Every builder offering professional services encounters difficult clients. Given enough experience, and methods to identify and avoid difficult people before they become part of that experience, builders can avoid most of them.

 

Because builders are hired to manage the hopes and dreams of their clients, as well as a large part of their money, clients will always have high expectations. They will demand and expect professionalism from any builder with whom they are partnering.

 

It is possible to manage projects well enough to minimize conflict. Managing clients may not be so easy. Sometimes, despite good project management, good intentions, good communication and a very good end-product, a client just refuses to be happy. If you absolutely know you did well, an old piece of advice states, “This too shall pass.”

 

That client will leave your life eventually. Then you will be able to remember all the excellent reasons you became a professional builder in the first place.

Recognize how to identify a potential problem client before getting too far into their project.  

 

Understand the various costs that go into estimating a total project.  

 

Identify how to set a fair fee for builder services.  

 

Discuss procedures to submit invoices and collect delinquent payments.  

 

Determine warning signs indicating a potential need to walk away from a project.  

 

Explain how various problematic clients identify themselves in early stages of a project.  

 

Differentiate between (a) clients to avoid and (b) clients who are troublesome, but manageable.