Managing Client Expectations Without Losing Your Shirt or the Next Job

This course will help participants examine issues on the project from multiple viewpoints. While a General Contractor certainly has one perspective on the project, so too do the Owner, Architect/Engineer, Subcontractors, and other Stakeholders. By learning to present issues in the right framework we decrease adversarial behaviors on the project and increase the likelihood that our proposals for additional work will be accepted.

Participants will also learn to negotiate better terms and conditions before contracts are awarded. The clients have a belief that everything is free on bid day, but there are ways that Contractors can push back and still get the work. Just like change orders can be issued after work is awarded to add project requirements, change orders can be used to lessen onerous project requirements as well. Many times this can be done without having to give back money. If your clients are causing you to spend a lot of time on efforts that are not implemented, and worse not paid for, then you need this course to learn how to minimize those occurrences. 

This course is about learning to manage the relationship in a positive way to get what you need. This course is also about learning the right ways to add value that will have a positive impact on your client, and a positive impact on your cash flow. Many of these changes cost you nothing to provide, and some might even cost you less than what you currently do. Satisfied clients are more likely to hire you again through negotiated contracts that allow you to command a higher fee and lower risk. Satisfied clients are also more likely to refer you to other owners where you can still negotiate contracts rather than risk it all in low bid shoot-outs.