Construction prices are increasing, and not only does this impact property purchasers trying to secure affordable housing, but also the companies building the homes. Saving money in the construction industry may seem impossible these days with rising supply costs, but you have many different options at your disposal, including some of these below.
Utilize Technology
Something as simple as supplier management software might be how your construction company saves both time and money. With such software, you can identify where performance is lacking to increase productivity and automate many processes that free up your time for sourcing new work.
You may even be able to identify supplier trends to highlight areas where you can improve and remedy expensive problems in your supply chain that cost your company more than they should. With the right software, you may be surprised at just how much your business benefits on many levels.
Buy Your Materials in Bulk
If you’re in the fortunate position of having an expansive business premise to work from, consider purchasing building materials in bulk and storing them until you need to use them. As a general rule, the more of an item you are buying, the lower the unit rate and the more money you might be able to save.
Buying in bulk also has other benefits, such as ensuring you don’t run out of something halfway through a project or being held up by stock shortages or freight issues.
Before ordering your timber, roofing materials, or anything else, make sure you have somewhere appropriate to store the materials where they will remain in excellent condition before they’re needed.
Skip Retail Shopping
As convenient as it can be to stop by a hardware store to pick up what you need on the way to a construction job, it’s not the most cost-effective option for your company. Retail stores generally put a markup on the materials and products they purchase from wholesalers, which can be a considerable amount.
You may be able to boost your bottom line by dealing directly with the supplier and cutting out the middleman. Not only can they provide you with the same products you would receive from a retail store, but they may even offer bulk deals and competitive pricing to ensure you make as much profit as possible on your project.
Use Quality Tools
Building implements and tools can be costly, and it can be stressful knowing you have to part with several thousand dollars whenever you need to replace them. As a result, it’s only natural to decide to purchase more affordable tools for your workers and yourself, believing you’re saving yourself money in the long run.
However, leading brands often come with higher price tags than their cheaper counterparts because they are made to last. They might feature the most robust materials to handle wear and tear and come with generous warranties for peace of mind.
When the time comes to go shopping for new tools to build or renovate homes, pay attention to the price tag and reviews. Weigh up the pros and cons of each tool type and make your purchasing decision based on longevity rather than price. You may then find that you save money even by spending more initially.
Rent Equipment
When you work in the construction industry, you require a lot of different equipment, tools, and machinery, for the average home build. It’s cost-effective to have your own nail guns, drills, and hammers, but it’s often less cost-effective to purchase large machinery like loaders and cranes that you may only use once every so often.
When you plan your next project and start thinking about all the heavy equipment you’ll need to buy for it, see if you can save money by renting it instead. You can often determine the better option by comparing usage and the cost of purchasing and maintaining something to the costs associated with hiring. As convenient as it can be to have something you need at a moment’s notice, it may not always make economic sense.
Hire Experienced Staff
Clients hiring you to help with their construction project often enjoy peace of mind knowing you have an experienced team, which is why many construction business owners already try hard to fill their vacancies with as many skilled workers as possible.
However, aside from peace of mind for your clients, you may also like to hire the most experienced staff because it may save you money.
Qualified and experienced construction workers often understand most parts of the industry, so they can perform more than one job type to a high standard. This means that you can utilize their experience in most areas of the business, removing the need to rely on outside companies for help.
Experienced construction workers can also train any new employees and reduce the risk of poor-quality builds that impact your reputation and cost you money. While you might need to pay more for their years of experience, it can be money well spent.
Outsource Support Jobs
Hiring in-house staff to manage everyday operations like administration, data entry, and even cleaning can be a costly exercise. The costs associated with employees can be up to 1.4 times their salary, with mandatory additional costs like federal unemployment tax, state unemployment tax, and your share of FICA.
Rather than hiring in-house staff to manage these tasks, see if you can outsource them to other companies that charge you a monthly fee. You may be able to save a considerable sum of money.
Even though construction costs are on the rise, there are still money savings to be made. If you haven’t yet considered software, bulk purchases, changing suppliers, and even making sound staffing choices, now might be the right time to begin.