[Majestic]

A while back I went on a window cleaners  web site that offered a online quote service,I want to add a online quote service to my web site but cant find the site I went on to .
Does anyone have this on there web site , if so what software did you use

[NWH]

Quote online i think not,silly idea.

[Majestic]

Its just to give them a rough idea

Found these so far

http://www.scwindows.co.uk/id69.html

http://www.smashingwindows.com/pricing.asp

[supernova77]

So what happens if this situation arises:

Customer counts up 10 windows on their house... Online quote price comes to £10.

You go round to see them. 2 windows are above flat roofs which means you have to get the ladder off the van... And another 3 windows are really awkward to get to even with WFP... So you quote them in person £15... Thats 50% more than the online quote!

I don't think online quotes for window cleaning would work.

Andy

[NWH]

Forget it it`s a terrible idea,you need to see the job first hand before you can quote.When you get there and they start saying things like i  4 doormer window`s and old leadlights that leak you`ll regret the day you ever entertained the idea of online quoting,it`s not midnight yet ease back on the drinking.

[bluez]

Works just fine mate, don't mind the cant be done brigade, just think it through properly and you will be fine.

Get the customer to count their windows (a window is any glass bordered on four sides by wall or ground) then multiply by charge per window and add 3 windows to cover any awkward bits and quote a price between x and y.

example

three bed semi with 10 windows 1 sliding door and front and back doors

13 windows plus 3 x £1 per window = £13.00

the quote generated should read something like this..

Thank you for submitting your details for our online quotation service, as you will appreciate there are many variables to pricing any job so this is an aid rather than a specific quotation.

Your Quotation £11 to £14 for exterior windows, frames and doors.

Price may vary if details submitted are incorrect.

[supernova77]

Works just fine mate, don't mind the cant be done brigade, just think it through properly and you will be fine.

Get the customer to count their windows (a window is any glass bordered on four sides by wall or ground) then multiply by charge per window and add 3 windows to cover any awkward bits and quote a price between x and y.

example

three bed semi with 10 windows 1 sliding door and front and back doors

13 windows plus 3 x £1 per window = £13.00

the quote generated should read something like this..

Thank you for submitting your details for our online quotation service, as you will appreciate there are many variables to pricing any job so this is an aid rather than a specific quotation.

Your Quotation £11 to £14 for exterior windows, frames and doors.

Price may vary if details submitted are incorrect.

I just don't see the point... You have to go and actually see the property anyway so whats the point of introducing this step which could potentialy put the customer off if the actual price is more than the online quote?

Andy

[NWH]

There`s always more to it than they say over the phone and it would more than likely be the same with online quoting,i`ve been to see jobs before when the home owner has said well we have quiet a few window`s,when i`ve gone round to quote i`ve needed a pen and paper so i don`t lose count.By online quoting they can`t see YOU,your offering a quote online yes but i find most people are not that bothered about price if they like you, you`ll get the job.

[bluez]

good points andy and nwh, but it is not meant as a replacement to all other forms of quotations just an additional option like quoting over the phone or offering direct bank payment or online payment, it works just fine for some but not for all but if it dosent take much to do it why not offer the extra option.

With a lot of jobs I never see the building because they are priced over the phone and done by staff so it is a good extra option for me but maybe not for everyone. Just a note of caution I would never take a commercial job without seeing it up close and personal first so I would only use this for domestic.

[Jon-scwindows]

Works fine for me, ive got 4 good customers through my website so far, and ive only had it about 1 or 2 months.

Situations like hard to reach etc etc.. usually when i get the email, when the potential customer has filled in the form, it will show me all the criteria, such as size of property, location, approx # windows, conservatory or not/ they choose frequency they want cleaned, how many floors - rather than me having to go and have a look and then quote them yes or no to my price, i just wait for their email back whether they accept my quote, then i go to do the cleaning.

I have not had any that after going to clean are way bigger than expected or underpriced. And after going to do the custy who i got through the online quote, i got her next door neighbour too.

I reply as soon as i can after ive got the filled in form, i dont charge per window i charge per how long i think it will take and frequency done and whether theres a conservatory or not..
I havent got any commercial jobs so far through it, but the option is on there.

works for me, no problem. And they probably prefer to do it that way than to ring you up.
Remember its not an instant automatically generated quote on my website its they fill in a form and send it to me, choice of options - click submit - i get the email with all the variables then i email them back with a quote

[rehcra]

Sorry john,

would definatly not work for me mate.

Doesnt matter what the customer would say, you have got to go in my opinion.

Locked gates

obstacles in way

just wouldnt work for me mate.

[Jon-scwindows]

your choice.

if the gate is locked i usually use a frame ladders. I get their phone number from the website so i can ring them the day before..

[rehcra]

Whatever floats your boat.

If it works for you, fair play

all im saying is i would rather go and look 

[Art]

Why not add a disclaimer saying that all quotes are subject to an onsite survey

[Kev R]

All good points.

I would like to use it for residential customers its a good Idea, also it will add functionality to your website and that will help with google listings. If it was an estimate instead of a quote, pending an onsite survey that would cover you, or as some have suggested a disclaimer.

I wold never use this for commercial work, Im not sure commercial customers would consider it professional, especially the larger companies. Part of the quotation process for me is selling me and my company. This is especially important with commercial work in my opinion.

good thread, has got me thinking 

[Grafters Cleaning Services]

i get asked all the time for a quote over the phone but never give one as you don't know what problems will arise when you see the job, as andy says "you have to go to the premises anyway" so that is when you should do the qoute.

to qoute without seeing the job is a big NO NO!

[nat]

i think it could work but i believe it would have to be really well thought out. maybe a series of optioned questions to narrow down any potential problems. i get the hump sometimes if someone wants a quote and its a good drive away.

as said previous make the quotation subject to an inital clean survey. to make sure all is well

[tonylee]

hi
you are all making fair points but i think people buy people.
i enjoy looking at the job and selling myself as a service.
by talking to people you can sometimes get an idea of what happened to their last bloke what sort of figure they were paying and who eles he used to do in the road.
on line does work but i would not want to lose the iniital face to face contact
happy new year guys
tony

[Majestic]

Thanks for all the replys. The reason I am wanting to do it is people have got my details from my web site and were only looking for an additional qoute.
It is not a final qoute just an idea of how much it could cost, like has been said before you do need to look at the job , if the form has enough details it should not be far off.

[bluez]

Its horses for courses like everything else in this life. My business has cleaned hundreds of houses this year that have been priced without me having seen them and I agree that it is a certain case of winning some and losing some, but consider the costs involved in terms of time spent traveling to price the job and time spent with the customer and money spent on diesel getting there and down time that you are not working due to pricing and  it makes perfect sense especially when you consider that you don't get every job and even if you do some of them will be one off cleans and some will only be twice yearly and any profit that may have been involved in gone down the pan.

You also develop an awareness of the area in which you work an dthe likely type of house you will find at a particular address. For example I know ##### is full of council semi's and ###### is mainly stand alone big houses.

I have been pricing domestic work over the phone now for three years and I always inform the customer that I will honour the price given on the phone (subject to it being vaguely similar to what has been described) for at least the first visit and inform them of changes after I have seen the house.

I consider these jobs like a ringing phone, just cos it's ringing doesnt mean I HAVE  to answer it. If I cant make money on it when I see it I won't do it.