• Provide examples of previous work to potential customers.
• Obtain and display certifications and licenses to prove the team is qualified and experienced.
• Be transparent about costs, materials used, timelines, etc.
• Ask past customers for referrals and reviews online, then respond promptly to customer inquiries.
• Make yourself available and approachable whenever possible to establish a strong relationship with the client.
The construction business can be lucrative, but you have to earn the trust of your clients if you want to really make it. You can take a few steps to ensure that your clients trust your construction business. Read on to learn about key ways to win and maintain your clients’ trust:
Provide examples of previous work
If potential clients can see what kind of work you have done for previous customers, they will more likely trust you with their projects. Create an online portfolio showcasing some of your best work and include photos, videos, customer reviews, etc., so potential customers can get an idea of what kind of results they can expect from working with you.
You can also use your portfolio as a way to highlight the skills and experience of your team. Showcase examples of how they have successfully completed projects and share any awards demonstrating their qualifications. This will help to boost confidence in your team’s abilities.
Have professional certifications and licenses
Clients want to know they are working with professionals committed to delivering quality results. Having certifications and professional licenses will give them the assurance they need that their project is in good hands. Ensure all your certifications and licenses are up-to-date and prominently displayed on your website or other marketing materials.
Additionally, you need to ensure all your workers are adequately trained and certified. Make sure to verify your workers’ license or certification information before allowing them on the job site. If some of your workers lack certifications, you should provide the necessary training to get them up-to-date. For example, you can book a CITB test for your workers lacking CSCS health and safety cards. You should provide additional training resources to ensure they pass the test and get their certification. Once they have their certifications, you can prove to potential clients that your workers are competent and qualified.
Be transparent about costs
Letting potential customers know upfront how much a project is going to cost is vital for building trust in the construction business. Be as transparent as possible about costs, materials used, timelines, etc., so there won’t be any surprises down the line when it comes time for billing or completion dates.
Utilize social proof
If possible, ask past customers for referrals or reviews online (Google My Business reviews especially). This will show potential customers that others have had positive experiences working with you and make them feel more confident in hiring you as well.
When collecting reviews, always be sure to respond promptly and politely. This will show clients that you care about their feedback and are willing to make improvements if necessary.
Make yourself available
One way to build trust with clients is by making yourself available and approachable whenever possible—answer questions promptly and provide helpful advice even if it doesn’t directly benefit your bottom line right away—this will help establish a strong relationship between yourself and the client early on and make them more likely to do business with you in the future too.
However, your busy schedule may make it challenging to keep up with customer communication. If so, consider these options to help you manage client communications and provide a better experience for your customers:
Use an automated system for sending out emails
This will allow you to quickly respond to customer inquiries without having to manually type each one out.
Outsource customer service
If you don’t have the time or resources to handle customer service in-house, consider outsourcing it so that customers are always getting prompt and helpful responses.
Set up an appointment scheduling system
This can help you block out time to focus on customer inquiries and ensure that you’re never overbooked or too busy.
Integrate a chatbot
A chatbot can help provide 24/7 customer service, which is especially helpful if you have customers all over the world or operate in multiple time zones.
Building trust with clients in the construction business isn’t always easy, but taking these steps should help point you in the right direction! By having professional certifications, providing examples of previous work, being transparent about costs, utilizing social proof, and making yourself available whenever possible, potential customers should be more confident in hiring you for their next project.
