I agree that sourcing from vendors that are less shoppable on the web is ideal. Do you already have a list started that you can share?
This is a great Facebook community conversation.
Do you always use a GC or can you just bring in trades without them being managed by a GC?
Depends on your state but I bring in a general contractor whenever I can, as I love to hand off wrangling electricians & plumbers whenever possible. : )
What constitutes contract labor for you?
Contract labor is any labor that is done by a licensed trade (general contractor, plumber, electrician, etc.).
I love the idea of negotiating deeper discounts, but I’m a new firm and am pretty far from being able to do this. What else can I do?
I completely get it. I remember wandering the halls of the D&D in New York, just trying to figure out who’s who in this industry, let alone having accounts set up. When you are first getting started, look for a local trade showroom that sells multiple to the trade lines (without having to do your own opening order) or an online buying group. This is a great conversation for the FB community.
Have you ever stated that clients must use your trades people? If so, do you have wording for that? Where could that go in the contract? I would like to start doing this as I have clients who have been shopping all of my trades ppl like GCs, millworkers, etc. and I’m wasting SO much time on this.
I have not stated that clients must use my trades people. When a client wants to shop around, I stay open to that. I think of it as a way to source new contractors and trades (sometimes they bring a contractor you’ve been dying to work with).
That said, if I don’t recognize the trade, I suggest they get and call many referrals. That they go to previous projects to vet workmanship and quality in person. That they research reviews and the BBB online for any issues the trade may be having. They may even want to do a background check or find out if there are any liens or legal actions taken with the trade.
Last, I give them my honest opinion of if they are qualified for the job. Both from a skill level, project management level, communication level and of course, if I feel they will be an excellent team player. I explain that a big part of the value that I bring is my vetting and long term relationships with these trades, my trust and understanding of their abilities is paramount to a smooth project. By they time we’re done with that conversation, they often want to go with my recommendation (or meet with two of my recommendations).
I recommend having your lawyer draft language and adding it into your agreement where they think it fits best if you are leaning toward a firm change.
