Thanks, this is a great video. I had a question about the money test--would you still employ that if a prospective client just wanted to know what your standard wall assembly was, and why you chose that assembly?
tuber, im guessing your asking about the section that starts at 9:43 I don't know what you do, but I will take a shot at answering the question. I try to be on the side of generosity with my time - particularly with answering a couple questions. Since being on TH-cam, I get calls or comments from around the globe to answer questions, and I try to answer them just to be helpful. I typically don't get paid for those conversations, unless they want to take the conversation further. So if a client asks - what do you typically do in this situation? I have no problem answering those questions. And thats often a great chance for you to demonstrate your knowledge and experience as a professional (which builds trust in your potential client). It also is a great chance for you to get to know them and their project. So you can ask questions like - is this something you are looking to get help with? or are you planning on doing this work by yourself? Have you had other people come out and look at this for you? what was their feedback? I really like to work with clients that are able to have free-flowing and honest dialogue, so I go out of my way to chat with them to see if "I can trust them" Money starts to get involved with people "ask me to do something" - for them - thats inside the scope of my business. Do they want you to send a sketch? Give a quote? Perform an inspection? These are things that may be something you charge for - if you have enough work that you don't mind being selective. Just know that lots of people offer "free estimates" so you will loose some people if you are rigid in your approach. But I have found people to be quite reasonable, if you explain why you need to charge a fee to cover your costs, and especially if you give it back on the contract (or something along those lines). Does that clarify things for you?
@@levelupstrategies Thanks for the detailed reply. I should have clarified, I would be the client in this situation. I'm happy to front a few hundred bucks to be vetted as you described in your video, but in terms of initial screening coming from the perspective of the client, for example: I've found it's very hard to get even basic info about their typical assemblies, and from what I've been told, it's better to go with a builder who has experience executing the details that I'm interested in. A lot of them want a site address and $3,000 to do a feasibility study before they'll answer this question. I don't have any interest in any builder who only does cavity insulated 2x6 walls without ventilated rainscreens, and it doesn't seem like a huge ask to get this info, but maybe I do have to offer up a few hundred bucks for it. But a few thousand? So far I've asked this two ways A) "Can you describe from interior to exterior your typical wall assembly?" or B) "On your last project what was the wall assembly like?" Usually I don't get an answer, so maybe I'm going about this wrong. There are a small minority of builders who just put this stuff on their website, so that's nice. I thought about phrasing it as a yes-no question e.g. "Do you build with continuous external insulation, and have you ever done 10 inches of it?"
@@tubulartuber Ahh.. That makes a lot more sense. Thank you for clarifying. The unfortunate reality is that your questions don't extend much to the builder to bite on to, and will likely be ignored by anyone who is busy, or assumes that you are kicking tires, or require a lot of eduction. It's ok to learn, and lean into professionals to help, but it will serve you to present yourself in a way that invites a response. My favourite resource for learning how to ask questions is Chris Voss. (Book - never split the difference) I always try to frame my questions to get at NO from the person I am asking. Ex. Would you mind helping me? ( No- oriented question). vs. Can you help me? (Yes- oriented question) To answer your question specifically about details. I would start by framing yourself as a keen and motivated colleague and potential client. - Clarity and presence in your writing is key. Ex. Hello, I really care about high-performance construction. Choosing the right builder for my (new home/ Renovation/ project) is very important to me. Do you mind if I ask you a few questions about your projects? It will be hard for a serious professional to ignore that sort of question, unless they self-disqualify because they don't care about high-performance construction. In subsequent questions you can clarify with your understanding/goals. Ex. I am looking to build using fully exterior insulation & rain screen. Do you have any experience with this sort of wall assembly? (if they say NO - thats good clarification for you that they are not experienced). Follow up question: - Would you mind sharing some portfolio work from other high-performance projects where you did exterior insulation? Beyond that - offer respect - to build trust, and take the lead with money. Most professionals aren't afraid of helping, they are afraid of getting taken advantage of or wasting time. Ex. I recognize your time is important, and I have some questions that are important to me when I am choosing a builder. I would be willing to pay a modest fee to respect your time, and get some clarification on your typical building practices so see if we are aligned for the project I am considering. Would you be opposed to scheduling a call / teams meeting / coffee? - My guess is that most professionals would not charge you anything if you take the lead on gesturing respect for their time and expertise. Let me know how it goes, and thanks for taking the time to ask!
Thanks, this is a great video. I had a question about the money test--would you still employ that if a prospective client just wanted to know what your standard wall assembly was, and why you chose that assembly?
tuber, im guessing your asking about the section that starts at 9:43
I don't know what you do, but I will take a shot at answering the question.
I try to be on the side of generosity with my time - particularly with answering a couple questions. Since being on TH-cam, I get calls or comments from around the globe to answer questions, and I try to answer them just to be helpful. I typically don't get paid for those conversations, unless they want to take the conversation further.
So if a client asks - what do you typically do in this situation? I have no problem answering those questions. And thats often a great chance for you to demonstrate your knowledge and experience as a professional (which builds trust in your potential client). It also is a great chance for you to get to know them and their project.
So you can ask questions like - is this something you are looking to get help with? or are you planning on doing this work by yourself?
Have you had other people come out and look at this for you? what was their feedback?
I really like to work with clients that are able to have free-flowing and honest dialogue, so I go out of my way to chat with them to see if "I can trust them"
Money starts to get involved with people "ask me to do something" - for them - thats inside the scope of my business.
Do they want you to send a sketch?
Give a quote?
Perform an inspection?
These are things that may be something you charge for - if you have enough work that you don't mind being selective.
Just know that lots of people offer "free estimates" so you will loose some people if you are rigid in your approach. But I have found people to be quite reasonable, if you explain why you need to charge a fee to cover your costs, and especially if you give it back on the contract (or something along those lines).
Does that clarify things for you?
@@levelupstrategies Thanks for the detailed reply. I should have clarified, I would be the client in this situation. I'm happy to front a few hundred bucks to be vetted as you described in your video, but in terms of initial screening coming from the perspective of the client, for example:
I've found it's very hard to get even basic info about their typical assemblies, and from what I've been told, it's better to go with a builder who has experience executing the details that I'm interested in. A lot of them want a site address and $3,000 to do a feasibility study before they'll answer this question.
I don't have any interest in any builder who only does cavity insulated 2x6 walls without ventilated rainscreens, and it doesn't seem like a huge ask to get this info, but maybe I do have to offer up a few hundred bucks for it. But a few thousand?
So far I've asked this two ways A) "Can you describe from interior to exterior your typical wall assembly?" or B) "On your last project what was the wall assembly like?"
Usually I don't get an answer, so maybe I'm going about this wrong. There are a small minority of builders who just put this stuff on their website, so that's nice. I thought about phrasing it as a yes-no question e.g. "Do you build with continuous external insulation, and have you ever done 10 inches of it?"
@@tubulartuber Ahh.. That makes a lot more sense. Thank you for clarifying. The unfortunate reality is that your questions don't extend much to the builder to bite on to, and will likely be ignored by anyone who is busy, or assumes that you are kicking tires, or require a lot of eduction.
It's ok to learn, and lean into professionals to help, but it will serve you to present yourself in a way that invites a response.
My favourite resource for learning how to ask questions is Chris Voss. (Book - never split the difference)
I always try to frame my questions to get at NO from the person I am asking.
Ex. Would you mind helping me? ( No- oriented question). vs. Can you help me? (Yes- oriented question)
To answer your question specifically about details. I would start by framing yourself as a keen and motivated colleague and potential client. - Clarity and presence in your writing is key.
Ex. Hello, I really care about high-performance construction. Choosing the right builder for my (new home/ Renovation/ project) is very important to me. Do you mind if I ask you a few questions about your projects?
It will be hard for a serious professional to ignore that sort of question, unless they self-disqualify because they don't care about high-performance construction.
In subsequent questions you can clarify with your understanding/goals.
Ex. I am looking to build using fully exterior insulation & rain screen. Do you have any experience with this sort of wall assembly? (if they say NO - thats good clarification for you that they are not experienced).
Follow up question: - Would you mind sharing some portfolio work from other high-performance projects where you did exterior insulation?
Beyond that - offer respect - to build trust, and take the lead with money. Most professionals aren't afraid of helping, they are afraid of getting taken advantage of or wasting time.
Ex. I recognize your time is important, and I have some questions that are important to me when I am choosing a builder. I would be willing to pay a modest fee to respect your time, and get some clarification on your typical building practices so see if we are aligned for the project I am considering. Would you be opposed to scheduling a call / teams meeting / coffee?
- My guess is that most professionals would not charge you anything if you take the lead on gesturing respect for their time and expertise.
Let me know how it goes, and thanks for taking the time to ask!