7 Little-Known Ways to Get New Construction Leads

The construction industry is more competitive than ever. With everyone bidding on the same job boards and Google Ads, it's never been harder to get noticed. But here’s the thing, your next big client might not be browsing popular platforms like MyBuilder at all. They could be scrolling through TikTok, training for a marathon, or even chatting in a local Facebook group.

Let's explore seven unconventional ways you can use to find new construction business:

1. TikTok and Instagram (Show Your Work in Action)

Most contractors think social media is just for teenagers, but you're missing a massive opportunity. TikTok has tens of millions of users in the UK, and Instagram isn't far behind. More importantly, these platforms are packed with home owners planning their next project.

The secret isn't posting polished marketing content. It's showcasing your work and authentic behind-the-scenes content. Here's how to do it the right way:

Content ideas that get attention:

• Before-and-after transformations
• Solving tricky problems on camera
• Time-lapse videos of complex installations

Quick start tips:

1. Film short videos of your current projects
2. Focus on highlight moments (laying perfect brickwork, removing scaffolding reveals)
3. Keep videos under 60 seconds
4. Use hashtags like #construction #homeimprovement #beforeandafter
5. Add trending music to boost reach

The beauty of social media is that it's free. The downside? It's incredibly time-consuming. You'll need to:

• Post consistently (ideally daily)
• Engage with comments and messages
• Keep up with changing trends and formats
• Learn basic video editing

It can easily become a part-time job in itself. You can make things a little easier by hiring a cheap video editor on platforms like Upwork or Fiverr.

2. Join Social Clubs and Sports Groups

This might sound mad, but some of the best networking happens when you're not trying to network at all. Joining a local running club, cycling group, or amateur football team puts you in regular contact with people from all walks of life, including potential clients.

Think about it: these groups are full of home owners with disposable income invested in their local community. They're exactly the type of people who might need an extension, loft conversion, or new kitchen.

The networking approach that actually works:

1. Be genuine (don't show up with business cards on day one)
2. Focus on building the relationship first
3. Let your expertise come up naturally in conversation
4. When someone mentions their leaky roof or dreams of a home office, that's your moment

Best groups to target:

• Local running clubs and cycling groups
• Amateur sports teams
• Hobby clubs (photography, gardening, book clubs)
• Community volunteering groups
• Parent groups and school committees

Local sports clubs, hobby groups, and community organisations are goldmines for word-of-mouth referrals. According to research from Nielsen, 83% of consumers trust recommendations from people they know. 

For best results, choose clubs and groups you’re actually interested in.

3. Get Involved In Reddit Communities

Reddit might seem like an odd place to find construction work, but it's brilliant for connecting with home owners who need help. The platform has thousands of local communities and home improvement subreddits where people ask for advice daily.

Where to find opportunities:

• r/DIY and r/HomeImprovement (general advice seekers)
• Location-specific groups like r/London or r/Manchester
• r/RealEstate and r/FirstTimeHomeBuyer

Common questions you'll see:

• "Should I tackle this myself or hire a professional?"
• "Can anyone recommend a good builder in [your area]?"
• "Is this quote reasonable for [specific job]?"
• "Help! My contractor disappeared mid-job"

The Reddit golden rules:

1. Be helpful first, salesy second
2. Answer questions genuinely and thoroughly
3. Share your expertise without being too pushy
4. Build a reputation as the guy who knows his stuff
5. Let other users recommend you naturally

Just remember: Reddit users can smell self-promotion from a mile away. You need to contribute genuine value to the community before anyone will trust your recommendations.

4. Local Community Apps Like Nextdoor and Facebook Groups

Neighbourhood apps like Nextdoor and local Facebook groups are where home owners go when they need trusted recommendations. These platforms are built around community connections, making them perfect for finding local construction work.

Join groups for your local area and surrounding neighbourhoods. You'll see posts asking for recommendations multiple times per week. These are warm leads asking for exactly what you offer.

What you'll see daily:

• "Can anyone recommend a reliable builder?"
• "Has anyone used [company name] before?"
• "Warning: avoid [bad contractor name]"

How to win on these platforms:

1. Join multiple local groups in your service area
2. Share useful tips and building advice
3. Answer questions about building regulations
4. Explain why certain approaches work better than others
5. Position yourself as the helpful local expert (not the pushy salesperson)

The secret is consistency. When someone needs a builder, you want to be the first name that comes to mind.

Many contractors overlook these platforms because they seem too casual, but that's exactly why they work. People trust recommendations from their neighbours more than any glossy advertisement.

5. Volunteer for Local Causes and Community Events

Volunteering might seem like giving away your time for free. But it's one of the smartest investments you can make in your business. Local charities, schools, and community organisations always need help with building projects.

Volunteering opportunities that lead to paid work:

• Building sets for local amateur dramatic societies
• Fixing up village halls and community centres
• Helping with school maintenance projects
• Lending tools and expertise to community garden projects
• Supporting local charity building initiatives

Why volunteering works for business:

1. Connects you with community-minded people who value quality work
2. Builds your reputation as someone who gives back
3. Creates powerful word-of-mouth marketing opportunities
4. Often leads to paid referrals from grateful organisations
5. Puts you in regular contact with potential clients

The person organising the charity event might need their own home renovated. Or they'll recommend you to friends who do. Relationship building might not bear fruit straight away, but it’s a long-term winner.

6. Professional Networking Groups: BNI and Exclusive Business Networks

This is where serious construction professionals separate themselves from the weekend warriors. Business Network International (BNI) and similar professional networking groups offer something most contractors never experience. Exclusive access to a closed network of business professionals actively referring work to each other.

What makes BNI different from casual networking?

• Exclusivity: Only one contractor per speciality is allowed in each chapter
• Commitment: Members meet weekly and are expected to generate referrals for others
• Accountability: Track record of referrals given and received
• Professional standards: Established businesses only, strict vetting process
• Long-term relationships: Focus on building genuine business partnerships

The BNI advantage for construction contractors:

• High-value referrals: Members typically run successful businesses with bigger budgets
• Pre-qualified leads: Referrals come with built-in trust and recommendation
• Diverse network: Accountants, solicitors, estate agents, and architects all in one room
• Regular opportunity: Weekly meetings mean consistent relationship building
• Protected territory: No direct competition within your chapter

Investment and commitment?

• Annual membership: £600-1,200+ depending on chapter
• Weekly meetings: 2-3 hours, including travel time
• Referral expectations: 2-3 quality referrals monthly for other members
• Professional development: Training sessions and networking events

Why it works for construction: Construction projects often involve multiple professionals. The architect recommending you to their client, the solicitor handling the property purchase mentioning your services, or the accountant whose client just sold their business and wants to renovate their home.

The exclusivity is key. You're not competing with five other builders for attention. You're the only construction professional in the room, which means every relevant opportunity comes to you first.

7. Manual Planning Application Research: The DIY Approach

Here's a trick some dedicated contractors use to find homeowners planning construction projects. Manually checking local authority planning portals. It's free, it's available to everyone, and it works. But it can also be incredibly time-consuming and frustrating.

The process involves visiting multiple council websites daily, navigating different planning portal systems, searching for recently approved applications, and extracting contact details. You can expect to spend 2-3 hours daily just checking portals, plus another 1-2 hours organising the data.

The problem with this method:

• Every council uses different software and systems
• Only 60-70% of applications include useful contact information
• Total time investment: 5-10 hours weekly minimum

You're essentially working a second job as a data researcher, with no guarantee the leads will convert into actual projects. The biggest problem with this approach is how long it takes to research and contact each lead.

Expected Time Investment Vs Results?

Here's the truth about all these unconventional methods. They work, but they're incredibly time-consuming. Building a social media following, maintaining Reddit credibility, or developing relationships through social clubs can take months or years of consistent effort.

How much time do you need to invest to see results?

• TikTok: 30-60 minutes daily creating and posting content
• Social clubs: 1-2 hours weekly attending events and building relationships
• Reddit: 30-60 minutes daily, answering questions and engaging
• Community apps: 20-30 minutes daily monitoring and responding to posts
• Volunteering: 4-8 hours monthly on various projects
• BNI groups: 5-8 hours weekly 
• Manually checking planning portals: 3-6 hours weekly

Total weekly commitment: 18-23 hours/week minimum

You're essentially taking on a second job as a content creator, community member, and relationship builder. For many contractors, this time would be better spent on actual building work.

We recommend choosing one or two methods that you enjoy the most. No one has time to focus on all of these strategies at once.

This is where Buildscout comes in. Instead of spending hours scrolling through social media or attending networking events, hoping to find your next client, Buildscout gives you a direct line to home owners who've just received planning permission for your ideal projects.

Why Buildscout beats these unconventional methods:

• Filter for the exact jobs you want, e.g. home extensions or complete builds
• Direct access to people actively planning construction projects
• Leads are in your specific service area
• No competition from dozens of other contractors
• Perfect timing when home owners are ready to hire

These aren't random leads, they're people actively planning construction projects in your area.