In This Economy, Should You Specialize or Expand Your Service?
Times are tough and many contractors are pulling tooth and nail to find steady work. Yet before anyone resorts to self abuse, ask the question of how to best sell your abilities. Should you expand or specialize your offerings? As mainly a woodworker, is a move into concrete or even masonry worth it?
Such a question can be easy or difficult. Take remodeling contractors; for you the answer is probably simple — expansion. The reason being that remodeling inherently involves many different facets of construction from carpentry to electrical to plumbing and more. Being able to offer experience, knowledge, and advice in many of these areas is a big plus.
However, if you offer a unique service, one which sets you apart from the field, then specialization may be your best route. Say you’re a custom tile setter or mason with your own formula for creativity, something that is a valuable selling point. It makes sense that you would want to hone that skill and accentuate it during interviews.
At the same time homeowners and their remodels can be very fluid things, changing as the days go by. While it is generally accepted that a well-planned remodel is the smoothest remodel, that is not always how it goes. Therefore an extensive list of skills and services, including a heightened ability to think on your feet, may be the best way to go.
Another way to expand your offerings is to expand your knowledge of new building products, especially the eco-friendly ones. As remodeling gets greener than ever, there are a lot of well-hyped products coming out to fill the need for better energy efficiency. So in these tough times, if you do have free time on your hands, feel free to spend it researching appliances, building products, and other trends that are dominating trade shows and expos. Today’s remodeling homeowners are bound to have more questions regarding the quality and longevity of these new products. Can you answer them?
Tags: building products, carpentry, company, concrete, contractor, eco-friendly, expanding, expansion, green, marketing, offerings, portfolio, remodeling, services, specialization, specializing, steady work