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Let’s have a chat about a topic as hefty as a builder’s breakfast – keeping customer relations shipshape in the construction industry. It’s something that is not always easy to achieve, but something that is also extremely vital to the continued success of any builder. So, without further ado…

Knock, Knock – Communication’s Key

One of the most important aspects of maintaining good customer relationships in the construction industry is communication, and just like a well-oiled drum, it needs to be smooth and efficient to be effective. You should always aim to keep your customers in the loop at every step of their project, and let them know about potential snags, and that scaffolding that’s been standing longer than the Shard, for example. The more they know, the less likely they are to get annoyed about things seemingly taking longer than they should, or any other little issues that crop up as they are wont to do.

Honesty is a Vital Building Block

Honesty, as they say, is the best policy, and this is certainly true when it comes to keeping a positive customer relationship in the construction industry. In fact, it’s fair to say that honesty forms the foundation of strong customer relationships. Whether it’s delays due to rainy weather (we all know British summers, don’t we?) or budget changes, being upfront keeps trust levels higher than a crane operator’s lunch spot.

Promises, Promises

It may seem like a good idea to make grand promises when you want to secure a client, or keep them sweet so they don’t keep hassling you about a project, but, unless you can 100 percent deliver them,  it really is not a good idea, and not honest construction business owner would stoop to making idle promises. All it does is annoy the customer and tarnish your reputation as a building company that people can rely on, so it will do far more harm than good in the long term. Promise what you can deliver, and deliver what you promise.

It’s Not Just About the Bricks and Mortar

Sure, your client is invested in their project, but they’re also invested in the journey. Celebrate milestones, empathise with their stress, and remember their little lad’s name. A personal touch in a field as tough as industrial concrete construction can make your service as appealing as a bacon butty on a chilly morning.

Meet and Greet

Construction is not a remote-control industry; it’s about rolling up your sleeves and getting stuck in. Regular face-to-face meetings (or video calls, if you can’t leave the site) are essential to build strong relationships. A problem shared over a cuppa can be a problem halved!

Good Old-Fashioned Manners

It’s a golden oldie, but good manners go a long way. A simple ‘thank you’ or ‘please’ is as refreshing as a cold pint after a long, dusty day on-site. And let’s not forget the magic of the timely apology when things go pear-shaped.

Listen Up, Mate

Customers need to be heard, not just managed. Taking the time to listen and understand their concerns, ideas, and feedback is more crucial than a spirit level in a carpenter’s toolbox. Active listening fosters positive relationships and can even lead to a spot of problem-solving innovation.

Embrace Tech, Buddy

And here’s where construction CRM comes into play, chums. A construction Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system is like the techie cousin of the foreman. It helps you track customer interactions, organise project details, and automate tasks faster than a plasterer can slap up a wall.

Stick to the Schedule

We all know the saying, ‘time is money’, and in construction, this is truer than a plumb line. Not only does sticking to the schedule as closely as you can – we know that various factors can sometimes make this difficult if not impossible – show respect for your customer’s schedule and budget, keeping them happy, but it can also be a food way to save money and run your business more efficiently if you plan it right too., So, it really is a win-win.

Quality, Not Just Quantity

Delivering top-notch quality is the cornerstone of keeping customer relations rosy. Nobody wants to be stuck with a paint job that peels faster than an onion in a French restaurant or a roof that starts to leak as soon as you’ve left the premises. If you make a point of doing good solid work no matter if it takes you a little longer, then not only will your existing customers be happy, but they will likely recommend you to all of their friends and family who need work done too, and as you know, word of mouth is vital in our trade.

Transparency – Clear as Glass

Construction is a complex business, with multiple stages and numerous hands on deck. It’s easy for the customer to feel lost in the jargon. By being transparent, explaining processes, and answering questions, you can make customers feel part of the project, rather than an outsider.

Resolve Issues Swiftly

Let’s face it; problems do pop up in construction like unexpected potholes. But the thing is, the way in which you handle them can make all the difference to how the customer feels about it all in the end. If you are proactive and you do everything you can to clean up whatever mess you’ve gotten into, then the customer will probably not look upon you any less favorably, whereas, if you don’t take their concerns seriously and take your sweet time doing anything about them, then a bad review is likely coming your way.

Keep Sites Tidy

Remember, a clean site is a safe and efficient site. Nobody wants to see their future home or business looking like a rubbish tip during construction. Keeping a tidy site can, then, go an extremely long way in showing customers your professionalism and respect for their property.

Provide Regular Updates

Construction projects are a significant investment of time and money for customers. Regular updates, even when there’s not much progress, keep anxiety at bay. These little touchpoints can do wonders for customer relations, and ultimately your reviews too.

Be Proactive

Just like putting on your safety gear before stepping on-site, being proactive in customer relations can prevent many a mishap. Anticipating needs, addressing potential issues before they blow up, and being prepared for every step of the project will keep your customer relations as strong as steel girders.

The Art of the Follow-Up

The project might be over, but your relationship with the client doesn’t have to be. Post-project follow-ups show customers that you care about more than just the invoice. It could be a quick call to check how things are holding up or a Christmas card. These small gestures keep you in mind for future projects.

Continuous Improvement

Just as the construction industry keeps innovating, so should your customer service. Encourage feedback, learn from it, and keep on improving in every area of your business if you want to keep relations with your customers positive. After all, Rome wasn’t built in a day!

So, there you have it, fellow builders! Thirteen top tips to keep your customer relations positive in the construction world. Thirteen top tips to keep your customer relations positive in the construction world. Grab these tips with both hands and start laying the foundations for stronger customer relationships. It won’t happen overnight, but if you are consistent and keep your focus on the customer before all else, pretty soon you will be one of the most loved construction companies around!

Whether you work at a construction site, a lab, a warehouse, or just about anywhere that constantly has people at some sort of risk, it’s crucial to have nothing but the best of the best when it comes to safety gear. Think about a helmet, for example; if the plastic covering is soft, then you can definitely count on that basically not being effective and still putting someone at risk. Sadly, while more companies are focusing on mass production, it does technically mean that quality goes down the drain.

However, even though more safety gear and equipment companies are popping up, that doesn’t mean you have to be worried about being put at risk. It’s really about getting the best of the best. So, here’s how you can find the best businesses that provide nothing but the best safety gear!

Know What Certifications Are Required for These Businesses

Whether it’s railing companies, helmets, gloves, steel toe boots, or essentially anything else, there’s a very high chance there is going to be specifical certifications that are required to prove that the item is safe. Nowadays, it does seem like only good businesses show they’re reputable and are willing to shoot through hoops to prove it. After all, when using safety equipment, you have the expectation that it’s going to protect you if anything bad happens. 

Reviews Tend to Help

When it comes to reviews, since it’s B2B, it might not be as simple as looking at their Business Google Reviews. Consumer reviews and other business reviews are different; you could even say it’s more challenging to find. For the most part, you might need to check websites like Trust Pilot, LinkedIn, see if there are reviews online (like a blog post), or maybe just ask around. While yes, it’s technically more challenging to find reviews when you find them, they help out so much. 

Ask for Samples

This doesn’t always work, but sometimes you can get a free sample or a sample that’s cheap. Sometimes, at industry events, these are even given out. So it’s a perfect opportunity to get an idea of the quality. But there is technically one catch that you need to be wary of. Sometimes, but not always, businesses will give out samples that are of higher quality and made of better material than the actual items themselves. Of course, this isn’t all the time, but it’s best to be cautious of this. 

Never Hurts to Ask for Referrals

Can this be tough? To a degree, yeah. For starters, you can’t ask your competitors because what are the odds they’ll even help you? Sometimes, a client might be able to point you in a good direction. Other than that. It might be other organizations you’re working with. While it can be hard, it’s not far from possible, though. Plus, you can always go online, such as specific forums, and YouTube videos for your industry, or even just straight up ask for recommendations on Linked In.

Setting up a business involves a variety of different costs and expenditures that not everyone might be aware of when they begin a business venture. However, once you know what costs are involved, you can plan your budgets accordingly so that you’re being realistic with your expenses.

While it’s a lot easier to set up a business nowadays, it still presents plenty of challenges. Not everyone can overcome those challenges, which is why it’s important to be prepared. Here are five costs to consider when setting up a business.

Expenses for setting up the business

Talking of expenses, this is your first step when it comes to setting up a business. Consider what you need in order to set up a business in the first place. For example, the cost of paying for a business name, and setting it up officially through any local or national governing organizations.

There are a lot of small costs that come with setting up a business, so it’s important to note these expenses as part of your budget. 

The equipment

Equipment is a very important one, especially when certain businesses will need specialist equipment. For example. If you’re running a business where you create and craft everything yourself, then you’ll probably need more industrial equipment. A great mig welder for sale is going to set you back, so it’s good to be mindful of how much this will all cost.

In order to kickstart your business off in the right way, you might need more equipment than expected so it’s good to plan this out in advance.

Hiring staff

Be aware that you may or may not need to hire staff when setting up a business. It all depends on the type of business you’re creating. While some can be created as a solo business, others might need the help of more staff. That might be something that comes at an additional cost that you hadn’t thought about until recently.

With that being said, look at what budget needs to be allocated to staff. You may find that more needs to go on your staff than planned. At the same time though, you don’t want to hire too many staff members that you struggle to afford them all. It’s a fine balance that you need to work on to get right.

Insurances

Insurance is an important one because it’s something that you need to ensure you have enough coverage on. With insurance, it’s one of those things that you don’t realize you need until you need it.

With business insurance, there are a lot of liabilities and that’s why it’s important to get the necessary coverage to help protect your business. For legal purposes, insurance is a must-have.

Emergency fund

Finally, an emergency fund is there to help you in those situations where your business encounters a rainy day. You can’t guarantee as a business that you’re not going to run into financial trouble at any point during your company’s growth. It’s something to be expected – that’s why an emergency fund is worth having in place.

Setting up a business isn’t easy but with these tips, you’ll be able to set one up with all of the right methods. 

Working in construction can be tough but equally rewarding. This job includes operating various equipment and machinery, which can result in accidents and injuries if safety tips are overlooked. If you are an engineer, you may have learned about these when studying for your engineering management masters.

To keep yourself and everyone else at a construction site safe, it is essential to follow safety rules and construction procedures correctly. This will prevent mishaps, severe injuries, and, God forbid, any casualties. Below, we have compiled a list of some common safety tips you should remember:

Why Is Construction Site Safety Crucial?

Since most construction sites use heavy equipment, sharp tools, and bulky machinery, they pose safety hazards to employees working on the site. Ignorance can lead to fatalities, injuries, and other issues. Construction site safety is crucial for:

• Public protection
• Adherence to public regulations
• Employee safety
• Credibility as a construction group in the building industry

10 Top Construction Site Safety Tips

1.   Never Yank Equipment By the Cords

Yanking the cords will not only damage the equipment or machinery, but it can also cause serious injury based on the type of machine being handled. For example, yanking equipment with a sharp blade can cause it to cut its cord or cut deep into your skin. It can even hit another employee working near you. Keep cords away from heat and oil to prevent slippage, fires, and electrocution.

2.   Stay Aware of Your Surroundings

Staying alert and knowing what is happening in your surroundings is an essential part of being a construction worker. This will keep you aware of hazardous machinery, low clearances, and overhead lines.

3.   Perform Regular Inspections On Height Safety Equipment

Top quality, reliable, and durable height safety equipment must be used at a construction site. It is even more important to perform regular inspections to protect the equipment from heat and direct sunlight. Exposure to these may lead to wear and tear, which can compromise the durability and strength of the equipment.

4.   Ensure Scaffolding Is Erect

This may sound like an obvious one, but it is highly essential for scaffolding to be placed on a solid surface and to make sure it stays erect. Scaffolding must never be constructed on loose gravel on top of ice or rugged terrain, as this can lead to falls and serious injuries.

5.   Maintain Your First Aid Kit

Keep your first aid kit updated and regularly check it to ensure you have medicine and other supplies ready for use at any moment. Keep painkillers, disinfecting ointment, cotton swabs, cotton balls, bandaids, bandages, and other supplies in sufficient amounts. You never know what may come in handy and when you will need to use the supplies.

6.   Use Tall Ladders

Using ladders taller than what you need will prevent unwanted stretching and falls. Make sure to use a ladder at least 3 to 4 feet taller, as this will ensure a safe climb. Also ensure the ladder has a level where you can stand and work, and place your equipment. It is ideal if it has hooks where you can hang supplies as well.

7.   Wear a Safety Harness

A safety harness is necessary, especially when working at a substantial height. Harnesses ensure an employee stays safe and prevents them from falling due to slips, unconsciousness, or injuries. More on fall arrest harnesses, a vital component of workplace safety, can provide additional information about how these devices function and offer a comprehensive solution to prevent life-threatening falls, ultimately giving peace of mind regarding safety. 

8.   Establish a Safe Descending and Ascending Strategy

Most injuries on construction sites result from poor machinery or structure ascending and descending techniques. Make sure to keep a 3-point stance when getting on any structure or machinery. Ensure that both feet and a hand or both hands and one foot is stable and placed flat on a solid surface.

9.   Replace Faulty Equipment Immediately

Any damaged or faulty equipment can act out of control and become extremely difficult to handle. It can cause injuries, result in serious damage, and also cause losses. Inspect all machines, tools, and equipment before use and always replace the ones that seem to act faulty. Replace worn harnesses, cables, and cords for added employee safety.

10.                Restrict Crowding Around Machinery

Staying clear of operating machinery not only affects work quality and work speed but also guarantees safety. Crowding the area where a large machine is operational is highly unsafe and can result in horrible injuries. It is best to place a sign that restricts crowding around machinery.

Endnote

The safety tips mentioned above will not only keep you safe but will also ensure employee safety. Remember that giving importance to safety over convenience is essential to prevent casualties and will ensure peace of mind amongst all construction site workers.