Written by Zach Hansen
When it comes to a project that needs to be completed, homeowners want to hire a contractor that they know can get the job done well and meet their expectations. As a contractor, earning the trust of a homeowner is a surefire way to land jobs and gain repeat clients. But with more than one contractor usually offering their services, standing out and gaining trust is a competitive field. It’s a critical step in success, but how do you go about trying to gain a homeowner’s trust?
Provide Itemized Quotes
Providing a homeowner with an itemized quote is a fantastic way to gain their trust by providing total transparency. An itemized quote will give the homeowner a breakdown of everything they can expect to pay for and avoids unpleasant surprises. Furthermore, by providing an accurate estimate that you can stick to, you’re likely to win a repeat customer when the completed work is within close range to the itemized quote you provided in the beginning.
Because an itemized quote lists out everything that the homeowner will be paying for, it can take some time to prepare. However, it’s well worth the extra effort to win the trust and potentially a repeat client. An itemized quote will also help to set your services apart from other contractors who might be trying to win over the client. It shows a level of expertise and reassurance that you know what you’re doing, and that your business is a trustworthy option.
Offer Financing Options
One of the best ways to win over a homeowner is to provide them some options for financing their project. Most individuals can’t afford to pay out of pocket from contracting services, after all, they can add up quickly and get very expensive! This is particularly true for essential but large projects, such as replacing a roof, which can potentially cost tens of thousands of dollars.
If you can offer a homeowner a financing option where they can pay for the project over time, they’re pretty likely to go with you as their contractor. It’s very attractive to the homeowner and shows that you’re willing to work with them to get their project done. Some financing options for homeowners can include:
- No interest for a certain period of time
- Credit card financing
- Loans
Offer a Satisfaction Guarantee
There’s nothing more appealing to a homeowner than a contractor who is so certain of their services that they offer a satisfaction guarantee. A satisfaction guarantee is a surefire way to win a homeowner’s trust. It’s promising them that they’re going to love the service you provide, and if they don’t, you’ll right any issues that they have. It’s right there in the name, you’re guaranteeing they’ll be satisfied with your services. A homeowner who is offered a satisfaction guarantee is sure to feel confident and at ease in following through in hiring you to complete their project.
Be Honest About the Timeline
Whatever you do, don’t promise you’ll get something finished in a certain amount of time if you can’t follow through. Being honest about a timeline upfront is critically important in winning the trust and ensuring your customer doesn’t end up angry when the work isn’t done by a specific date.
Never set yourself up for failure by promising a shortened and unrealistic timeline when you’re in the process of trying to land the job. Your client will likely be much angrier if you exceed the timeline you promised them than they will if the timeline you quote upfront is a little longer than they initially expected.
You should also consider that having a home project done can be an inconvenience to a client, and may often require them to make alternate living arrangements for the time being. If you’re not honest about how long the job will take, it can be difficult for the homeowner to plan. A homeowner will greatly appreciate your honesty so they can appropriately prepare for the project.
Winning the trust of a client at the beginning of a project and then following through on your promises can be a sure-fire way to earn customer loyalty. Of course, it’s important never to promise things that you can’t follow through on. When trying to win the trust of a homeowner, make sure that you’re guaranteeing realistic services.