Estimates
- Thread starter MIKE FP
- Start date
K Gauthier
New member
Giving someone a price without looking at the job is asking for it. I Gladly give free estimates. I Will some times give ball parks but i tell them its not the price untill i look at the job. There is just to many variables to give a price over the phone.
DustinC
New member
I've found 9 times out of 10 that the people who want or demand over the phone quotes are just price shopping with no intention of hiring you or your local competition/start-ups trying to figure out their own pricing. Go for the face to face, show them your about quality and your odds of closing the sale will increase dramatically.
K Gauthier
New member
yup thats the truth.
MIKE FP
Member
i agree, i will always do estimates, its good to meet the potential customers and afterall we are salesman. also there prices were very cheap. how could you give the same price for every house 1 story and 2 story, etc.
K Gauthier
New member
to get calls..
John Orr
Member
In my case, I gladly give estimates over the phone. 99% of my business is residential and I price by the square foot, so most estimates are easy. (1 or 2 story - it doesn't matter. In fact, 1 story homes can take longer to do, since they have [sq ft being equal] more soffits and have a larger footprint, which means pulling more hose.) I advise the caller that there are variables that can affect the price, but since my price includes almost everything, it boils down to the P.I.T.A. factor.
While I may have had a few competitors checking out my pricing, most are not. I know because most schedule either an appointment or a visit to give an in-person estimate - which I offer. Most people are just glad to have a real person to talk to and not have to play "telephone tag" that they schedule on the first call.
I'm not saying this will work for everyone, but it absolutely works for me. At 10 mpg, not to mention the time, the less driving - the better.
While I may have had a few competitors checking out my pricing, most are not. I know because most schedule either an appointment or a visit to give an in-person estimate - which I offer. Most people are just glad to have a real person to talk to and not have to play "telephone tag" that they schedule on the first call.
I'm not saying this will work for everyone, but it absolutely works for me. At 10 mpg, not to mention the time, the less driving - the better.
MIKE FP
Member
i hear ya. over the phone estimates definitely saves time and money (on gas) but i like to see the job and the individual i could be working for.
K Gauthier
New member
John some people dont give the correct sf over the phone. and a really dirty home takes alot longer than one that justs needs a quick clean up of bugs and webs. and you wont be able to see how dirty it is untill you see it. Ive had houses at 1500 sf take me longer than 2500 sf. That would be great to be able to give someone a price over the phone but it just dosent work down here in florida.