📨 Contractor’s Digest – Daily Rundown
📅 Wednesday, April 2, 2025
🛠 Helping Contractors Win More Jobs, Increase Profits & Avoid Costly Mistakes
🚧 Today’s Rundown
🔹 Feature Story: Industry Alert – Lessons from Bangkok’s Building Collapse
🔹 Business Tip: How to Raise Your Prices Without Losing the Job
🔹 Tool Spotlight: Best Estimating Software for Small to Mid-Sized Contractors
🏗️ Feature Story: Industry Wake-Up Call – Why Bangkok’s Tower Collapse Should Reshape How We Build
🔔 What Happened?
Last Friday, a 30-story office tower under construction in Bangkok collapsed during a magnitude 7.7 earthquake, killing at least 18 in Thailand and over 1,700 in Myanmar.
The twist? The epicenter was 800+ miles away. https://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory/bangkok-review-quake-safety-after-collapse-high-rise-120324299
Most of Bangkok saw only minor cosmetic damage—yet this one tower crumbled completely.
Now, authorities are investigating the design, inspections, and build quality. Contractors everywhere should be asking: Would my projects survive the same test?
🔍 What Contractors Need to Learn – Now
🚧 1. Code Compliance Isn’t Enough
Codes set the minimum. Resilience means going further.
✅ Action Items:
• Commission independent structural reviews
• Add redundant safety systems (especially on unstable soils)
• Document everything for liability protection and client trust
🌍 2. Know Your Soil, Not Just the Site
Bangkok isn’t on a fault but on unstable, sinking alluvial soil.
✅ Action Items:
• Always conduct complete geotechnical and vibration assessments
• Model risks—even in “low-risk” zones
• Factor in future climate risks, not just historical ones
🧱 3. Build for the Real World, Not the Drawing Board
The difference between a standing structure and a pile of rubble often comes to execution.
✅ Action Items:
• Train your crews in disaster-resilient building methods
• Audit quality control for all structural elements
• Consider modular/hybrid systems for strength
• Record build details, especially for structural integrity
📉 Bottom Line:
This wasn’t just a natural disaster but a failure of preparedness.
🔐 Build to endure. Not just to code.
📩 Want our “Disaster-Resilient Construction Checklist”? Reply, and we’ll send it your way.
📌 Business Tip: How to Raise Your Prices Without Losing the Job
Raising your prices doesn’t scare away good clients—if you do it right.
Higher pricing can build trust when it’s paired with clear value.
Here’s the framework that works:
✅ 1. Lead with Your Process
Clients buy more than labor—they buy peace of mind.
✔️ Clear contracts
✔️ Reliable schedules
✔️ Clean job sites
✔️ Strong warranties
✅ 2. Use Anchoring to Frame the Price
Mention past high-end projects or neighborhood averages.
➡️ It sets a mental baseline and makes your bid feel reasonable.
✅ 3. Offer Good / Better / Best Options
Let clients choose their level of investment:
• Good: Solves the problem
• Better: Upgraded finishes
• Best: Premium experience and extended warranties
✅ 4. Present with Confidence
Say your price like it’s standard—because it is.
No apologies. No discounts. Let your professionalism speak for itself.
🚀 Pro Tip:
If you’re booked out 4+ weeks, that’s market feedback.
📈 It's time to raise your rates and attract better-fit clients.
🔐 Bottom Line:
You don’t grow by staying cheap.
You grow by communicating value and pricing accordingly.
📩 Want our “Pricing Confidence Scripts” and a sample tiered proposal? Reply, and we’ll send them over.
⚙️ Tool Spotlight: Best Estimating Software for Small to Mid-Sized Contractors
🔹 Joist – Fast proposals and easy client approvals
🔹 JobTread – Ideal for residential contractors scaling up
🔹 Buildertrend – Great for full-service firms with client portals and scheduling
📦 Want a side-by-side breakdown of features and pricing? Reply, and we’ll send you our Estimating Software Comparison Sheet.
😂 Contractor Humor:
Why did the contractor bring a ladder to the bar?
Because he heard the drinks were on the house.
📣 Call to Action
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👷♂️ Stay sharp, build resilient, build better.
— Benjamin Patton