In the world of YouTube videos and an undeniable DIY obsession, it can be tough to know when to take a job and when to walk away. Work is harder than ever to find. Homeowners want to be involved, sometimes to the point of creating impossible-to-meet expectations.
Here are three things you must do to protect yourself, your business, and your sanity as a successful contractor in the new world of YouTube DIY:

  1. Become Educated; Then EducateSuccessful Contractor
    By some estimates, 40% of the nation’s workforce will be freelancing full-time by 2020. This shift from traditional employment to entrepreneurship may mean more competition for contractors who work only for themselves. It also means better access to education and knowledge. Your customers will know more, but not more than you.
  2. Manage Client Expectations
    It can be difficult to present yourself as an expert when everyone who watches HGTV home improvement shows thinks they are experts, too. Don’t take offense. If you are preparing an estimate or even having preliminary conversations with a potential client, you are in a position to educate them about their specific situation, and that’s something HGTV can’t do for them.
    If your client has unrealistic expectations for a project, be honest with them right away. It’s much easier to break the bad news before you break ground. Offer a few alternatives and see if you can find a way to make as much of their remodeling dream come true without setting them up for disappointment.
  3. Know When to Walk Away (and know when to run)
    If your attempts to manage a client’s expectations are turning the job into a dead end or a no-win situation, it’s okay to walk away. In fact, it’s much better to be honest about what you think you can realistically offer than it is to stretch the truth or set yourself up for failure. If you sense that you are dealing with a particularly difficult situation, it’s always better to find new business elsewhere.

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