[jeff1966]

Interested to see how my fellow professionals price there domestic jobs.I myself do it over the phone.
                              Jeff
                       

[*paul_moss]

As much as possible I go to the house.But on a few occasions I price over the phone. I would say 80/20/split

[Phillip Mold]

The only time I gave a price out over the phone was for the only job I have subsequently walked away from!

[steve k]

how would you price over the phone...?
Do you have a rough guide in mind per square metre?
A standard price (average) for hall, stairs and landing etc..?

price per seating on a suite?

what seems to be the average charge per metre on domestic work...the average room tends to be 5m x 4m so 20 sq.m...would this be priced at £2 per sq.m so £40.00 for the room or £3 per sq.m so room at £60.00??

thanks.

Looking forward to day in Rhyl Paul...

[*paul_moss]

Steve you only have to ring 

[the red carpet]

if you want high prices you will have to go inhouse im afraid, there will allways be a celling to what you can charge over the phone

the downside is doing all the quotes will take a day so you only have the potential of working 4 days a week
wheras the guys who price on the phone generally have 5 days a week to earn so yes they make less per job but on that day you are driving round quoting they still earn a couple hundred quid.

basically swings and roundabouts

i know because i have tried both systems

there will allways be pros and cons to both, the busy cleaner pricing over the phone will have twice the wear and tear on equipment twice the fuel costs and twice the headache, but they also get twice the repeats and recomendations

[Mike Halliday]

on another subject someone asked about how big an area we cover, this is why its important, who wants to spend all their time travelling around doing quotes

I did 5 quotes today (all in home) and had to travel to none of them ...........every one of them I could visit as I dropped my son at school & travelling betreen jobs. this is because i work in a very small area

Mike

[colin thomas]

for what it's worth i think that although you might get more money by going to the house, you have to decide if you want to drag out at 7pm when the customer gets back from work or drive 10 miles out of your way in-between jobs, i don't want to, i get a pretty good conversion rate by quoting over the 'phone.

colin

[carpetguy]

If you want to be busy...............and build a substantial client base, time management is very important, as, if you're not actually working, you're not earning.

Later, when you've become established, which takes years, not months, you will be charging more and have time to carry out home visits.............until then, you need patience, which is seriously lacking in youngsters these days and accept the fact, that you're a novice, for a couple of years and, in spite of the nonesense put about by some, you don't deserve the same  rates as people who've been around for years.

 

[spindle]

i offer a rough estimate on the phone.........

and tell them that is just an estimate......

if i go to the property then i will give a quote....

been caught once..........

[the red carpet]

in my area i know i can book £50 lounges over the phone, iv done it and it works you dont get them all but you get enough
if you want £100 lounges you gotta go out

[Liahona]

I understand the argument of pricing over the phone and each to their own.  I have said about Mike being in an ideal circumstance as he works so close by to where he lives.  Having said that how many of us would purchase a van, machine or anything for that matter over the phone and not being able to see the item.  I feel the same for a carpet.  Just an opinion but I wouldnt ever price over the phone.  Other than that I have a car for sale, average size, average colour, average miles, average condition.  Any offers???      I have an average size room, an average type carpet, an average age, usual colour, average 3 piece suite and just two dogs and three kids, how much to clean my carpet?  Is there realy any difference? Best, Dave.

[steve k]

Paul...i`ll find your number...think its on the other forum messages...

[colin thomas]

just a little footnote to this one, one of my main competitors will only do home quotes, sorry, surveys. i keep getting calls from people who resent this intrusion to their privacy when they just want a ball park figure, i give them a rough price over the 'phone and usually get the job, i always say that it might be more (or less  ) the figure quoted, strangely enough it always seems to be more. 

[*paul_moss]

Steve go to your messages on the other forum

[gwrightson]

cbt, 
"resent this intrusion into their privacy" 
you really expect me to believe that as a reason for not carrying out surveys    

its your way of making yourself feel better about not been bothered to do them, really thats just so pathetic.
inhouse surveys win every time, better prices, better percentage of attaining the job, and last but not least , you know exactly what you are dealing with, regarding not only the items to be cleaned but parking and numerous other factors.

one such instance was only this evening, a call from custy wanting a price for h/s/l and a lounge, told her i only price after survey. ok no prob, she said, got the address and straight away alarm bells ringing
an area that normaly is a no go, well known for smackheads, breakins and even stoning fire brigade etc.
well anyway , got their and it was actually a part that a new development and wasnt too bad, but still i thought a typical price seeker, but because i went and surveyed , explained things i got the job £120,
she even admitted that she would have said no straight away if i had said that price over the phone, so go and survey, and dont make excuses

Geoff

[Neil Grainger]

HI

I offer clients both options, I say I prefer to come and give a quote but can give you a estimate over the phone and do a proper quote on the day of the Job.

Most say come round and the others are normally price shoppers that I dont want anyway.

Works for me.

Cheers

Neil

[colin thomas]

geoff, i wasn't trying to imply that everyone hates home surveys but some people won't have them. when i give a quote over the phone i will know exactly the area they live in, i also ask about parking etc, i also don't follow this idea of seeing what is involved, if the carpet is minging or like new i arrive, asses what chemicals i need and get one with it, it's not brain surgery. i think it's a bit rich saying i'm pathetic for not doing home surveys, it suits me not to do them unless they are on my doorstep, i have a life to live, i don't go running out doing surveys after already doing a days work, i could say your pathetic for being on call all the time, but then i wouldn't say that because i think 'each to their own'.
colin

[craigp]

i agree Colin, its what ever you prefer, no right or wrong.

Pros and cons for both, if your busy high volume type than qouting over the phone may suit you, also some jobs like just a lounge is it really worth going out twice sitting in traffic, on the 'in home' side conversion rates are higher as are prices.

somtimes im just to busy to go out qouting, may be the comprimise is the estimate over the phone measure/qoute before starting the job.

[gwrightson]

Colin,
just read your reply,
sorry if my reply caused any offence , by saying it was pathetic.
it was meant as a tounge in cheek remark, but unfortunatly ,what we are thinking and typing , doesnt always look the same in actuall print when digested.
so apoligies if offended,
I am merely giving my opinoin, and as to the benifits, but as you quite correctly pointed out, each to his own , and both have pros and cons.
Geoff