If you plan on becoming a kitchen remodeling contractor, understanding what clients want is key. This might sound obvious, but you’d be surprised at how often otherwise successful businesses end up in a disconnect between what they envision, and what the customer truly is looking for.
What’s worth examining is the perspective of the customer when they end up looking for a home remodeling business to handle their kitchen. If you’re not keeping what they’re looking for in mind, you’re going to get passed over before you even have a conversation with them.
We’re going to walk you through HGTV’s advice on how to hire a kitchen remodeling contractor. You may realize that some of the things homeowners are looking for do present a challenge to your business model — for this reason, we also have tips on how to change.
1. Overcoming the “Sixth Month” Trial Period
People see hiring a new remodeling business as a risk. No one knows what to expect from you in terms of quality, and they’d rather let someone else be the guinea pig. HGTV advises, “If the firm has been open for six months, let someone else hire them.” As the firm in question, though, this can be a problem for you! So what’s the fix? One is to work at a discount for people who already trust you in order to build a local relationship. Another is to partner up with a home restoration franchise. They will have an already well-established name in the industry that can help give you a boost.
2. What Happens When You Lack a Portfolio
Clients want to know what they’re getting into, since every contractor’s design work is different. “The most important thing is to have seen the designer’s work,” advises HGTV. While we can all see the logic of this, it’s a difficult requirement if you’re just starting out and don’t have much to show yet. You can solve this issue by extensively documenting all the work you do, and also by looking for small but useful changes you can make in your own home in order to build up your portfolio. Being able to draw out potential plans also can be reassuring to homeowners.
3. Making Sure You Build a Strong Set of References
Clients are picky; not everything will go as planned. However, making sure your customers are overall pleased with their experience is key for a startup remodeling business. These first customers will essentially act as your brand ambassadors for the rest of the community. If you end up having price issues, it can be worth it to take a small hit now if it means establishing your reputation in the long run. It’s also worth noting the psychology of the “finished product” — people’s impressions of experiences are better if the very end was great. Pull through at the end as much as you can, and consider leaving your client a complimentary gift basket to congratulate them on their new kitchen.
If you’re a kitchen remodeling contractor, how do you deal with these requirements? Let us know in the comments. Good references here: www.granitetransformationsfranchise.com
