How to get work before its advertised

Most trades only hear about work once a job is advertised online or posted to a lead site. By that point, several other trades are usually involved and competition is high.

However, some trades regularly secure work before it’s advertised at all. This article explains how that happens, why timing matters, and how planning data is used to spot opportunities early.

Why most work appears late

When a property owner advertises a job on a lead site, they have usually already:

Decided the work is going ahead

Defined roughly what they want done

Started comparing prices

This means trades are entering the process after key decisions have already been made.

Lead sites such as MyBuilder and Rated People are designed for this later stage, once the property owner is actively requesting quotes.

How some trades hear about work earlier

Trades who get involved earlier usually rely on signals, not enquiries. One of the strongest early signals is a planning application.

Submitting a planning application shows that a property owner:

Has a specific project in mind

Is willing to invest time and money

Is moving towards carrying out the work

At this stage, many property owners have not contacted any trades yet.

Using planning applications as an early signal

Planning applications are publicly available and submitted to local councils.

They often relate to work such as:

Extensions

Renovations

Structural alterations

Larger planned projects

By monitoring planning approvals, trades can identify relevant work weeks or months before it appears on lead sites. This allows them to introduce themselves early, rather than competing later.

Why early introductions work

Introducing yourself before a job is advertised changes the dynamic completely.

Instead of responding to an enquiry, you are:

Making a professional introduction

Letting the property owner consider you without pressure

Being visible before comparison shopping starts

Many property owners appreciate this approach because it feels considered and relevant, rather than reactive.

How trades typically make early contact

Early contact is usually made by letter rather than phone or email.

Letters work well because:

They are unobtrusive

They arrive at a relevant moment

The property owner can read and respond in their own time

This approach is often used shortly after planning approval, when the project feels real but decisions are still being formed.

Does early contact always lead to work?

Not every early introduction turns into a job.

Planning-based approaches are not about instant replies. They are about:

Starting conversations earlier

Building familiarity

Being considered when decisions are made

Trades who do well with this approach tend to be patient and consistent rather than expecting immediate results.

How this compares to lead sites

Lead sites tend to work later in the process, once the job is public.

Early planning-based introductions work before that stage, when:

Fewer trades are involved

The property owner is still shaping the project

Conversations are less price-focused

Many trades use early introductions to create opportunities that never reach lead sites at all.

Can trades use both approaches?

Yes.

Many trades combine:

Lead sites for short-term enquiries

Planning-based introductions to build a future pipeline

This allows them to balance immediate work with longer-term opportunities.

Where TradeMailer fits

TradeMailer helps tradespeople use planning leads without manually searching council websites or managing letters themselves.

It matches relevant planning applications to your trade and sends professional introduction letters, allowing you to focus on quoting and doing the work.

If you’re weighing this up properly, do planning leads turn into real jobs? is a useful follow-on.

You may also want to explore alternatives to lead sites for trades.

Want to start sending your letters today?

Get started with TradeMailer and we’ll begin monitoring planning approvals for your chosen locations

— so you can start contacting property owners earlier.

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