Charge for estimates?

[MasterBlaster]

The only charges are for ins jobs. It should say that in your YP ad, or however you advertise.

I don't know of anyone that charges for merely bidding the job, unless there might be extensive driving or you suspect the cust is BSing about it 'not' being an ins job.

 

[Guy Meilleur]

Originally posted by MasterBlaster
I don't know of anyone that charges for merely bidding the job.

Now you do. A call from a first-time client is usually met with "I can't afford to do free estimates; I spend too much on education. See my website for my credentials. I charge $x/hr. for consultations, but I will prorate that to $x/ minute with a 20 minute minmum. You will receive free reference material to help you better understand your trees."

[If they decline, they hear, "If you'd like to email me picture(s) of your trees, I can give you a free 3-minute consultation online." I don't tell them about mm doing freebies on AS--unless I'm stumped.]

On site I have all the ISA and some NADF brochures, and highlight in them to underscore the points I am making--mulch wide, etc. I carry aluminum plant labels to put on trees they don't know by name. For the longer consultations, I carry a tape recorder and leave them an audiocopy of the consultation.

If you like to talk about trees, and are right most of the time, selling consultations is better for the client, the trees, and you.

 

[MasterBlaster]

Thats cool, Guy. I like your philosophy, kinda 'don't waste my frigging time'.

One of my guys sorta does that, but in a different way. He just ignores any calls he thinks are a waste of his time. But he also has a strong client base with nearly 30 yrs worth of established customers.

Another guy I deal with runs out every little call, wastes a lot of his time, and gets screwed on a regular basis.

Needless to say, the previous guy is considerably more successful.



Time is money, dudes.

 

[Ax-man]

Watch it TreeCo that is a Meilleur original, might cost you money to use that line, might even have a patent on it.

Guy, you can probaly answer this question???

What if your on a routine " free estimate " for some tree work, nothing special just the ususal stuff.

Potential client turns the tables on you and asks for your opinion on the tree like " is it safe " or "why did that limb break ".

I feel stuck in the middle in a case like this where one crosses the line from quoting a price to do x amout of work and now it becomes more of a consultation so to speak.

You can't really charge for a consultation because that wasn't the intial purpose of the vist, but turned into a discussion on tree care any way, and most times results in no work.

I feel I have not only wasted my time, but have given away info that would normally be charged for.

Any suggestion to this one ???

 

[NeTree]

I just say...

That'd require a consultation, and that's not free.

 

[Guy Meilleur]

Originally posted by Ax-man
Potential client turns the tables on you and asks for your opinion on the tree like " is it safe " or "why did that limb break ".
Any suggestion to this one ???

How about something like..."It could have been SLD, or heavy ends that could have been reduced, or defective fork, or canker, or freak wind, or edge effect, or decay. If you want an aerial inspection to answer your question, it will cost $X. Otherwise, we can't answer that for sure in our time left, but we'll give it a thorough examination when we're here doing the work."

Orrrrr something like that--hey, I stole someone's line!

As much as I value my expertise and don't want to give it away, if I'm rude I've ticked the person off so he won't hire me, then the free estimate is wasted.
When people on the phone decline the consultation and insist on a free estimate, the line is..."You get what you pay for."

 

[MasterBlaster]

Hey Guy, it looks like these guys are your only competion!

 

[Tree Machine]

Charging for estimates

Eeeeek, Blaster....! How do you run a Hash with those things?

I've never charged for an estimate, but I'm blessed to have a tight work zone.

I do make it a habit of doing a phone interview with all callers. This gives me a chance to 'feel them out' and for us to get to know each other. ie Where are you located? (this weeds a few out right off the bat), Who referred you? (this establishes our 'personal' connection) Exact location of the tree(s) in question and what you feel that tree needs. I take good notes.

This way, I can tell them they gave me great information, and if they're not there when I arrive, I can go ahead and do the estimate even if they're not present. Coordinating with other peoples' schedules can be a PITA.

I may ask right up front, if they've gotten any other estimates. If yes, and I've got a lukewarm feeling about them, I let them know I'm so booked up I just don't get into bidding pools, and wish them good luck. Sometimes they'll fess up right away that they're getting a number of estimates. Our phone interview often ends very soon thereafter.

Time is money, and the phone pre-screening is a useful customer service tool, as well as front-line business management. I do my calls after I get home at night. I don't feel 'after dark' time is as valuable as daylight time in which I can otherwise be climbing. My business cards and estimates have my home number, and they can leave a message. Once a client becomes a client, then they get my cell #. -TM-