27 Ways to Negotiate Construction Projects (2025)

Video Description

🤑 Join the Construction Sales Academy for FREE & scale your business Fast! 👉 https://iambuilders.com/8fc?el=G7bD8_mtdpI-8fc-1 🚀 Let us do your ESTIMATING -- Scale up with our Unlimited Estimating Subscription! Stop working nights and weekends trying to meet bid dates. Let us handle it for you. Learn more here 👉 https://iambuilders.com/vip?el=G7bD8_mtdpI-vip-1 SUMMARY Want to close 2–5x more construction projects without slashing your price? In this video I share 27 proven negotiation tactics I use with clients to win millions in awards every year. You’ll learn how to professionalize proposals and branding, target only engaged buyers, and build a follow-up cadence that keeps you at the negotiating table. I’ll show you how to activate the mere exposure effect, treat bids as preliminary proposals, use budgetary bids when you’re short on time, and turn inside information into leverage. We’ll dig into advanced moves like the Breakeven Method to break into new accounts, Prospect Farming to become a preferred contractor, creating priority client tiers, hard-closing project managers once buyout starts, and negotiating vendors/subs for last-mile savings. Finally, I reveal #27: Bid Packages (Super-Sub) — the single tactic responsible for hundreds of millions in awards by bundling interiors trades to win bigger, faster, at better margins. Timestamps: 0:00 27 negotiation tactics to win more construction projects 0:50 Professionalize proposals & branding (first impression sells) 1:30 Bid only for clients who give attention (signal vs. silence) 2:05 Align with sellers who win (choose GCs/developers good at sales) 2:49 Follow-up cadence sets negotiations (every 3 weeks → every 3 days) 5:00 Mere Exposure Effect: multi-touch points build trust & access 6:06 Treat bids as preliminary proposals (expect changes & VE) 7:07 Short on time? Submit a budgetary bid (qualify clearly) 8:00 Always ask “What else is coming up?” (set the next negotiation) 9:00 Filter relentlessly (more leads = more leverage, less desperation) 10:10 Price accuracy: avoid too high/too low; aim for #2 slot 11:30 Breakeven Method to break in (win now, monetize changes) 13:28 Prospect Farming → become a preferred contractor 15:16 Consider future revenue when deciding how low to go 15:30 Bid past-due projects (skip the line to negotiation) 16:00 Prioritize awarded/negotiated jobs first 16:30 Client priority tiers (VIPs get immediate coverage) 17:17 Hard close the PM (confirm scope, ask for numbers, target) 18:18 Use relationships to get inside info & market data 19:19 Visit in person (info you can’t get by email/phone) 20:20 Apples-to-apples scope (fix mismatches before price talk) 21:21 List alternates separately (keep base number lean) 22:22 Negotiate vendor pricing for final gap-closing 23:23 Negotiate subs/peace workers (earn wholesale rates) 23:41 Offer early budget estimates (reciprocity with architects) 25:03 Help clients make more money (VE swaps that win goodwill) 25:42 Let clients buy materials (labor-only option to win awards) 27:00 #27: Bid Packages (Super-Sub) — bundle interiors to win big 29:30 Contractor Sales Academy invitation & next steps 30:00 Wrap-up & call to action ====================================================== ADDITIONAL RESOURCES + TRAINING 🌎 Get a FREE Strategy Session with one of our Account Managers and we'll guide you on what you need to grow your business: Schedule Your Call Here: 👉 https://iambuilders.com/strategy-session?el=G7bD8_mtdpI ▶️ Watch Our Special Training: How To Sell Your First $1 Million in Construction in 12 Months Watch Now: 👉 https://iambuilders.com/video-training?el=G7bD8_mtdpI 📧 Get FREE Construction Sales Secrets, Tips, nd Strategies right to your email every week Sign Up Here 👉 https://iambuilders.com/construction-secrets?el=G7bD8_mtdpI ABOUT DANIEL QUINDEMIL Daniel is a Construction Expert and Consultant in the areas of construction sales, estimating, and project management. He has estimated and/or managed over $3 Billion in projects. In 2015, he founded I AM Builders, a construction estimating and sales company dedicated to helping contractors grow their businesses. Since then, I AM Builders has worked with over 3,000 clients nationwide. 🎬 Watch Next ▶️ How To Win Bigger Projects 👉 https://youtu.be/74Gaf4KULgw ▶️ Get MORE Jobs a General Contractor 👉 https://youtu.be/CwZpEJ4prB4 ▶️ Build Wealth in Construction with Repeat Clients 👉 https://youtu.be/f-3_zV78yZQ 🌐 LET'S CONNECT 🔹 Website: https://iambuilders.com?el=G7bD8_mtdpI 🔹 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iambuildersgroup 🔹 Twitter: https://twitter.com/iambuilders 🔹 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iambuildersgroup 🔹 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/i-am-builders 👇🏻 Don't Forget To SUBSCRIBE 🔥 https://www.youtube.com/@iambuilders #ConstructionNegotiation #WinMoreBids #ConstructionBusiness #GeneralContractorTips #Estimating #BidStrategy #ProspectFarming #BreakevenMethod #SuperSub #CommercialConstruction"