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Gone quiet? Maybe you’re in the middle of a lean patch or you can see it coming? Maybe you want to avoid the situation ever arising? So, what causes a dry spell? There are lots of reasons, and I can’t begin to presume to know your own situation. However, on this page, as part of our Building Firm Foundations initiative, I’d like to share some actionable strategies to keep your business in profitable jobs. Here’s to going from quiet to thriving. And when I say thriving, I mean with quality work – not work for the sake of working…

Give customers every reason to say yes

There’s a chance you’re being left behind by more forward-thinking building companies. Technology and innovative software can be transformative. It can streamline project management, enhance communication and professionalism, improve accuracy in quotes, and increase overall efficiency. In turn, this can lead to better projects, jobs completed on time, attract new clients through positive feedback, and ultimately make your business busier and significantly more profitable.

Prompt quoting

EstimatorXpress, our award-winning estimating software, has a super-fast engine and hundreds of renovation, extension and new build quote templates, pre-loaded with materials, labour, plant (and prices) relevant to your specific job. It can reduce your estimates from days, to less than an hour for an extension (and not much more for a new build).

Think of it – you’ll get the quote out quicker than most which will impress the customer. And based on the law of averages, the more jobs you quote on, the higher the chance of winning one!

You also have the option of our Take-off & Estimate Kit. So rather than estimating from the templates in EstimatorXpress, you trace your customer’s project in the Take-off version of PlansXpress, and provide the software with the job details. Then you put the drawing into EstimatorXpress for an INSTANT cost estimate, quotation and reports.

Look impressive – be impressive

On one hand that’s the impression you leave customers with. It’s all about how your business projects itself, from a clean vehicle to smart branding and so on. On the other, I’m talking about the quality of the documents you provide the customer.  EstimatorXpress automatically produces professional-looking quotes from the estimate. You can show as much or as little detail as you want – with no additional typing. You can opt to show images in your quotation or switch them off. And you can also add in your company logo. EstimatorXpress quotes are genuinely proven to boost your win rate by 230% and give your customers more confidence in you and your business.

Offer something extra – 3D models

Don’t just give the customer a price, anyone can do that. Give them a set of 3D models that will help them visualise their dream project. You know how popular CAD drawings of kitchen refurbishments have become. This takes it to the next level. Using the plans they give you, trace the project using HBXL’s PlansXpress. You’ll wind up with a drawing that you can adjust as necessary, should you win the work and at the quoting stage, a set of images that has real wow-factor.

Design as well as build

Don’t stop at tracing existing plans. No previous CAD software experience is needed to draw with PlansXpress. It’s fast, straightforward to use and completely tailored for residential building projects. The digital tool comes with a fantastic selection of construction drawing tools and architectural symbols that you simply click, drag and drop onto your drawing. By bringing the design in-house you can save a lot of money on architect and technician fees, especially if there are constant tweaks. Add ‘Design & Build’ to your business name and you’ve given yourself a wider pool of potential customers.

Give yourself a confidence-booster

You will definitely feel more confident if you adopt EstimatorXpress and PlansXpress, as described above. Thousands of builders across the UK have put their trust in these digital tools. They’ve come to rely on the software to give them estimates that are accurate, quotations that are visually impressive, and 3D models, and plans that transform their businesses.

On top of that it is worth looking at your business, think about what you’ve done, what isn’t working, what you know works and where you’d like to be in one year, five years’ time. This video with HBXL’s building mentor, Simon Lazarus, is one of many that have shifted the mindset of struggling builders.

When you have a clear picture of your offer, think about how you can present yourself and make your pitch. Our video here offers up some top promotional tips from HBXL experts. And if you need more support, then we have a programme of free Skills Bootcamps that can help.

Our free Skills Bootcamps

There are two benefits here – you’re quiet so training would be time well spent – and you want to raise your game to compete with strong competition and offer the best possible service.

Our free Skills Bootcamps are run in conjunction with the Department for Education. We offer courses on Estimating, CAD and Business Management. They have the highest OFSTED rating. The courses are free if you are self-employed / don’t run a payroll. The government picks up the tab. It costs limited companies with a payroll, 10% of the cost. Expert coaches provide practical support. There are no exams which everyone loves! And they can be life-changing too. Does your region qualify? Find out by requesting more information here.

Our online marketing courses

We work with partners, Videotile, who create interactive video-based e-learning courses. There are a huge number of courses we offer from health & safety to mental health & well-being. In this instance, I would recommend their range of courses on marketing – you watch the videos as and when you have the time. You can also have a free trial which provides you with access to the first module of your chosen course.

Want to thrive? Here’s what next.

We want to help you now and in the future. We’re here for the long haul. We’re 24 years old for starters – so we’re not going anywhere! So, let’s start this partnership with a phone conversation. Give us a call on 0117 916 7898. Or you could try our software free. Get an instant download, no obligation, by completing the short form.

And there are lots more resources for growing your business in our Building Firm Foundations hub.