Who charges for estimates?

[fwf]

Hmmmmm How about Free verbal Estimate but a 30.00 Written one? Especially after a storm because most of them will Send the written in to there insurance company then Clean it up themselves. :blob5:

David, that would work pretty well in this area where a lot of business is still done with a handshake -- not sure how it would fly in the big city where folks deal with a lot of con artists.

 

[Ax-man]

fwf,

Disagree all you want, but I see nothing wrong with starting a relationship on a professional basis by charging for your time for an estimate. The arborists that do charge for estimates as a rule have more invested in education, certification, keeping up to date by attending seminars on tree care, all this costs money, I just can't see giving it away for free. We give away to much as it is in this business.

I have been on many sales calls where I intially didn't say I would charge for an estimate. But the client offered to pay for my time because I was helpful in answering there questions and gave us the work. I don't think they would have done this for my competition. This is why I say that a person who truly wants an arborist that cares about their trees doesn't mind paying for a professionals time and knowledge.

As far as the lawyer goes, if I had their kind of profit margins, I would do free estimates too.

Larry

 

[treeseer]

If we have worked for you in the past 5 years we do not charge for estimates or diagnostics.

If I did this, I'd work 20 hrs a week for no income. If your diagnostics are free, how detailed are they? I'm about 40% consulting/60% mtc now, but even if I was 100% mtc I think free estimates is crazy.

Let's think about this: why do people call? Most often, because they have a concern about their trees. To resolve that concern you have to look at the total picture, and that takes time. TT you are in Ken Knox's territory, I believe. Do you think he resolves tree concerns for free? I'm sure he charges more than I do. :blob5:

Bottom line: you get what you're worth, or at least what you can convince people you're worth. If you have the certs, the cred, the rep, the references or whatever, your time is worth money and you cheapen yourself and your trade and the trees by giving it away. If you are one more removal specialist fighting to see who can cut the cheapest, then no one will pay for your time. If you are an arborist and sell tree care first, you are worth more money.

This thread pops up often; I always say the same thing. I've been in a fairly well-educated area for 20 years, so while selling quality is not simple, granted it may be easier here than many other places. But it is possible everywhere to find clients who will pay for tree care, and build on that market.

 

[a_lopa]

Hmmmmm How about Free verbal Estimate but a 30.00 Written one? Especially after a storm because most of them will Send the written in to there insurance company then Clean it up themselves. :blob5:

yes ive had that one a few times.

i even had a guy on workers comp change my qoute sheet to a invoice which he billed the insurance co! watch that one as well.

 

[R Schra]

Mmm, pricing estimates? I dont see (like)reasons to let people pay up for an estimate. They ask me to look at a tree or shrub or what ever and i recommand actions to take care how the owners would see it or the way i see it. If they are not compliant with my 'vision' , or me with theirs, no estimate will be sent. The work (pruning, VTA, decease control etc) that i see will be limited quoted in an offer. Just after a workoffer is ok to do by an client the effort will be taken to make the propper reports and diagnostics. When a clients demands on site diagnostic they sign up, in advantage, a contract on the spot for the work done.

 

[treeseer]

When a clients demands on site diagnostic they sign up, in advantage, a contract on the spot for the work done.

Here is a person who knows the value of diagnostics, and receives value in return. Who else on this side of the pond sees it this way? My point is, every estimate involves diagnosis and consultation. Even removing a dead tree, that involves the question of why it died, and how will whatever the cause was affect my other trees?
How will this tree's absence change my landscape and affect my other trees?
Should we mulch the others to protect the roots against new sun exposure?
Should we prune the others to lessen imbalance, so the new wind exposure dies not harm them?
What should I replace the dead tree with?
And so on.

As Voltaire said, everything is connected. While it is necessary to focus, and not pursue global considerations on every task, to serve the client and your business well it IS necessary to look beyond the cutting job, and move toward charging for sharing what you see.
One guy's opinion.

 

[Ekka]

Start charging for estimates around here and you'll certainly go broke.

Consultations are a totally different thing and depending on the depth the costs will vary.

All your competitors would simply take advantage of your fee by announcing they don't have one ... and bad news travels faster than good.

 

[Stumper]

Guy, You are correct that almost all estimates cross into diagnostics or consults. We pay Dr.s for that. We pay plumbers too-but the difference between paying the plumber to tell you what needs to be done then leaving or actually doing it is frequently nearly nothing since you are paying his minimum either way. If the plumbers diagnosis is big and costly you can then call other company's for a bid on a major project-which they may bid for free rather than coming out for a "mere" service call.What is one of the biggest gripes you hear about Doctors? Does'n't $75 just to tell me he doesn't know and send me to a specialist come up? How about plumbers? $45 just to come tell me he can't fix it and I'll have to spend $xxxx on replumbing and repairing the wall. People hate paying for consultations if there isn't good news and resolution with a small bottom line. My Mechanic charges for diagnostics. Fair. He doesn't charge me for running a scan that doesn't provide an answer for an actual problem.-That makes me happy and keeps me as a customer. If tree bids were more like a Dr's visit or computer diagnostics on one's car then we might have better success charging for consults on every bid but that isn't the reality. MOST people call an arborist when they have already decided what they want done. Do I present options? Certainly and it gains me some faithful customers, but the average customer is usually asking for a PRICE-not a diagnosis and treatment plan. Nathan has often pointed out that the route to getting premium prices lies in offering a Value Added Service. Diagnosis and treatment options set me apart from Dave the Hack. Dave usually beats me on removal prices except when he is too drunk to remember his appointment and does't get a bid in. My customers who value my service don't call Dave for a removal though-they call me because we already have a relationship that includes trust. If my price is 20% higher than Dave the Hacker it doesn't matter because I'm more than a hacker and the cost was reasonable.

 

[Koa Man]

I would like to charge for estimates, but all of my work is repeat or referrals, therefor it would be difficult to charge for a quote. I flat out tell people I do not do consultations as I am not a consulting arborist. My recommendation to find what is wrong with their tree is to call the University of Hawaii, tropical agriculture dept. and ask them. Most times the UH trop ag lab will ask them to bring in a branch and soil sample to check. They charge a nominal fee for this service. No tree company here charges for estimates and that is why some people call everybody in the YP for a quote.

 

[treeseer]

MOST people call an arborist when they have already decided what they want done...the average customer is usually asking for a PRICE-not a diagnosis and treatment plan

Stumper most here call when they gave a tree problem, but are not totally set on waht to do. What do you do when their decisions will not achieve their goals? Most/many homeowner decisions on tree care are based on bad/lacking info and will backfire later. I always try to find out what they're after and assist with the decision, as you do.

Koa I hope UH gives better diagnosis and service than ncsu. You don't need to sell consultation to serve your clients when a good lab paid for by theiir taxes is close by. Here I have to take on diagnosis or go private with it.

 

[a_lopa]

i tell people the report is $400 or free if i do the work.

 

[iain]

not me, if the job is too far away pass it up !!