Building Optimal

Solid relationships with your contractors (trade partners) is a crucial ingredient, like mustard on a 🌭. Four ways to build a win/win that will keep paying dividends...

1. Detailed specs on your bid requests - If contractors have to guess, they are going to guess high. Take the risk out for them by giving them a clean, detailed plan to bid. You'll get a better price plus more speed in the field.

2. Have the job ready when you say it will be - No one likes dry runs, and if you get a reputation for it, your contractor will absolutely deprioritize your jobs in the future. Also, don't stack everyone on top of each other. Remember, everyone is just trying to do their job and make some money. Help them by being a good partner to your trade partners.

3. Set a company policy for when you will pay your contractors - Stick to it...religiously. This saves you from people requesting same-day payment and you having to always be reacting and scrambling. It always provides clear expectations to your contractors so they can properly plan when they do your work. Setting expectations and being consistent are key.

4. If you want to build a relationship with a contractor rather than always bouncing around to the low bidder, simply communicate when their bid is out of your budget. Maybe they can make some adjustments. Maybe they can't. Regardless, you give them the "right of first refusal" to win the contract if they can and want to take the work for your budgeted price. Word of caution...don't always drink from this well. Find contractors that give you good value for the price, and stick with them. Nothing wrong with price checking every so often if the price seems to go out of market or out of budget. Just communicate and give them the chance to adjust if that happens.