Good contractor-client relationships can lead to repeat business, referrals, and word-of-mouth marketing. So how can the contractor build better relationships with the clients? Check out our article to find your answer.

Here are three critical keys to building effective contractor-client relationships.

Clear Communication

One of the essential steps to building a solid relationship is establishing good communication with your client. The initial thing you should do is create a single point of contact who will be responsible for all communications with the client. It will simplify the information flow and eliminate confusion about who the client should contact.

You also need to know the way of communication and how often you communicate with the client. To succeed in managing that, you can consider using software through AECIS to help you do this task.

Each client is different. Therefore, discussing how you communicate with them is essential. Email and text are popular because they create a digital paper trail you can refer to issues and disputes. Phone calls and in-person meetings are good when discussing complex content. You also can double-check information by getting a quick email recapping the discussion.

Explicit contract

A clear and concise contract is essential for building and maintaining a solid contractor-client relationship, whether a new client or one you've worked with for years. In addition, a legal document will build a strong relationship because a good contract establishes roles and responsibilities for all parties involved.

A good contract should readily understand and have coherence. The contract should clearly outline the roles and responsibilities of both the client and the contractor. Clauses for the scope of work, payments, change orders, claims, etc., should be clearly outlined in the contract.

Both parties should sit down and carefully review the contract together. Any ambiguous content should be addressed and corrected before signing the contract. Laying out the expectations of both parties in the agreement will lead to fewer disagreements later.

Productive Collaboration

In truth, specific contracting and project delivery methods like design-build and integrated project delivery tend to rely on a more collaborative approach. For example, as a general contractor, the earlier you can get in on a project in the design phase, the better you understand the whole project.

Focus on determining the project's most essential aspects. It could be the budget, project timetable, quality of work, sustainability, etc. Asking open-ended questions and listening to the client can help you understand their needs. When they feel heard, they're more likely to respond positively to you. Don't shy in offering advice and alternatives to your client. 

Encouraging your client to engage in the construction process makes working through change orders and other rising issues easier. Guiding them through the process and being open and honest about how changes will impact the cost and construction timetable is a great way to gain your client's trust.

Are you looking for an easy solution to effectively manage your construction project? Then, contact AECIS to make a trial.