Finding Work

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RoaddogSparky

Work until it Hz.
Location
Southern Utah
Occupation
Industrial Electrician
Hey Folks,

I'm a new electrical contractor in the residential/commercial world. Having just started I have a lot of smaller service jobs which are fine, but I am trying to get into the new construction market more-especially residential. Anyone out there have experience with effective methods that could help me out? I've been trying a few things but I'm interested in what the experienced crowd has to say. Thanks.
 
Residential new construction is pretty cut throat, but then again, so is commercial new construction, it’s just a bigger payday or bigger loss, depending on how it works out.
 
Your phone/computer is your best friend for drumming up new work. I recently needed to fill in the schedule a bit more, so I called/emailed around 30 GC's (commercial, Resi-new construction, remodel, etc..), three got back to me and started using my company asap. Several others said they would be in touch. Also google is King, it takes time to get to the top, but if you start now (if you have not already) you'll get there sooner.
 
AC\DC said:
I do mostly remodel and service work. I make more on them than new construction . Only nice thing about new is it fills in a larger window for scheduling.
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Another nice thing is that you bid once for a week or more of work.

So though the hammer time pays less per hour, you're not supposed to be burning as many non-paying hours
 
mongoosesparky said:
Hey Folks,

I'm a new electrical contractor in the residential/commercial world. Having just started I have a lot of smaller service jobs which are fine, but I am trying to get into the new construction market more-especially residential. Anyone out there have experience with effective methods that could help me out? I've been trying a few things but I'm interested in what the experienced crowd has to say. Thanks.
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Do you know any electricians you can buddy with? I know quite a few, and I'm always trying to throw work their way.

I recently went through a shedding process.
I stopped working for a remodeling company who kept me busy for a long time, and tried to get a buddy to take their work.

I was recently contacted by an accessibility remodeling company that does walk-in bathtubs. Their new superintendent used to work for the aforementioned remodeling company, and knows me. I tried to get one of my buddies connected with them.

I have a new construction builder I need to shed, and don't know if any of my buddies can take his work.

A couple of my buddies will ask me every now and then if I can offer them any relief. I usually can't.

Maybe someone you know is too busy and will get you lined up to get started.
 
Many years ago when I had my business the first time, practically all the contractors in town would eat breakfast at this one restaurant. One of my competitors said he was going up to the plant at the top of the hill to install a fan. I had done work there before, and told him to watch out for the high leg. That plant had a 600 amp full delta service. He asked what a high leg was, and I told him. The next morning, he came back to the restaurant, and said he knew what a high leg was now. All of the panels were full except every third space. So he hooked his 120 volt fan up to an open space, and shortly after it started smoking, he decided to check the voltage!
 
AC\DC said:
Wow that nice your fellow electrician help you out. Over in my area, they will all bad mouth you and stab you in the back.
Best to keep to myself.
Maybes it’s me though:unsure:
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They wouldn't have much to say about me. I'm always the one throwing work around to somebody who needs it.

I have one buddy who likes to do service upgrades, and I can't stand doing them. So a half dozen times a year or so I'll get a call for one and I try to line it up for him.

I have another buddy who helped me for a little while a couple of years ago, but it didn't work out with him being on the same job as me because he's really slow and his work doesn't look as neat as mine. But he seems to do okay with small jobs on his own and service work. So I've been trying to throw all of that stuff to him lately. But last week I sent him a pretty decent referral stream from a plumber, and he ruined it on the first one. Turned into a complete ass toward a guy who had a small job, took two bids and decided to hire the other guy. He showed my buddy the courtesy of telling him he had decided to hire someone else, and my buddy belittled him and insulted him in an email. Then that guy copied it to me. I was horrified this somebody would trash a referral like that. Even if he didn't get the job, there's no excuse. He won't get another referral from me.
 
Setting up a business page on the nextdoor app has been pretty helpful for me. It's easier to advertise specifically in the neighborhoods where most of your work already is. I've been sticking to smaller repairs and service work. I tried a few small rennovations but even basic kitchen and bathroom rennovations end up having endless difficulties. The general contractors often promise they can relocate ovens and appliances without anticipating how difficult or expensive it's going to be. Until you get teamed up a with a good general contractor, I'd steer clear of rennovations they're frequently unorganized or the general contractor turns out to be an unlicensed interior decorator or carpenter.
 
I've used Angie's list that worked pretty well at keeping me busy full time, that along with a website, until I got a reputation.
Avoid the home advisor unless you just want to spend all your time on tire kickers. And they charge you for every one of the "leads" at a ridiculous rate for the job type. Never had one payout, all were "I'm wondering how much it costs to do xxx?".
 
Fred B said:
I've used Angie's list that worked pretty well at keeping me busy full time, that along with a website, until I got a reputation.
Avoid the home advisor unless you just want to spend all your time on tire kickers. And they charge you for every one of the "leads" at a ridiculous rate for the job type. Never had one payout, all were "I'm wondering how much it costs to do xxx?".
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I had similar experience with thumbtack. As long as you keep track of your close rates and your acquisition cost it still can be profitable. Especially when you factor in repeat work that doesn't cost zilch. Stay within your budget and let it grow.
 
mongoosesparky said:
Hey Folks,

I'm a new electrical contractor in the residential/commercial world. Having just started I have a lot of smaller service jobs which are fine, but I am trying to get into the new construction market more-especially residential. Anyone out there have experience with effective methods that could help me out? I've been trying a few things but I'm interested in what the experienced crowd has to say. Thanks.
Click to expand...
I used to stop in at any store or office where I saw something broken, a receptacle hanging from the wall, a light out, etc. Offered my services to fix that and anything else. That never worked.

Last time I ran a service van for someone else, I would go cold calling on slow days. I went to every church in the area, giving them a list of churches we had worked for. Wound up with one regular customer from that and a few other one time calls. Did the same with apartment buildings. Got a few calls from that.
Go to supply houses occasionally for some small items like screws, tape, etc. Speak around to the others there. Become familiar. I did this and ran into an old friend who called me in to help him on several jobs.
Go to the places that sell sheds. See if they will hire you to prewire them.
Get a website. Crucial nowadays for anyone starting new. Not doing this was one of my biggest mistakes. People check websites now like they used to check Yellow Pages. Seeing your presence gives the idea you are around to stay. Hopefully you are.
Make signs to put out at your jobsites. "Electrical Work by Mongoose", etc. Give phone number. That will get you a few calls and maybe a few jobs.
Call your local power company and see if they keep a list of EC's to call for storm damage, etc. Some do, but not all. A smaller POCO in our area called my boss or their customers did, for storm damage or burned out meter bases. But for these, you have to be ready to go out all hours.
Give out business cards. Leave them on your table when you eat out, give them to servers and cashiers. Tack them up on bulletin boards. Some people scoff at cards today but they are still cheap and easy to hand out. I still get a few calls from cards I handed out 20 years ago.
None of these will make you rich by themselves but will hopefully help you survive until you build up your reputation.
Good luck to you. It's tough out there.
 
mongoosesparky said:
I'm a new electrical contractor in the residential/commercial world. Having just started I have a lot of smaller service jobs which are fine, but I am trying to get into the new construction market more-especially residential. Anyone out there have experience with effective methods that could help me out? I've been trying a few things but I'm interested in what the experienced crowd has to say. Than
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