[David_Annable]

Hi

Some times I answer the phone with a cheery hello, only to be greated to the phase " do you do free estimates "

My eyes usually glaze over & sharp gutteral sound starts in the back of my throught.

How do other people deal with such matters.

Dave

[dave401uk]

i always do free estimates,it gets you in the door to start with,and of course if you can see what you quoting for,it does make life easier.
conversion rates are very good when you take the trouble to visit the client

Dave

[rs_cleancare]

Have to agree with david.
I always try to avoid quoting over the phone unless it's for a stain removal or the cleaning of a rental property. I find most people moving out of rented accomadation want it doing as cheap as possible so they have a reciept to give there letting agent.

Rob.

[bennymon]

i agree i do free eatimates   but if the customer uses the word free on the phone they are usually after someone cheep

[Shaun_Ashmore]

when they ask that they are usually after an insurance report/quote.

The fact that they think it is standard cleaning for a flood etc well they are there to be educated.

I once had a guy ask me for a quote over the phone for a carpet to be cleaned, and then he asked if he could have it in writing. That made me ask him some more questions and he said he had just had a flood.

He put the phone down on me when I said I wanted to come out and see it first before I could give him anything in writing.

Shaun