10, 2021
How to Win a Master Builders Award
How to Win a Master Builders Award |
As a professional builder, there’s nothing better than knowing that you’ve created something your clients love – nothing, except maybe receiving a glowing recommendation and an award for your efforts! A win at the Master Builders Awards is the ultimate recognition of excellence in the building industry, and just like every worthwhile journey, the best way forward is by taking one step at a time.
Ready to experience the elation of winning? Let’s walk through the eight most important steps to winning a Master Builders Award.
Start early
The competition for these awards can be intense, but that shouldn’t be a disincentive to put forward your best work. All it means is that every opportunity to prepare is a good one! If you start preparations early and put thought into your submission, you’ll have a far better chance of achieving the results you want. That’s why, before you do anything else, you should be checking entry deadlines and marking them in your calendar.
Choose the right category
Under the five main categories of construction, housing, specialty, individual, and major, there are many smaller categories for the builders’ awards. These categories dictate things like the type of building and the value of the project, and also take into account factors like workplace health and safety. Some categories are even more specific, highlighting the best usage of a particular site or style of housing, so double-check these details before preparing your entry.
Check the judging criteria
Knowing the judging criteria ahead of time will take all the guesswork out of preparing your entry, and each category has criteria of its own. While the criteria are very specific and worth a detailed look, it’s worth noting that certain criteria are common across the categories; for example, innovation, workmanship, and degree of difficulty.
Get presentable
Construction is a visual industry, and if you want your work to stand out, your photos will need to work hard for you. That’s why many Master Builders Award entrants hire a professional photographer. It’s amazing what a professional with years of behind-the-lens experience can do to make your building work look even more spacious and inviting than it already is. If you can, opt for a photographer who has worked with clients in the construction industry before as they will have a better idea of what to focus on – from the external areas to the internal rooms and the standout features. In any case, you can give yourself an advantage by going in with an idea of what you want your photographer to focus on. Feel like photos don’t quite capture the essence of your project? You can always showcase your project in a video instead.
Put effort into your project description
Sure, a picture (or a video) counts for a thousand words, but if you want your submissions to win accolades and awards, it’s worth putting a little extra effort into your project descriptions. This block of 100 to 500 words is your chance to share the details, big and small, that make your project stand out for all the right reasons. In case you needed another reason to break out your best words, your description will also make up part of the marketing package that showcases your work.
Fill out the rest of your entry
A well-written project description is great, but it won’t make up for missing entry details. The judges need to know as much as possible about your project in order to make the right selections, so don’t be tempted to skip over anything. Give each question your full attention and make sure there are no holes in your submission.
Get permissions
Even though the buildings you work on probably feel like your own – after all, you poured your heart and soul (and a lot of sweat) into the construction process! – they belong to the owners, and you won’t be legally allowed to submit any images without their permission. If you’re submitting professional photographs (which, again, you should), you’ll also need to clear it with the photographer who took the photos. Otherwise, you could run into copyright issues down the track and lose out on the award.
Use the entry checklists
Want to be extra sure that you haven’t forgotten anything? There are entry checklists available on the submission website with all the details you need to make sure your submission fits the bill, from word lengths to photo dimensions and quality rules. You can’t go wrong!
Putting together an application for awards while keeping your business running is a big ask, but you don’t have to do it all by yourself! If you need a construction business coach on your side to help you get the application done and dusted, our team is here for you.
Call 1300 577 318 or click here to get started.