📨 Contractor’s Digest – Daily Rundown (May 7, 2025)

📨 Contractor’s Digest – Daily Rundown
📅 May 7, 2025
🛠 Helping Contractors Win More Jobs, Increase Profits & Avoid Costly Mistakes

🚧 Today’s Rundown
🔹 Feature Story: Why You Should Be Shopping Around for Material Prices—Every Time
🔹 Business Tip: How to Build Supplier Relationships That Actually Help You
🔹 Tool Spotlight: Best Apps for Tracking Material Orders and Vendor Quotes

🏗️ Feature Story: Why Material Price Shopping Isn’t Optional Anymore

If you’re still buying everything from one supplier out of habit—you’re leaving thousands on the table.

🧱 Between inflation, freight costs, and supply chain hiccups, material pricing is all over the place. What was a $42 sheet of OSB last week might be $36 today—at a different yard.

💸 Here’s What Happens When You Don’t Shop Around:

✔️ You Overpay—A Lot
Even small percentage differences add up when you're buying in bulk.

✔️ You Miss Bulk Discounts and Package Deals
Some yards will match or beat pricing if you just ask.

✔️ You Lose Negotiation Power
If your supplier thinks you never compare prices, they won’t feel pressure to keep yours competitive.

✅ How to Shop Smart, Not Sloppy:

🔹 Always get 2–3 quotes on major materials before locking in
🔹 Use spreadsheets to compare pricing across suppliers for each job
🔹 Ask about delivery fees, return policies, and lead times—not just sticker price
🔹 Watch weekly specials—especially on fast-turnover items like framing lumber and drywall

🚀 Pro Tip:
Suppliers expect you to shop around. The pros do it. The amateurs don’t.

📩 Want our "Material Price Tracker" spreadsheet? Reply and we’ll send it over.

📌 Business Tip: Build Better Supplier Relationships (Not Just Price Wars)

Shopping price is smart—but playing the long game with your top suppliers is even smarter.

Why? Because when things go sideways—and they will—you’ll need more than just a good price.

🏗️ Here’s What a Good Supplier Relationship Gets You:

✔️ Priority Access When Stock Is Low
Suppliers help loyal clients first when inventory tightens.

✔️ Flexible Payment Terms
Net 30 or 60 terms can free up serious cash flow.

✔️ Last-Minute Pulls and Rush Deliveries
A yard that knows you’ll come through will go the extra mile.

✔️ Heads-Up on Price Changes and Deals
Good reps will tip you off on rising prices or upcoming specials.

✅ How to Build Loyalty Without Overpaying:

🔹 Be consistent—don’t ghost your rep for 6 months
🔹 Communicate clearly—especially when projects are delayed or specs change
🔹 Be easy to work with—pay on time, return calls, and don’t blame them for jobsite chaos
🔹 Show appreciation—recognize when they go above and beyond

🚀 Pro Tip:
Invite your supplier rep to walk a job with you. It builds rapport and they may suggest better material options or methods that save you money.

📩 Want our “Preferred Supplier Setup Sheet”? Reply and we’ll send it over.

⚙️ Tool Spotlight: Best Tools for Managing Material Quotes and Orders
📲 Save time and avoid material mix-ups with these tools:
🔹 CoConstruct – Tracks estimates, PO approvals, and vendor pricing
🔹 Buildertrend – Supplier communication + material order logs
🔹 Google Sheets + Price Tracker Template – Still powerful when used right
📦 Want a sample vendor quote log? Reply and we’ll send it to you.

😂 Contractor Humor:
Why did the contractor dump his supplier?
Because he kept “screwing” him on fasteners.

📣 Call to Action
🔥 Know a builder still paying list price on everything? Forward this.
📬 Not subscribed yet? Grab your free eBook:
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👷‍♂️ Build lean. Buy smart.
— Benjamin Patton
Contractor’s Digest