Marketing Strategies For Design Build Contracting

With a jolt you pull your car to the side of the road and read the job sign that can't be more than one day old: New Home of ABC Inc.; General Contractor, XYZ Construction Co. You think out loud, "I knew the property had been sold," and your eyes roam over the real estate sign with the angled "sold" sticker proclaiming that the agent has been successful. "Thought the job would have come out on the bid list by now," you mutter as you move back onto the road and head for your office. Later in the day you get the agent on the phone: "Jim, how did XYZ get the ABC job? I saw nothing on the builders' exchange about it." "John, XYZ has been negotiating with ABC for the past six weeks. They did one fine job of selling the owner. Under stand they just called on him out of the blue asking for a chance. They put the whole package together, plans and all." "Didn't he get another price, Jim?" "Sure did; two, as a matter of fact. He asked me to get two other contractors capable of doing design-build projects. He liked XYZ better. I don't know the prices, but I really feel those ix x Preface boys impressed him by going to him. Were you planning to bid the job?" "Thinking about it," you answer, trying to sound very casual.

With a jolt you pull your car to the side of the road, and read the job sign that can't be over one day old: New Home of ABC Inc.; General Contractor, XYZ Construction Co. You think out loud, "I knew the property had been sold," and your eyes roam over the real estate sign with the angled "sold" sticker pro claiming to all that the agent has been successful. "Thought the job would have come out on the bid list by now," you mutter as you move back onto the road and head for your office. Later in the day you get the agent on the phone: "Jim, how did XYZ get the ABC job? I saw nothing on the builders' exchange about it." "John, XYZ has been negotiating with ABC for the past six weeks. They did one fine job of selling on old McDuff. Understand they just called on him out of the blue asking for a chance. They put the whole package together, plans and all." "Didn't that tightwad McDuff get another price, Jim?" "Sure did; two, as a matter of fact. He asked me to get two other contractors capable of doing design-build projects. He liked XYZ better. I don't know the prices, but I really feel those boys impressed McDuff by going to him. Were you planning to bid the job?" "Thinking about it," you answer, trying to sound very casual.

Buckshon addresses the architectural, engineering, and construction industry's marketing challenges with a positive and practical approach especially for business owners who don't want to be bogged down in clichs and who have been encouraged to try a variety of marketing ideas which simply don't work.

This book is aimed at anyone working in the construction industry wishing to obtain new work. It draws upon the reader's own experiences as a consumer to introduce the key principles of marketing and relates how these principles can be used to advantage in the construction industry. The book explains marketing strategy as the means of assessing where customers are likely to be, deciding what to offer them and what to say to them to persuade them to work with the reader's firm rather than with a competitor. Emphasis is placed on the development of personal relationships as a route to developing new business. Practical guidelines are offered for obtaining competitive advantage, for securing an initial meeting with potential clients, for the design and use of brochures and other publicity material, and for many other marketing and sales related activities.

A "must read" for anyone working in and about this industry who wants to gain a better understanding of the various processes involved in acquiring and successfully completing a construction project.

Engineers, architects and contractors seeking to expand their involvement in the green buildings market need a firm grounding in the marketing strategies and tactics which are being used most successfully in this specialized and growing field. This book is intended to serve as an effective tool for professional green building enthusiasts and advocates in presenting green design features, sustainable strategies and new products to the potential green building client. The author addresses key questions such as: How is green building marketing different from other types of professional service marketing? What tools and techniques from conventional marketing can be used to greater effect in marketing green buildings? What is the size and potential of the green buildings market? And how should a firm position itself to succeed in this growing marketplace? You'll find clear descriptions of successful strategies and approaches to marketing and selling green building-related services, as well as up-to-date information on the role of LEED® in green building projects.

This book covers the whole range of marketing principles, skills and knowledge that the modern construction manager - from whatever discipline or profession within the industry - requires to generate effective and profitable business. While aimed primarily at students in the later years of degree, diploma and professional courses, it will also appeal to students in related disciplines and those following postgraduate and post-qualification courses. The approach underlines the importance of adopting a proactive attitude towards the marketing of a company's services in the construction industry. It reflects the reality of the transformation that has taken place over the past twenty years where there has been a shift from a highly protected domestic industry to an unprotected global industry. The already huge and increasing pool of expertise in the field means that there is much greater choice available to clients and and potential clients. The choice of contractor is therefore going to be made increasingly on the basis of factors other than pure expertise. Therein lies the importance of marketing. Factors such as price, quality, value, volume, time, client satisfaction and confidence all come into play - and these are presented and differentiated through marketing. The book covers all the principles of marketing, including strategy, marketing campaigns, product and service, price, promotion, access and research. It also deals with client perceptions, confidence, expectations and understanding. The critical question of operating in a fully globalised industry is also addressed.

Construction Business Development is the first book to provide an insight into business development strategies, tools and techniques in construction. This edited text combines academic research with the broad industrial experience of construction business development professionals and marketing consultants. It uses illustrations and case studies in addressing current and future challenges and opportunities in a highly competitive business environment. This practical book will help construction managers learn how to turn clients into loyal customers.