Extra Work For Nothing?

MIKE FP

MIKE FP

Member
LATELY, A LOT OF MY RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS HAVE BEEN ASKING ME TO DO EXTRA WORK WHICH OF COURSE IS NOT ON CONTRACT. THEY LOOK AT IT AS MORE OF A FAVOR. I LOOK AT IT AS EXTRA WORK WITHOUT PAY. HEY, TIME IS MONEY IN THIS BUSINESS RIGHT? ANYWAY IM TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT SOME OF YOU GUYS DO IN THIS SITUATION. :confused:
 
Well normally that would be a $250 job, but since I am here and my equipment is set up I can do it for you for just $195.
They will stop asking or they will start paying!
 
To maintain our already low pricing, we are unable to extend any "free" services at this time. We hope that our customers respect this in our decision and know that we will always offer the best available pricing right up front.
 
MIKE FP said:
LATELY, A LOT OF MY RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS HAVE BEEN ASKING ME TO DO EXTRA WORK WHICH OF COURSE IS NOT ON CONTRACT. THEY LOOK AT IT AS MORE OF A FAVOR. I LOOK AT IT AS EXTRA WORK WITHOUT PAY. HEY, TIME IS MONEY IN THIS BUSINESS RIGHT? ANYWAY IM TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT SOME OF YOU GUYS DO IN THIS SITUATION. :confused:
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Have you ran the numbers on it to see exactly how much extra money it's costing you?

If it's not something huge and too time consuming then I say big deal, do it. I get asked things like spraying off patio furniture, PWing some concrete steps, or sparying out a bird bath sort of stuff, and for what it actually costs me I say NO PROBLEM! The cost of it is well worth the investment of gaining a customer for life, that customer doing word of mouth advertising for me, and referring people to me all because they got more than they expected. It's called customer loyalty.

Up charge some little old lady to spray off her patio or clean up some plant pots and I guarantee she won't be calling you back the next time around. What's that worth?
 
I agree with you Barry on small things like that. Bird baths and flower pots dont take but a min. but I think mike was getting at bigger things that took a toll on his time.
 
It is only up selling if you tell the "little old lady" that she should allow you to do extra work for extra money.
If you are there doing contractually agreed upon work and the "little old lady" wants you to do more work, charge accordingly, sure you can discount, but charge accordingly.
Your are doing this to earn a living, this is not a fun hobby, or is it?
 
I tell them a price at a discount if going take me more than 10 or 15mins.
If it's not I do it for free, alot of times I look for something small to do and
let them know when i'm done with the job that I did this for them for free,
they're usually very thankful and will tell a friend.
 
Barry M said:
Have you ran the numbers on it to see exactly how much extra money it's costing you?

If it's not something huge and too time consuming then I say big deal, do it. I get asked things like spraying off patio furniture, PWing some concrete steps, or sparying out a bird bath sort of stuff, and for what it actually costs me I say NO PROBLEM! The cost of it is well worth the investment of gaining a customer for life, that customer doing word of mouth advertising for me, and referring people to me all because they got more than they expected. It's called customer loyalty.

Up charge some little old lady to spray off her patio or clean up some plant pots and I guarantee she won't be calling you back the next time around. What's that worth?
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IM TALKING ABOUT CUSTOMERS SIGNING A CONTRACT TO POWERWASH THERE HOUSE, NOT WANTING TO DO THE GARAGE, THEN WHEN I GET THERE TO DO THE WORK AND IM JUST ABOUT FINISHED THEY SAY "HEY CAN YOU HIT THE GARAGE FOR ME"? A WHOLE VINYL SIDED GARAGE ISN'T A SMALL EXTRA. THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT ASK FOR PRICES FOR EACH JOB(SEPARATE PRICES) THEN SAY THEY DO NOT WANT SUCH AND SUCH DONE TO BRING THE PRICE DONE. I DID AN EXTERIOR STUCCO PAINT JOB YESTERDAY FOR A LONG TME CUSTOMER WHO ONLY WANTED THE STUCCO PAINTED. I ENDED UP PAINTING SCRAPING AND PAINTING TWO DOORS FOR FREE. BUT IT WAS WORTH IT BECAUSE HE WANTS MORE WORK DONE.
 
Here is what you do for the garage deal mike. give him a price for the house not including the garage. Then under that right in a price for the garage.

Tell them that when you are finished you might want the garage done. here is a price if you decide on it. Then its in writing. IF you see a shed or something that you think might need cleaning give them a price on it. even if they decide not to do it. you are ahead of the surprise "can you get that real quick",.
 
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