Do you get back to potential customers

[malc]

we do 90% private. i do the estimates. i write down every thing they want done, the materials needed, labour and profit that i think we can make, in our work book. also the full address, phone numbers, clients names, post code and who reccommended us.
write the total costings on the back of a business card and try to book it in there and then. most customers want the work carried out within days. you can then recall the information at anytime.
if you see a bentley on the drive double it.

 

[gdplastering]

I put on my quote a valid until date. If don't hear anything before that date I know I didn't get it . Never ring them up you look desperate.


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[bubbles65]

we do 90% private. i do the estimates. i write down every thing they want done, the materials needed, labour and profit that i think we can make, in our work book. also the full address, phone numbers, clients names, post code and who reccommended us.
write the total costings on the back of a business card and try to book it in there and then. most customers want the work carried out within days. you can then recall the information at anytime.
if you see a bentley on the drive double it.

If I seen a bentley on the drive I'd give them a fkin good price to build a garage for it marra :RpS_thumbup:

 

[beddy]

I ask them to let me know either way so i can either book them in or book other work in explaining that I have other quotes out as well so the longer they leave it before agreeing the more chance they will have to wait. If I hear nothing within a few days I generally take it as not getting the work. If I feel I had a good chance I will maybe call or email and say I have just agreed a big job but wanted to give them priority if they wanted me as I'd seen their job first.

After that, fuc.k em

 

[flynnyman]

I did turn up on a job I had priced and there was a Bentley continental parked up with around 8 other cars but I've had quite a lot of work off it and I was only there to easy fill some rough chases a spark had done. Sometimes jobs don't seem worth it but this little job has turned out to be very good with the work coming off it. I was at the sons last week doing them arches and I'm pricing a full room with new mf ceiling and cornice with full reskim.

 

[Mad82]

Difference is you have gone out of your way to invite a spread up to quote

You have asked for a quote

You've met the plasterer and asked him to get a price to you.

It's not like your just ringing random numbers saying, can I offer you some plastering work

It doesn't matter to them its part of our job most customers go with the price on the spot if they think it's fair. You can usually tell the customers that are just collecting prices. I don't blame them everyone shops around

 

[malc]

we do have a flexible labour force. if someone phones and wants a job done in that week it not be a problem. customers do not look very far ahead
the last week in each month, when people receive their wages we will receive the most enquires , and orders. with mondays the busiest on the phones.

 

[malc]

I did turn up on a job I had priced and there was a Bentley continental parked up with around 8 other cars but I've had quite a lot of work off it and I was only there to easy fill some rough chases a spark had done. Sometimes jobs don't seem worth it but this little job has turned out to be very good with the work coming off it. I was at the sons last week doing them arches and I'm pricing a full room with new mf ceiling and cornice with full reskim.

well done keep your eyes open!

 

[Skimble]

If it's a job we particularly wanted and don't hear back, we normally send an email at least. It's useful for future quotes to know why you didn't get it. If you seem desperate to the customer, who cares? They weren't going to give you the work anyways.

 

[malc]

If I seen a bentley on the drive I'd give them a fkin good price to build a garage for it marra :RpS_thumbup:

there was a bentley on the drive at a recent job, he had to purchase himself a sports car so that he could drive into town as the bentley would be vandalized. he is a big noise in the music industry, he was talking on the phone and signed my cheque and handed me the cheque book to fill the cheque in.

 

[mayti]

what wrong with driving Volvo estate .do you think it makes you more impressive if you turn up in van?

 

[Jurek]

Yes

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[Skimble]

Yes

 

[windy]

I come a sales background and it's all about ratios. If u look back over your quotes u will see a certain % buy and some don't. The ratios don't change much. So If 50% of your quotes turn into jobs u need to price ten jobs to get five. Don't try and work people out. Most are weird and complex creatures...

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[zombie]

yes

 

[mayti]

I would think quality of work more important than what vehicle you turn up in just because you have van don't mean your best thing since sliced bread?

 

[jesssop]

After time more and more of your work should start to come from word of mouth all my work for the last 9 years has been this way and 9 out of 10 times there is nobody to price against

 

[malc]

what wrong with driving Volvo estate .do you think it makes you more impressive if you turn up in van?

i turn up in my wifes toyota rav 4, i would not turn up in a expensive car as the client will think that you are over charging and try to cut you down. a volvo is exceptable.

 

[malc]

After time more and more of your work should start to come from word of mouth all my work for the last 9 years has been this way and 9 out of 10 times there is nobody to price against

that is the way to build a business. no need to advertise, keep the overheads down

 

[malc]

I would think quality of work more important than what vehicle you turn up in just because you have van don't mean your best thing since sliced bread?

a high standard of work and just as important NO MESS.

 

[mayti]

yes true clean site is happy site

 

[Arti]

If I seen a bentley on the drive I'd give them a fkin good price to build a garage for it marra :RpS_thumbup:

:RpS_laugh:

I ask them to let me know either way so i can either book them in or book other work in explaining that I have other quotes out as well so the longer they leave it before agreeing the more chance they will have to wait. If I hear nothing within a few days I generally take it as not getting the work. If I feel I had a good chance I will maybe call or email and say I have just agreed a big job but wanted to give them priority if they wanted me as I'd seen their job first.

After that, fuc.k em

if you **** em no wonder you dont get repeat business.....................:rolleyes)

 

[Jurek]

I would think quality of work more important than what vehicle you turn up in just because you have van don't mean your best thing since sliced bread?

your right. i'm not suggesting anyone's quality of work is substandard because they turn up in a car, or that everyone with a van is the bees knees. i'm saying that turning up in a van presents a more professional image to the client, or potential client. that you'd be more likely to get the job in the first place. if i phoned a spark or plumber to do a job for me and he turned up in a car i'd be a touch anxious: is he doing this on the side etc. he might do the job and be better than the bloke in the van but the initial first impression would be doubt ..

 

[Skimble]

Agree with you Jurek, we may know its no reflection on quality of work but I imagine the customers first impression would be sceptical.

 

[Mad82]

I turn up in a citroen grand picasso family car with tinted windows so no one can see the crap in the back. Fits everything I need and cheaper to run

 

[Jurek]

it's like whacky races .... :RpS_biggrin:

no offence, mad82

 

[beddy]

I know turning up in a car doesn't mean a thing about a blokes quality of work or his business etc but when I see a bloke in a Nissan micra with bags of ripped multi on the passenger seat. Beads sticking out the window. 20 4x3 on the roof and the back seat covered in buckets and his mrs bed sheets for dust sheets

I can't help thinking what a bellend lol

 

[Marshy]

when I was working in Germany we was on this house and the tiler was due to turn up to quote for some work and he was an old white haired guy (looked like Albert Einstein but the hair not so radical) and was in a f'in Ferrari F355 !!! best bit was as he was backing off the drive (we were all jaw dropped with his motor) he f'in backed into our gaffers Lexus lol we were creased up :RpS_lol:

 

[Mad82]

it's like whacky races .... :RpS_biggrin:

no offence, mad82

If we're going wacky racers I'll get a spoiler and big exhaust fitted and catch that pigeon :RpS_thumbsup:

 

[Mad82]

I know turning up in a car doesn't mean a thing about a blokes quality of work or his business etc but when I see a bloke in a Nissan micra with bags of ripped multi on the passenger seat. Beads sticking out the window. 20 4x3 on the roof and the back seat covered in buckets and his mrs bed sheets for dust sheets

I can't help thinking what a bellend lol

I agree on that one

 

[Arti]

I know turning up in a car doesn't mean a thing about a blokes quality of work or his business etc but when I see a bloke in a Nissan micra with bags of ripped multi on the passenger seat. Beads sticking out the window. 20 4x3 on the roof and the back seat covered in buckets and his mrs bed sheets for dust sheets

I can't help thinking what a bellend lol

You said you wouldnt tell anyone about my works car you **** & its a Nissan Cherry.........................:huh:

 

[Mad82]

In all honesty I am looking for a van at minute not for the way it looks on jobs more for the message ease of carrying materials I only still use the car because the wife's not long paddy her test and they want stupid money to insure her on it

 

[Marshy]

In all honesty I am looking for a van at minute not for the way it looks on jobs more for the message ease of carrying materials I only still use the car because the wife's not long paddy her test and they want stupid money to insure her on it

at the end of the day we do what we can with our resources I started off with a Toyota corolla hatchback and worked up to a brand new transit but after getting fleeced on running costs of buying new transits time after time I've back peddled to a land rover defender 110 and my bills on work vehicle have halved!! plus when the snow comes? what would you rather be driving??

 

[PFTwales]

Mac- Ask the customer to email you a picture of the work if possible, if they cant then get them to describe it best they can. Give them a rough idea of what you charge as a budget figure and explain if you are around the budget you are happy to come firm up a quote. You can get away with lots of timewasting this way.
If you do end up on a site visit you will have a good idea if you will be successful or not and just tell em u will ping the quote over and give them a call in a few days to check they had the quote and what are their thoughts.
Its a ballsy salesman tact that can be uncomfortable to do if you are not that way inclined, but it puts you in control.

 

[windy]

Mac- Ask the customer to email you a picture of the work if possible, if they cant then get them to describe it best they can. Give them a rough idea of what you charge as a budget figure and explain if you are around the budget you are happy to come firm up a quote. You can get away with lots of timewasting this way.
If you do end up on a site visit you will have a good idea if you will be successful or not and just tell em u will ping the quote over and give them a call in a few days to check they had the quote and what are their thoughts.
Its a ballsy salesman tact that can be uncomfortable to do if you are not that way inclined, but it puts you in control.

I've used this a lot on smaller jobs. Does save time and money and cuts out the timewasters

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