Hey,
Two weeks ago we talked about getting stiffed on payment.
This week we're talking about the opposite problem — more work than you can handle if you know where to look.
Let's get into it.
⛈️ THIS WEEK'S INTEL: THE APRIL 15 STORM
On April 15-16, a hail event moved across five Northeast Ohio counties.
Cuyahoga. Geauga. Medina. Lorain. Trumbull.
76,314 properties in the damage path.
That's not an estimate. That's cross-referenced address data from the storm track.
The contractors calling those neighborhoods right now are booking jobs through July. The ones who find out in three weeks are bidding against four other roofers on every job.
First call wins. Every time.
📋 WHAT'S BEING BUILT IN CLEVELAND RIGHT NOW
Fresh from Cuyahoga County permit data this week:
Parma — roofing activity up Multiple residential roofing permits filed in 44129 and 44134 post-storm. If you work the southwest suburbs, these zips are moving.
Cleveland Heights — HVAC commercial 44118 had two commercial mechanical permits filed in the last 14 days. Mid-size institutional jobs. Open territory in this zip.
Summit County — new construction 19,001 permits tracked in the last 12 months. $1.4 billion in project value. Akron-area contractors — this territory is wide open.
🔥 FROM THE TRADES THIS WEEK
The cutthroat reality nobody talks about.
One of the most honest threads on r/Construction this week — contractors in competitive markets sharing how close the margins really are. 218 upvotes.
The contractors winning aren't more skilled. They're better informed.
"Customer didn't want to pay. He hated my concrete work."
Another week, another non-payment story going viral. This one hits different because the work was solid. Customer just decided after the fact he wasn't happy.
Two things would have changed the outcome: a signed scope of work and a payment history check on the property owner before day one.
🔒 OPEN TERRITORY ALERT
Storm damage creates a 90-day window.
Permits get filed. Insurance adjusters approve. Work gets scheduled.
The roofers with addresses move in week one. Everyone else fights over Angi leads in week six.
Cuyahoga, Geauga, Medina, Lorain, and Trumbull county storm data is available now.
Reply to this email with your county and trade. I'll tell you exactly what's in your territory.
ONE MORE THING
A reminder from r/Construction this week that stuck with me:
Reliable shows up. Unreliable misses the call, loses the job, and wonders why work dried up.
Your best marketing is answering the phone and showing up when you said you would. Everything else is just finding more phones to answer.
That's Issue 002.
Forward this to one contractor who works NE Ohio. They'll thank you. Follow my FB page if you liked content.
— Brent Groundwork Intel (330) 826-1401 [email protected]