The 7 Things Costing Contractors Their Next Job
You worked hard to get that lead. You showed up on time. You did solid work. You got paid.
But then you thought you were done. Most contractors waste the biggest opportunity sitting right in front of them every time they complete a job.
The job isn't just revenue. It's momentum to grow your business and get more leads. And if you're not intentional, you're walking away from money.
1. You're Not Asking for the Review
The moment you finish a job is the highest trust moment you'll ever have with that homeowner.
They're happy. The problem is solved. You delivered.
And then you leave without asking for a review.
If you don't ask while you're still in the driveway, your chances drop dramatically.
Reviews fuel your local SEO, improve your close rate, and strengthen your overall contractor marketing strategy. This takes less than 60 seconds. Ask. Send the link. Wait while they receive it.
2. You're Not Taking Before and After Photos
Every job is a marketing asset.
Before and after photos build instant trust with future customers. They power your website, sales presentations, and social media for home service companies.
- Take wide shots of the full project.
- Capture detail close-ups.
- Document before, during, and after.
If your techs treat photos as part of the job checklist, this takes under two minutes.
3. You're Not Cloverleafing the Job
You're already in the neighborhood. Your truck is parked there. Your branding is visible.
Most contractors pack up and leave without leveraging that visibility. You need to be cloverleafing on every job. That means doing some direct marketing with doorhangers, business cards, and some door knocking to introduce yourself to the neighbors.
- Ask the homeowner if neighbors might need similar work.
- Place a yard sign during the job.
- Introduce yourself to a few immediate neighbors.
One job can easily turn into two or three if you simply start the conversation.
4. You're Not Capturing Email and Mobile Information
If you're not collecting and confirming contact information, you're treating every job as a one-time transaction.
That means no follow-up. No maintenance reminders. No email newsletters to power repeat or referral business.
Strong home services business management systems make this automatic. Confirm email. Confirm mobile. Tag it correctly in your CRM. This takes less than a minute.
5. You're Not Securing the Next Step Before You Leave
Most contractors treat the job like a finish line.
It's actually a checkpoint.
- Schedule the next inspection or maintenance visit.
- Mention related issues the homeowner should plan for.
- Plant the seed for future upgrades.
This isn't being pushy. It's being proactive. Two to three minutes of conversation can lock in future revenue.
6. You're Not Turning the Job Into Neighborhood Marketing
Your truck, uniforms, and signage are billboards.
Use them intentionally.
- Place a yard sign in a visible location, including your jobsite and neighborhood entrances/exits where appropriate.
- Ensure you and your crew look clean-cut and present well.
- Make sure branding is clean and consistent.
Familiar companies get the call first. Visibility builds familiarity. It's the old school "rule of seven" - where people need to see you and your brand at least seven times before they'll consider taking positive action with your business.
7. You're Not Tracking Where the Lead Actually Came From
When you ask a contractor where their jobs come from, most say, "Probably Google."
Probably is not a strategy.
Ask directly. Tag accurately. Track consistently.
Without real data, you can't confidently invest in things like Google ad management for contractors or Local Services Ads for contractors. With data, you double down on what actually produces revenue.
The Total Time Investment
Let's add this up.
- Ask for the review: about 1 minute
- Take photos: about 2 minutes
- Cloverleaf the job: about 5 minutes
- Capture contact info: about 1 minute
- Secure the next step: about 3 minutes
- Neighborhood visibility: about 1 minute
- Tag the lead source: about 1 minute
That's roughly 14 minutes.
You spent thousands generating the lead. You spent time driving to the job. And you won't invest 14 more minutes to multiply it?
One completed job should produce more than a single invoice.
It should produce:
- A review
- Marketing content
- Referrals
- Future scheduled work
- A stronger customer database
- Clear data about what's actually driving growth
One job is revenue.
One job handled correctly is momentum.
If you want help building systems that make this automatic - whether that's stronger review generation, better follow-up systems, smarter local SEO, or tighter lead tracking - our team specializes in online marketing for contractors built specifically for home service companies.
The difference between flat growth and compounding growth often comes down to habits. And most of these habits take less than 14 minutes.
About Chris Lonergan
Chris Lonergan has over 13 years of contractor marketing experience with Footbridge Media. With a background in web design, print design, content creation, and online marketing, Chris is focused on providing quality marketing and business solutions in the construction and service industries - helping small business owners to more efficiently manage their companies and grow their operations.
Chris Lonergan has previously contributed to and/or been featured in PM Magazine (Plumbing & Mechanical | Contractors x Engineers), theNEWS (ACHR - Air Conditioning | Heating | Refrigeration), Turf Magazine (For Landscaping and Green Industry Professionals) Service Roundtable's blog, inPAINT Magazine, the SMB Marketing Agency Show, and the Green Industry Podcast. Chris is also a past SGI/CertainPath breakout session presenter.
