You spent ten hours on pre-con. Selections are done, the Gantt chart is built, your plumber has quoted everything. Then on day one the client says, “Actually, can we do a tub instead of a shower?” — and expects it to cost nothing because nothing’s been installed yet.
In this episode of Contractor Cuts, Clark and James break down why clients change the plan after pre-construction, what it really costs you, and how to set up the relationship so it happens less — and costs you less when it does.
They cover:
- Why “not a problem” is the most expensive thing you can say on day one
- How an unclear final picture during pre-con sets up every late change
- The ripple effect of “small” changes: re-quoting trades, returns, lost time, and opportunity cost
- Shifting from selling a product to being the client’s representative
- Using the client engagement agreement to explain when changes start costing money
- Why benchmark walks catch regrets while they’re still cheap to fix
- Offering design services so you and the client are picturing the same thing
- A real siding dispute where everything was done right — and why they still chose reputation over $600
If your clients keep treating pre-con as a free draft, this is the episode that changes the conversation.
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Contractor Cuts is a weekly podcast for contractors who want to build a better business — covering sales, operations, hiring, finances, and everything in between.
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