You might not think the insurance restoration contractor has much in common with Best Buy, you know, the giant chain that sells electronics, appliances and digital devices. But I see some disturbing similarities.
In the disaster restoration business, we usually have a steady stream of work due to bad weather, accidents or breakdowns. We use each job to deepen our experience and enhance our reputation so that when agents or property owners need emergency repairs and restoration work, we are the go-to company.
We’ve all seen it happen. A marketing
representative or sales executive takes a client to lunch and they both enjoy a
cocktail. Then one of them enjoys another drink or two. Soon the conversation
loses focus, the jokes get a little more off-color, and the relationship that
was supposed to be strictly professional gets compromised.
Restoration contractors are entrepreneurs who
are attracted to our field by the notion that they can help people, work hard,
make some money and be in control of their business. The idea of being in
control is a cherished value for self-made business people.
Our business landscape is changing. As restoration contractors whose services are local, we considered ourselves immune to problems retailers and manufacturers face when...
Business schools speak of the "Wal-Mart effect" to describe second- and third-order impacts when a corporate giant moves in. You have no doubt witnessed this.
A client calls your office or maybe even stops by. Perhaps there is a problem with the job, maybe they have changed their minds once again about a paint color, or perhaps...
Restoration contractors depend on word-of-mouth referrals and testimonials to help get the call when a property owner has a disaster. Often we work so hard on current jobs that, when the work slows down, we just sit by the phone, hoping for that next call.