps to communicate early if things are going to change from your end. Keeping the homeowner apprised of delays on the countertops will help them understand when the entire project isn\u2019t completed on time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
5. They Worry about Getting In Your Way<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
It may not seem like it when they call you every other day to ask about a detail of the project, but your clients do worry about being too involved. They can\u2019t help it. It\u2019s their home; they have to live there and they want to love it. If anything goes wrong, it\u2019s their pocketbook that takes the hit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s not because they don\u2019t trust you. It\u2019s not because they think your crew is incompetent. They know they are a burden when they keep dropping by the site. But they do it because this is a huge personal investment and it\u2019s their responsibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What You Can Do<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Once again, communication is the answer. Keeping them in the loop goes a long way to making them feel comfortable. Some contractors even provide pictures or live cameras of the site so homeowners can check up anytime they want.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Instead of seeing their visits, questions, and comments as a burden, make them feel like an integral part of the process. That will engender trust and give them a part of the responsibility back that they feel they are losing when they turn it over to you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The relationship between homeowner and contractor doesn\u2019t have to be strained. With a little understanding, you can smooth things over. Listen closely and you\u2019ll be able to determine what the real issues are and find a way to present solutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n