Materials, suppliers and rebates

Stop leaving money on the table: 3 types of rebates waiting for you

Graphic of a clipboard and three dollar bills

Is there anything better than a good deal? Think of the way someone’s face lights up when you compliment their shirt and they exclaim, “thanks, it was on sale!”

It makes us feel like we’ve played the system, made a strategic financial choice or just happen to have really keen eyes for the clearance rack.

But your construction company isn’t buying something as simple as a T-shirt. You have the buying power of your entire business and you have the ability to make strategic financial choices. One way to save money – and hopefully get that rush of smart shopper serotonin – is through home builder rebate programs.

Rebates reimburse a customer for part of the purchase price following the sale, rather than at the time of sale, like a traditional coupon or discount. Participation in these programs is a great way to stretch your dollar, since rebates often apply with the manufacturers you are likely already using.

Whether it’s a rebate on roofing, windows or appliances, builders can collect anywhere from $400 to $2,000 per new home build just by finding and collecting on rebates. But it’s helpful to know where to start.

Rebate examples: Here’s how you can save on your next build

Rebates are available for more than 50 product categories. We’ll outline just a few rebate examples below to show you just how much you can save on your next home construction project.

1. Energy-efficient rebates

Builders who prioritize sustainability are doing their part to protect the environment and connect with the values of their clients. And it pays off.

An energy rebate program – or an energy credit incentive – provides rebate rewards to builders who install new, energy-efficient tech, appliances and equipment in their builds.

The federal government also provides tax credits for builders of energy-efficient homes. By installing residential renewable energy products, your business ­– and the earth – benefit. Here are some examples of products that might reward you with rebates:

  • • Solar panels
  • • Small wind turbines
  • • Geothermal heat pumps
  • • Biomass fuel stoves
  • • Air purifiers

A great place to look for these rebates is through Energy Star, a government-backed group that helps customers discover energy-efficient solutions. You can visit Energy Star’s Rebate Finder to input a zip code and find energy-efficient options with rebates and tax credits available.

Energy-efficient rebates

2. Appliance rebates

Appliance rebates are a great way to save money because your clients were already going to need appliances and other necessities. Appliance rebates often include items like refrigerators, HVAC systems, washers, dryers and stoves.

By working with your clients to discover and utilize direct rebates from companies like General Electric or Whirlpool, you can find the perfect appliances for their homes, all while racking up the savings.

Appliance rebates

3. General home rebates

There are several essential home fixtures that are eligible for rebates. Whether those rebates come directly from manufacturers or through one-step or two-step distribution, as you work with subs and distributors, you can build on a budget.

These rebates might include savings on flooring, siding, plumbing, countertops, light fixtures or even home organization systems. Using rebate programs or group buying programs like CBUSA can help you narrow down the best picks and help you manage all the nitty gritty financial details.

General home rebates

How to use the money you saved with a rebate program

Obviously, it’s great to save money – but what can you do with that money once you’ve successfully utilized a rebate program? It’s up to you and your construction company how to use that extra cha-ching, but here are a few ideas to get the ball rolling:

Upgrade allowances for clients

A great way to boost client satisfaction is to offer upgrades during construction or in the months following your build. Does your client have their eye on an expensive granite countertop or fancy bathroom tiles that weren’t originally in the budget? How about a newer model of a thermostat, or the foundations for a home theater?

By saving money using rebates, you can provide upgrade allowances to your clients and help them build the home of their dreams.

Rainy-day fund

Call us crazy, but you never know when a global pandemic might hit. Business can be finicky, and with material and labor costs on the rise, you should start building your savings for your business.

Take the money you save through rebate programs and put it back into a rainy-day fund. You can decide the best way to manage this extra money, but it’s never a bad idea to have it in your back pocket.

Regardless of how you manage your rebates or keep track of your financials, Buildertrend is here to help. Check out our financial tools or schedule a demo to learn more about how our construction tech can help take your business to the next level.

About The Author

Kamrin Baker

Kamrin Baker Kamrin Baker is a freelance copywriter for Buildertrend.

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