Business

Getting listed as certified changed my close rate — actual numbers

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Chloe Barnett

Six months since I finished my EHCI species and application certs and started putting the badge on proposals. Ran the numbers: close rate on hardwood bids went from 31% to 47%, and my average job size is up because I'm getting invited to bid bigger architect-driven projects. The verification link in my email signature gets clicked more than my portfolio. Just posting because someone here asked if the cert actually matters commercially. It does.

5 Replies

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Erica Lindstrom

Thanks for posting actual numbers. The architect-driven invites are the real prize — those jobs don't even hit the open market.

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Robert Chen

Confirming from the other side: when I shortlist subs for hardwood scopes, a verifiable cert moves you to the top of the pile. It's a filter for me before I even look at price.

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Chloe Barnett

@Kevin Level 1 plus Ipe/Cumaru species certs and the decking application cert. Honestly clients just see 'certified + verify link' — the depth matters more to architects and GCs.

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Kevin Doyle

What tier are you certified at? Wondering if the species certs matter to clients or if Level 1 alone moves the needle.

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Sam Whitfield

Echo this on the architect side. Since I got my EHCI I've been getting spec'd into projects at the design phase instead of bidding against three guys who already shaved their margins. Last big one was a 1,200 sq ft ipe deck with hidden fastener system over a membrane roof — architect wouldn't even talk to non-certified installers because the HOA required it for warranty. The spec calls get me in early, which means I can flag the problem details before they're locked in. Way better than competing on price after the drawings are done.

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