Best ways to get more commercial contract letting agent work

Hi I am new to this site I have a gardening business which I have been running for 2 years come 1st march I have over 12 years experience in the trade but only bit the bullet 2 years ago to set up myself. from march through to December I am busy I have a quiet January and mixed February.

My reason for this post is to seek advice as to how to get more commercial contracts or get my foot in the door to letting agents as I currently work for 2 management companies who both sourced me rather than the other way round, the good thing about these are that its 12 months worth of maintenance work so work in the quiet months and they are always happy to go ahead with suggestions I make which again comes in handy in the quiet months.

I have around 70 private gardens once fortnightly which I look after also the 2 management companies and a bmw dealership but I would like more commercial and would like to try and get in with some letting agents but im not sure of the best way to go about it. I have a letter which I sent out last year to numerous companies heard back from 1 or 2 but it may be the wording I need help with or the best way to sell myself to them to make them want to use me.

hope this all makes sense and any help will be greatly appreciated.

Adam

It was core to my business before, and is my main focus again down here.

I would suggest that first you get everything in place: smart image, professional contracts and terms, PDFs of all your licenses and insurances etc. to attach when you contact them.

Second, find the right person to contact. When you have a name, address either a letter or email to them personally.

Then, word a very brief contact letter/mail to introduce yourself. What you offer, what makes you different from other businesses, and why you're competitive. I'd get the letter checked by several people, as it's hard to write about yourself, and keep it to a few lines. If they are at all interested then they'll want to find out more, so will click on your website initially.

End it with something like "I'll call over the next couple of days to discuss if there are any specific properties I could help you with, and would appreciate it if you would add me to your list of recommended suppliers in the future".

Then, do call them! Sounds silly, but it's easy to get busy and let a couple of days turn in to a week.

Lastly, keep monitoring local agents for new staff appointments, when you can get in touch again.

Replies

Mitchel ingham February 20, 2016 at 8:09am

I've always found that it's better to knock on there door. However with these companies usually they already have someone as long as there cost effective and good at the job they won't change. That's why they normally look for you I thought about really targeting them sort of commercial companies last year then decided I'd be wasting my time. Your better off having a page on your website tailored for commercial work and list what you do so when the companies Google commercial grounds Maintenace in there area your first there.
- Adam Pike > Mitchel ingham February 20, 2016 at 8:20am
  
  Yeah I think I'll do that I have letters I send out detailing a little bit about the company and incorporate a rough pricing for their particular sites as in i say along the lines of viewing from outside of your boundaries I would charge ... per cut at 17 cuts per season total cost .... That's how I got the Bmw dealership but they were the only 1s that contacted me from that letter run if that makes sense.
  I feel like door knocking is more what the gypsies do and don't want to be associated as 1 of them as they get very bad rep quite alot of the time but it's sometimes warranted I mean no offence to anyone but that's how alot of people feel towards them so that could reflect to me in a sense thanks for your comment :-)
PRO

Richard Gadsby February 20, 2016 at 8:18am

I tried the letting agents a few years back.
I never got on with them.
Wanted cheap work too often! Nearly always at the last minute!!
If I were you I'd keep on as you are, do the website bit let them come to you.
Paul McNulty February 20, 2016 at 9:44am

It was core to my business before, and is my main focus again down here.

I would suggest that first you get everything in place: smart image, professional contracts and terms, PDFs of all your licenses and insurances etc. to attach when you contact them.

Second, find the right person to contact. When you have a name, address either a letter or email to them personally.

Then, word a very brief contact letter/mail to introduce yourself. What you offer, what makes you different from other businesses, and why you're competitive. I'd get the letter checked by several people, as it's hard to write about yourself, and keep it to a few lines. If they are at all interested then they'll want to find out more, so will click on your website initially.

End it with something like "I'll call over the next couple of days to discuss if there are any specific properties I could help you with, and would appreciate it if you would add me to your list of recommended suppliers in the future".

Then, do call them! Sounds silly, but it's easy to get busy and let a couple of days turn in to a week.

Lastly, keep monitoring local agents for new staff appointments, when you can get in touch again.
- Adam Pike > Paul McNulty February 20, 2016 at 9:59am
  
  No problem I'll have a go at getting a good little letter made up see how I fair from there thanks