A contractor's year: what to do, month by month
A construction and renovation contractor's schedule follows the weather as much as the customers. Here is the typical year, month by month, with what Atlas can prepare and follow up. The seasons described are business benchmarks, and the added tips are general: they do not replace legal advice or your own estimate of the work.
March, April and May: thaw and post-winter inspection
Snowmelt and thaw reveal leaks, damaged foundations and damaged roofs, and homeowners plan their summer work.
Action: a campaign to past customers for a spring inspection visit, and follow-up on last autumn's quotes. Atlas announces no price: it offers the visit and leaves the estimating to your team.
May to September: peak exterior season
Roofing, additions, decks and windows are done mostly when the weather allows; the schedule fills up early.
Action: lock in job dates at signature and track municipal permits with more margin. General tip: keep the compliance sheet up to date (RBQ licence, bond, insurance, CCQ cards with expiry dates), since verification requests increase with the volume of quotes.
September and October: heating maintenance before winter
Heating systems are called on as soon as the first cold arrives, which creates a peak of breakdowns in October and November.
Action: offer heating customers a maintenance visit before the season and prepare 24/7 availability. Atlas commits to no price without your estimate, and directs a dangerous emergency to 911.
November to February: freeze and heating emergencies
Freezing pipes and heating or electrical outages are more frequent in deep cold. An emergency is called back within the hour: a customer with no answer calls the next company.
Action: switch on automatic after-hours emergency replies and priority call-backs. Atlas asks for the city, the nature of the problem and photos, then moves the request to the top of the list. Your team decides on the intervention.
November to February: interior renovations
Kitchens, bathrooms and basements are renovated indoors, and demand for quotes rises after the holidays.
Action: follow up on pending quotes and offer start dates in January or February. Follow-ups keep the planned rhythm: three days after sending, then after ten days without an answer with an offer of a call.
January and February: planning for summer
Customers who want a summer job must book before spring.
Action: send interested customers a reminder to book their work before the peak season. General tip: use the winter to check your quote and contract templates, including the display of the RBQ licence number, and to plan the subcontractors to coordinate.
All year long: visits, milestones and follow-up
Some tasks do not depend on the season. Grouping estimate visits by area and confirming them the day before reduces missed appointments. Staged payment (deposit, milestones, balance) follows the real progress of the job, with a billing reminder at each milestone.
After delivery, a final walk-through confirms that everything matches what was agreed, then the final invoice goes out and a review is requested. Atlas prepares and follows up; your team estimates, signs and decides.
One last general tip: at the end of each season, take an hour to review the files that stalled, the quotes left unanswered and the emergencies that were poorly handled. Note what was lacking (availability, a follow-up that came too late, a forgotten permit) and adjust the reminder rules for the next season. Atlas applies the rules you set; you are the one who reviews them.
Knowing the rhythm of the year lets you plan follow-ups and availability instead of chasing requests. Atlas prepares the campaigns; your team keeps the estimate and the decision.
General information, not legal advice. Check with your professional order or the official source.
Questions
When should I follow up with past customers?
At the thaw, from March to May, with an offer of a spring inspection visit. It is also the right time to follow up on last autumn's quotes.
Can Atlas answer emergencies after hours?
Yes, it takes the request (city, nature of the problem, photos) and moves it up as a priority. A dangerous emergency is directed to 911, and your team decides on the intervention.
Why follow up on quotes in winter?
Because demand for interior renovation quotes rises after the holidays, and customers often pick the contractor who calls back first.
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