Leaving estimate when no one is home

[Clean County]

If a poll could be taken I wonder what percentage of estimates you people would do for residential PW knowing the person won't be home and then leaving the estimate in the mailbox?

Of course I would rather meet the potential customer when doing an estimate because that would help in landing the job but more than half the times people are not home for whatever reason and to do an estimate when they will be home could be to time consuming for me. So I would say that at least 50%-60% of the times I do estimates when people are not home. This of course only applies for residential work. Commercial work this would never fly.

So what do you guys/gals think?

[2cool]

 

[Mike Hughes]

Mail them......never leave them. You never know who's hands they fall into if you leave it..........even competitors coming out to bid on the same day. Or a teen that doesnt give it to them............whatever.

I say mail it.

 

[Fairway]

Leave it, then call to make sure they got it.

 

[Harold Brantley]

When someone calls for an estimate, I ask when I can meet them there. If they say, "Oh just leave it in the door." I know they are just price shoping and I say " I don't do business that way."

My reasoning is that if I am going to get the job, it will not be because I am the lowest price, because I will probably be the highest price. In order to get the job and be the highest price, I have to meet the person and sell myself, my cleaning ability, chemicals, equipment, liability & workers comp insurance, etc. This keeps me from running all over leaving estimates for price shoppers. I also now get a much higher percentage of the jobs I do go and quote.

 

[ParadiseProWash]

I agree with Harold, I will not go to a residenal property without the home owner being there because it really is about selling yourself. I have done a number of contracts that I was the highest bid I know this because I asked. I was told that I got the contract because they liked my answers to their questions and that they could tell that I was a profesional. The bottom line is they trusted me more than the others. I refuse to pressure the customer I answer questions and give realistic answers I actually tell them it wont look as good as it turns out that way you are always the hero so to speak. Be realistic and answer questions that are not asked.

 

[Aplus]

Harold and Paradise hit the nail on the head, in my opinion!

Tony

 

[Mike Hughes]

I totally agree with Morgan and Harold.........it is best to sell yourself in person.................that's all fine and dandy, if you can FIND THE TIME! I simply can't pull it off. During the busier times, I don't have the luxury of meeting everyone. I typically do my estimates on the weekends. On any given saturday I have between 15 - 30 properties to visit. If they're at home, great.........if not, nothing I can do about it.

I believe that sales can be made through good writing skills, not just in person. A well written/informative packet sent to a home can make quite an impression. I even sold a very large deck job a few months ago stictly by email.........I had no verbal contact with the customer (it was a first).

 

[Aplus]

I have found that being the first person to bid on a job, and using techiniques like Harold and Paradise offer, I rarely lose a job. I even tell the customer what to ask and check for when the next guy shows up. I quickly educate the customer, so he can understand exactly what he is paying for, and remove the mysteries of the process. Exactly why a professional should do the job. This is a selling technique adopted by the diamond jewelry sellers......teach the customer the basics about diamonds, things they probably didn't know. Remove the mysteries. Then, they feel more capable in making a good decision on the diamond they will buy. Diamonds cost more than cleaning a house or a deck, so it should be an easier sale.

If you make people wait too many days before you can visit them, you will lose too many jobs to people who get there first. Let's face it, the services we typically offer homeowners are not 'required' maintenance. Twenty + years ago when I was growing up, I never knew of people getting their houses power washed and waxed, or their deck stained. or their concrete power washed. It didn't happen. Thanks to many fine professionals in our trade, we have created many opportunities for all kinds of cleaning services never before offered. When the customer decides he needs our services, it's often an impulsive decision, as well as one he is willing to spend his discretionary income on.

I can not imagine brochures and write-ups competing with a prompt, personalized, one-on-one quotation and discussion with the customer.

Now, I know it is often difficult to find time for quoting, but time has to be properly alloted for it, as this process is what garners you the work. Occasionally, there may be no way to meet with the customer, but that should be due to their scheduling confilicts, not yours.

I sign 88% of my homeowner visits and quotes. I think it is far better than farting around with written, non-personal quotes that only have a 50-50 chance at best.

You need to have people working for, or with you, that are capable to run a job while you are out doing quotes. Try combining a quote or two with a quick lunch break, for example.

When there's a will, (and maybe a little greed) there's a way.