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Some you win and some you lose Shane. Just don't give out too much information on your first site visit, let the customer tell you basically what they want. As for being given a budget - in 35 years of trading I have only been given this luxury on very occasionally.
just dont turn up ;)
you just never know ultimately until you visit/estimate.
the one you think may turn out to be a good lifelong customer and another you think will be great just picking brains/wasting your time. but we always learn.
It can be really frustrating, spending an hour or two talking to a customer and never hear back from them.
I nowadays try to deal with it over the phone or by email, explaining what I do and what my rates are. I always point out I am more than willing to come over and assess the garden, but it helps to give them something to think about upfront, avoiding time wasters.
Also, some colleagues I know charge for a first consultation, havent tried it myself yet though.
Hi, I now always charge a small amount £50.00 for any consultation and for that I give them as much advice as I can in an hour. I then show them my portfolio and explain the basic costs of materials and labor. If they want to go ahead with a design I take it to the half way stage and then return with detailed estimated costs for each area on a meter rate. The final plan can then be produced to an agreed budget and plans put in place to build the garden in stages if necessary.
I try to schedule estimates when I'm on the way to, or from, a job. Or bunch them together - do a few in one go.
If the job is big or complicated, I'll top-up the estimate to include time spent doing the estimate (but that's invisible to the client). With smaller or simpler jobs, I try to give an estimate during the visit and if they're happy with that, I can book them in - client's seem happy straightaway to know what they'll pay and when it'll get done.
If I have to send an estimate (via email or post) then I'll phone or text a few days later to get a response. If I don't get a response, then I assume it's going no further.
Rob
I tend to provide the customer with enough information so they are reassureed that we know what we are doing. Without giving all the advise required for them to do the work them selves or employ a cheap cowboy to do it for them. If i get the feeling that this what they are doing i waste minimal time drawing up the estimate and provide no technical information.
A pet hate is providing an estimate (after an average of 1.5 hours spent) and not receiving a message back thanking me for my time or even that they have received the estimate. I now follow up after 48hours and if they are time wasters I try and get something from them. Such as:
Answers to a couple of questions (feedback) about the quality of the quote, my presentation etc.
Any information about other quotations they sourced from competiters (inc. prices if possible).
Always making sure i am polite and professional.
Good luck. Alex Blue Skies Garden Services ltd.