Free Estimates and the price of fuel!

[wottssup]

I offer free estimates but with ever increasing fuel prices this is becoming another expense that I don't need just now.
I traveled 48 miles this week estimating 3 jobs and it's looking like I was unsuccessful in my bid in getting the work so costing me both time and more money on fuel

Do you think free estimates will soon be a thing of the past unless they are very local?

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

No

 

[1john]

If you dont do the estimate you wont have any chance of having the work

 

[cumbriahandyman]

I am often able to get the customer to agree an hourly rate so no quote needed. This way I am never out of pocket and the customer pays me only for the hours I am on the job.

Sometimes I can quote over the phone, though this can be a bit dicy...

But if (as in the majority of cases) I have to visit to do the quote, it has to be free otherwise the customer will go elsewhere.

 

[Richard C]

I don’t believe in charging for estimates as a supplier but as a customer, which I often am, you told me you charge to quote you just simply would not even get a look in. I don’t believe you should ever charge to quote but the time to even contemplate it is when the market is buoyant with loads of work & your particular trade is at a premium not when the market is flat with everyone scrabbling around undercutting everyone else. Even when times are good, you will be outnumbered by those that don’t charge. You don’t say what trade you are & some are faring better than others in this climate but if you start charging when there is loads of competition & work is scarce, you’ll be cutting your own throat. Bury the cost in your quote like everyone else does!

 

[jctilingservices]

I don’t believe in charging for estimates as a supplier but as a customer, which I often am, you told me you charge to quote you just simply would not even get a look in. I don’t believe you should ever charge to quote but the time to even contemplate it is when the market is buoyant with loads of work & your particular trade is at a premium not when the market is flat with everyone scrabbling around undercutting everyone else. Even when times are good, you will be outnumbered by those that don’t charge. You don’t say what trade you are & some are faring better than others in this climate but if you start charging when there is loads of competition & work is scarce, you’ll be cutting your own throat. Bury the cost in your quote like everyone else does!

spot on Richard mate

 

[WoodYouLike]

Bury the cost in your quote like everyone else does!

If you keep track of the number of quotes and the number of conversions into sales you know how much you will have to add to your quotes to cover all the unsuccessful quotes and drives. Simple business method.

 

[ln1234]

have you thought about why you didn't get the work? It could be that the customer has some unrealistic expectations, but if you're consistently getting turned down then maybe it's worth finding out why.

As a customer who's had quite a bit of work done recently, I recognise that traders need to come round to give a quote, but I try to be as upfront as I can about the work as I can. Last thing I need is someone wasting my time and theirs coming round when it's clear they're not going to get the work.

 

[wottssup]

A simple answer would be that I'm being undercut by other Landscaping guys, cheapest quote always wins.
I estimated a tree felling job just a few hundred yards from my house. 3 small to medium sized trees to cut,remove stumps and dispose of the trees to a licensed tip. I quoted £350! The guy that got the job quoted £100 ? It taken him 2 days.
It would cost £100 just to dump the stuff

I'm just having a rant about the price of fuel the effort I'm putting in trying to get contracts just to be out bid by some fly tipping bla bla bla!

 

[jctilingservices]

cheapest quote always wins.
quote]


Not always the case mate, priced a job a few weeks back, a shop owner wanted a price and work to be done on a nightshuift, 88m2 terrazzo floor, repair, re-hone, polish and seal, i told the guy it would take me and the young un 4 nights and quoted £2800, The guy then told me he had 3 quotes 2 from terrazzo specialists both around the £5500-£6000 mark and the third was for £1500.

I got the job there and then, the work was completed on time. The guy was very impressed with the workmanship that i now have to tile 3 bathrooms in his new home and i also have the shop next door to do.

If you are honest and take the time to explain everything to the customer showing that you really do have good knowledge of the work they want undertaken, you stand a really good chance of getting the job.

pay cheap pay twice is my motto

 

[steveuk]

If you are honest and take the time to explain everything to the customer showing that you really do have good knowledge of the work they want undertaken, you stand a really good chance of getting the job.

pay cheap pay twice is my motto[/quote]

yip well said mate, av lost count of the amount of jobs av been asked to put right/re-do

 

[jctilingservices]

If you are honest and take the time to explain everything to the customer showing that you really do have good knowledge of the work they want undertaken, you stand a really good chance of getting the job.

pay cheap pay twice is my motto

yip well said mate, av lost count of the amount of jobs av been asked to put right/re-do[/quote]

alreet Steve mate, hows things going at the minute for you ?

 

[steveuk]

aye jimmy mate things are on the up mate, seem to have plenty good graft comeing in at the min, so just gotta pray it keeps going the way it is, hows tricks your end bud?

 

[Mw Roofline]

Self employed people can earn anything between £100 and £500 a day.

Stop moaning about fuel

 

[TapMedic]

An interesting discussion. Personally I charge for my bathroom quotes. But if they go with me then they get that back.

What I've found is that if you provide a quote for nothing they don't place any value on your service! Once they have to shell out then that bit of paper (and your effort and skill) is suddenly far more precious.

I doubt very much if anyone on here wins work based on price alone. So by charging for your time like that it sends a very clear message that you are professional and puts off the "I'll find the cheapest quote by asking everyone pillocks" instantly. It's easy to do it very nicely you just have to get it right in your head.

Why do folk fully expect to pay lawyers, architects etc for turning out and not us? We're a profession too. If we raise the bar then (most) punters will have to jump. The slimey gits who don't want to pay (who none of us want anyway) will slither under the bar to be dealt with by the scum who give our profession a bad name! Rant off

Dave