Research · Construction

The contract is won. Now the real work starts

Winning a job is a good day for a general contractor. The next morning is a busy one. There’s a start date to hit, and a list of trades and materials that all have to line up: electrical, plumbing, drywall, concrete, windows, the lot.

Some of those slots fill themselves with crews the builder has used for years. But the regulars are often booked, or the job is in a new town, or it’s bigger than anything they’ve done together. That’s when the scramble begins: phone calls, favours, and the nagging worry of hiring someone they’ve never worked with.

The best time to meet a builder is the week after they win the job.

On the other side, good subcontractors and suppliers spend a lot of time chasing work. They bid, they wait, and they often hear about a project only after the builder has already picked someone else.

Timing is the whole game, and it’s visible if you know where to look. Contract awards and building permits tell you which builders are about to need help. We watch for those moments, check what the job needs, and introduce trades and suppliers who fit its size, location and schedule.

For the builder, that’s one less gap on the schedule. For the subcontractor, it’s a foot in the door with a contractor who, if the work goes well, will call again for the next job and the one after that.

B2 Intros introduces general contractors to the subcontractors and suppliers who help them deliver. Tell us about your work →