Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: tom2009 on May 20, 2010, 06:32:13 pm

Title: quote without viewing
Post by: tom2009 on May 20, 2010, 06:32:13 pm
Had a message left to quote. Rang the lady back. She was very keen to describe the windows to me but, even though I'm cleaning that way tommorow, didn't seem to want me to look at them. Would you quote from a customers description?
Title: Re: quote without viewing
Post by: Window Washers on May 20, 2010, 06:35:34 pm
Had a message left to quote. Rang the lady back. She was very keen to describe the windows to me but, even though I'm cleaning that way tommorow, didn't seem to want me to look at them. Would you quote from a customers description?
yep I would over price it, if she says yes result if she says no, then say to give a proper quote you need to see the property, could be your competition checking you out.
Title: Re: quote without viewing
Post by: tom2009 on May 20, 2010, 06:37:52 pm
good point about the competition but as you say to give a proper quote you need to see them yeh?
Title: Re: quote without viewing
Post by: Window Washers on May 20, 2010, 06:41:35 pm
good point about the competition but as you say to give a proper quote you need to see them yeh?
yes unless you do the house next door and it is the same, I would still over quote as people have a tendancy to lie.
Title: Re: quote without viewing
Post by: Gav Camm lammy 283 on May 20, 2010, 06:42:29 pm
try streetview to give u a quick idea ;D
Title: Re: quote without viewing
Post by: dmlservices on May 20, 2010, 06:44:53 pm
i never quote without seeing the place, and meeting/ talking to the owner,

sounds like competition sniffing out your prices

daz
Title: Re: quote without viewing
Post by: tom2009 on May 20, 2010, 06:46:44 pm
try streetview to give u a quick idea ;D
I had a quick look but she's got an almighty bush hiding her frontage ;D
Title: Re: quote without viewing
Post by: andyjm1 on May 20, 2010, 06:48:36 pm
When pricing a job you may wish to consider:

How many windows/ doors  there are and their size.

Wether any of the windows are awkward to reach.

How dirty the windows are at the moment.

What the access to the property is like and where  you can park your van/ car.

How far the job is from your other work.

I never price jobs over the phone, don't even give them an idea of the price. Just tell them you need to carry out a brief survey of their property at no cost to them.
Title: Re: quote without viewing
Post by: tom2009 on May 20, 2010, 06:50:55 pm
When pricing a job you may wish to consider:

How many windows/ doors  there are and their size.

Wether any of the windows are awkward to reach.

How dirty the windows are at the moment.

What the access to the property is like and where  you can park your van/ car.

How far the job is from your other work.

I never price jobs over the phone, don't even give them an idea of the price. Just tell them you need to carry out a brief survey of their property at no cost to them.  
like the wordage. Thats my feeling though it's not just the windows that need looking at.
Title: Re: quote without viewing
Post by: Window Washers on May 20, 2010, 06:57:28 pm
try streetview to give u a quick idea ;D
I had a quick look but she's got an almighty bush hiding her frontage ;D
sell her a razor  ;D
Title: Re: quote without viewing
Post by: tom2009 on May 20, 2010, 06:59:43 pm
try streetview to give u a quick idea ;D
I had a quick look but she's got an almighty bush hiding her frontage ;D
sell her a razor  ;D
too big for that, needs a proper chopper :o
Title: Re: quote without viewing
Post by: simon knight on May 20, 2010, 07:34:30 pm

If I know the street I've no problem with giving a "ball-park" quote. Obviously if, when I get there and the windows haven't seen a rag since the place was built or there's a whacking great cons on the back then I adjust my quote accordingly.

If I don't know the street then I definately want to look first.
Title: Re: quote without viewing
Post by: dazmond on May 20, 2010, 07:48:54 pm
street view no good as the address is approximate(usually they get it wrong!).i never give a quote over the phone.

i just tell em ill be round at a certain time later on that week and get their address and phone number! ;) ;D
Title: Re: quote without viewing
Post by: jonnyald on May 20, 2010, 07:52:06 pm
i usually just ask how many bedrooms and then say "is it average?" then give my price . sometimes when i get there its a welcome suprize its a small bug -hutch -house,another time its Extra high,So  some you win some you lose

if i arrived and it has a well big conservatory-this isnt average and id be sure to readjust my price  ;)

 ive only been caught out once with a 3storey  thin as a rake house and on first clean felt id underpriced this on the phone as it was very high. but by the second clean id got my act together and no worries about how to do it
Title: Re: quote without viewing
Post by: Blue Frog Systems on May 20, 2010, 08:04:46 pm
Done a couple of quotes via email and quoted them off streetview (and got them). I get the number, road and find the house. I then ring them, describe the house im looking at and ask if they have an extension or conservatory at the back. They give the answer and i give them a price.

Ive found doing it this way has saved me time, fuel & im either spot on or over priced from what i would have quoted if i was walking around the property.


I dont tell them im doing it this way. If they seem though they want a price without me going to quote, i would actually go out and quote it in person and add a little for my troubles now
Title: Re: quote without viewing
Post by: Smudger on May 20, 2010, 08:27:02 pm
hate quoting over phone/email,

did this for a 1 off job 30  miles away - used google maps etc  and quoted nearly double what i originally thought  worked out a good job.

i have had several people trying to get quotes over the phone who i later go and see and amazingly the 6 windows and 1 patio door turns into 12 windows and 2 sets of patio doors -  ::)

Darran
Title: Re: quote without viewing
Post by: rob child on May 20, 2010, 09:31:59 pm
got a friend who helps me out a bit and today he asked if id go and see his mum and clean hers so i said of course anyway long story short he told his mum id do it for a tenner but it worked out to be a 5 bedroom farmhouse!!! told her it was a one off as i was too busy to do it regularly even then she thought a tenner was over the top!!!
Title: Re: quote without viewing
Post by: tom2009 on May 20, 2010, 10:05:29 pm
thanks to all for feed back. Just annoying when yer told 'ok I'll have a think and let you know'. When you are face to face you can normally close the deal type thing.
 By the way Blue frog systems how are you getting on in your new area? Not after knowing numbers just interested.

Tom
Title: Re: quote without viewing
Post by: Elfords Carpet and Window Cleaning on May 20, 2010, 10:11:28 pm
How unprofessional is that, to tell a potential customer how much something will cost them when you dont know what you are dealing with.
Title: Re: quote without viewing
Post by: paul rulton on May 20, 2010, 10:15:08 pm
i agree with Elfords 1   ;)
Title: Re: quote without viewing
Post by: Reno's Carpet Care on May 21, 2010, 05:47:38 am
I would quote with a range, be vague.  Tell her you can give her a firm quote after you see the job.  Let her know there are discounts for things like her doing all the prep work.

Before you get to far into this one, ask her if she had a target price in mind and if it is too low make sure the price range you throw at her starts just under her ideal price and goes to what you want.  Upsell like hell.