Four success tips

Dane Mulligan, president of SuperScapes, a design/build company in North Carolina, offers these insights for successfully working with large, national builders:

Pick your battles. “You can’t be a push-over, but at the same time you can’t be too aggressive in your approach,” he says of bidding, pricing and delivering. 

Work smart. “You can’t go out there and make money working for builders without being efficient,” Milligan says, speaking to the importance of putting software, estimating and production systems in place. 

Be prepared. Waiting for materials wastes time. Milligan’s package-based system for builders allows SuperScapes to order in bulk for materials, and have those materials on hand when they need them. 

Focus your business. For SuperScapes, operating as a dedicated design/install firm provides the experience needed to complete jobs efficiently and cost effectively. “It’s no different than shooting free throws,” Milligan says. “If shoot 100 a day, you’ll be better than someone who only shoots 10. Repetition makes a difference.”