Soliciting Work From Issued Permit Lists

Constructive1

Does anyone solicit work from issued permit listings? There is a service that covers the western U.S. that will email you a listing of all issued permit info for the previous week in whatever geographical area you subscribe to. The info includes type of permit, site address, homeowner contact info, and contractor/architect info if selected. My insulation/gutter/fireplace/garage door supplier tells me that they subscribe and that it's been a pretty good resource for locating actual, real projects and customers, and not the ones that are just thinking about it.

My experience has always been to be involved in the project well before permits are even submitted for. I have a contractor friend who is doing his 5th addition in the last 12 months where the ho's didn't even start looking for a contractor until their architect had submitted for permits and/or the permit had been issued.

Has anyone tried soliciting work from permit issuance reports and did you have any success? My guess is that it would work better for single trade contractors and materials vendors than it would for gc's, but then again I was shocked at the number of jobs my gc friend has gotten well after permits were submitted for.

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nlgutters

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RCPainting

My state has an online registry, every permit generates an entry. It is actually a registry all contractors are required to use as part of the lein process, so it is "free".
I check it weekly and send out mailers, it does work for me, painters being last! I send it to the owner if it is an owner/builder or the GC.
I would think if it was an owner/builder it would be a good opportunity for a GC to send an intro letter, "in case you need" "offer my resources, trusted subs".

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Constructive1

Oh sure! Post a link he says, and then the new guy will get accused of working for them! I've seen how it works around here...

http://constructionmonitor.com

I don't work for them and don't subscribe either. I found out that our building department posts all of the info online, and it's current up to the previous day's close of business.

They do cover the rest of this county plus 4 more for only $54/month so I am thinking about doing it. As far as I know, they only cover the western U.S. but I'd have to think that there is a similar service back east.

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RCPainting

I have not used this because I can access info for free
http://www.constructionmonitor.com

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Constructive1

RC

That's exactly what I'm thinking of doing and am working up a letter template to use. I'm pretty certain that I'll hand address the envelopes with just a return address on the outside.

Interesting word of caution: Permit info will give out homeowner's phone #'s and while it might be tempting to call them, supposedly you could be subject to pretty hefty fines if they are on the national do not call registry.

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RCPainting

I asked a lawyer about that (and using the info in general) in a class on the registry, he said it is part of the public record. I still would not call though. I hate being called. I want them to have my shiny pictures and info in thier hands, harder to say "no thanks"!

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lawndart

Can anyone pass a link to a similar company that covers the Northeast? This would be valuable info for me to have. Thanks in advance.

mmike032

I just go to the courthouse and look through the permits, I've gotten a few jobs that way. When its an owner/builder theres a better chance for me cause most of the GCs already have subs lined up. The owner/builders just are about always interested in a qoute, and most I find are trying to do alot of the work themselves. I just call them, I dont like to but theres no info about their current address on the permits.