Tired of reading advice from people who've never actually set foot on a job site? A lot of what’s written about this industry is just plain wrong. If you want to get property preservation repair work from the big national companies, here’s how you actually do it.
Tip: Sign Up for Repair, Not Maintenance
First things first: I would suggest signing up for a couple of the leading National Property Preservation companies as a REPAIR vendor, not a maintenance vendor.
They're two different worlds. Maintenance work often involves tasks like lawn care and basic lock changes, and a quick search shows you who’s complaining online and who’s busy cashing checks. You’ll rarely hear the repair contractors complaining. You want to be in the second group.
Step 1: Find and Submit Your Application
Most of the big national servicers have a “vendor management” department. Their entire job is to recruit contractors like you. Your first move is to find their online vendor applications and fill them out.
Here’s a list of national property preservation companies with online vendor applications.
Step 2: The Follow-Up Call That Actually Works
About two or three days after you submit your application, it’s time to pick up the phone.
But before you dial, get this in your head: you’re one of maybe 3,000 contractors all trying to get their attention at the same time. You have to stand out by not being annoying. Let's call it "phone call etiquette."
What NOT to Do When You Call (And Why)
Vendor managers are buried in calls and emails. Don't make their day worse.
- Don't leave multiple messages. One is enough if you must, but there's a better way.
- Don't mumble your name and number. Speak clearly.
- Don't sound desperate. Saying you “really need the work” is an instant turn-off.
- Seriously, don't use the generic sales pitch. Under no circumstances should you say things like, “My company provides high-quality services and we focus on customer service.” It’s the same vague, boring line every other contractor uses. It means nothing and puts people to sleep.
Think about it. If you had to listen to 65 voicemails a day, and most were either whining about not getting a call back or repeating the same "quality service" script, you'd go insane.
What You SHOULD Do
When you call to follow up, don’t even bother leaving a message the first few times. If no one answers, hang up. Try again in an hour or the next day. Keep calling daily until you speak to a live person.
Your only goal is to show you respect their time. When you finally get them on the line, keep it short and professional:
"Hi [Name], this is [Your Name] from [Your Company]. I just wanted to confirm you received my application and to let you know we’re ready to jump on any projects when you need us. Thanks for your time."
That’s it. You’ve confirmed they have your info, you've shown you're eager, and you haven't wasted their time. You’re already different from the pack.
Step 3: The Persistent, Professional Follow-Up
This isn’t a one-and-done deal. Your application is now in their system. The key is to stay top-of-mind without becoming a nuisance.
Every 3-4 weeks, reach out again. A quick phone call or a brief email works perfectly. Just say you’re “touching base and letting them know you are still ready to spring into action when they need you.”
Sooner or later, their go-to contractor in your area will get swamped, drop the ball, or quit. When their manager asks, "Who can we get to help us out of this jam?" you want to be the first person they think of.
You have three options:
- Leave whiny, desperate messages like 90% of the other guys.
- Do nothing and hope they find you.
- Follow a persistent, professional method.
Which contractor would you rather work with?
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