When temperatures start to drop, construction activity often slows down. With fewer projects in your pipeline, you may be left twiddling your thumbs, waiting for things to pick back up. The good news is that this downtime doesn’t have to go to waste.
Jake Elmhorst, Academy Events Specialist at ConstructConnect, knows how important it is to keep your momentum going and maximize productivity during the construction off-season. He recommends these three tips for taking advantage of this slower time:
1. Build new skills with certifications and training
The construction industry is constantly shifting, so there is always something new to learn. This downtime is the perfect opportunity to grow your knowledge. Spend some time exploring new certifications or getting some more training on the software products you use.
“If you’re wanting to learn more about issues facing the industry or additional certifications, I recommend you look at organizations like the American Society of Professional Estimators (ASPE), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), or Leadership in Engineering and Environmental Design (LEED). [These] certifications make sure that you are being conscious about the way your business is being run… so you’re not getting stuck in a rut of doing the same thing over and over, [which] isn’t really helping you or those at your company,” says Jake.
Completing training on the software you use can also ensure you’re getting the most out of your products. Jake recalled a recent experience training some long-time customers of ConstructConnect, where they gained a lot of value from the session. “They’ve been using [our] software for 8-10 years, and they didn’t know about simple [features] that really improve the utilization of the software,” he said.
ConstructConnect has an entire team of professional trainers that offer in-person and virtual training sessions. They present on a variety of topics designed to help you maximize the use of our products and make your job easier.
2. Network with industry leaders at trade shows and conferences.
Trade shows are invaluable for networking and staying up to date on industry trends.
“You can learn about different materials that you may want to use or different processes that you could be using, but the biggest thing is meeting other contractors, seeing how their process works, seeing what they’re doing,” says Jake.
You can meet our team and other ConstructConnect customers at one of these upcoming events to make new connections and gather ideas for your business in 2025:
- AHR Expo – The Event for HVACR: Feb. 10-12, 2025 – Orlando, FL
- MBI Winter Conference: Feb. 25-26, 2025 – Des Moines, IA
- AGC Annual Convention: Apr. 8-10, 2025 – Columbus, OH
3. Stay up to date with the economy
Jake also says that having a solid grasp of economic trends can help you make smarter business decisions. ConstructConnect’s Chief Economist, Michael Guckes, and our economics team are constantly publishing economic news and updates.
“[These resources] help you look at what’s coming, where you should be focusing your business, and how you can keep moving forward based on what’s happening in the economy right now.”
Want more tips on how to maximize downtime during the slow season?
Another thing to consider is diversifying your projects. Many construction pros have skills that overlap with related trades. For example, if you’re a framer, consider other small carpentry jobs indoors until the weather warms up.
This season is also perfect for fine-tuning your bidding process. Do you have a solid system for tracking the bids you’ve sent out, especially for projects with multiple general contractors? Have you planned the areas where you want to work this spring? Your pipeline might need new leads if you’re branching out into new cities or states. Now is the time to invest in construction project bidding software to help you find what you need.
These tips are just the beginning. To get more insights, check out our full interview with Jake Elmhorst on our YouTube channel. Whether learning new skills or uncovering fresh opportunities, this slower season is your chance to get ahead. Make it count!
About Deirdre Pearson
Deirdre Pearson is a Content Marketing Manager at ConstructConnect®, specializing in customer communications, product documentation, content strategy, and user-centered writing. She focuses on showcasing ConstructConnect’s project data and analytics solutions, including Project Intelligence, Bid Management, and Insight. With her experience crafting diverse content for the preconstruction industry, Deirdre delivers well-researched and insightful perspectives on every topic she covers.
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