estimates

[robertwarren]

Good day fellas,
I was wondering if it is common to leave the written proposals for residential work when the potential customer isn't home. I just ran in
to that this morning. The person called me from work. I realize it would be a lot harder to upsale not being face to face. I was just wondering if some of you guys leave them like taped to the front door if that's what they want and maybe do a follow up call if you
don't hear from them. Also what is a good amount of time to make the proposal good for. Thanks for your help!!

 

[Tim Smith]

I will leave them, but only attached to the following:

Contract
Process Flyer (describes everything that they should expect).

 

[Pam & Cujo]

Tim,

Since you and I both use a process flyer, could we perhaps exchange them in a private e-mail?
I would be interested to see if I am covering all my bases and using the info to my full advantage. Also to have the chance to learn from another PW pro...

If you would like to exchange, shoot me a mail at pamncujo@earthlink.net

Thanks!

Cujo

 

[Tim Smith]

you bet - shoot me a email.

 

[timhays]

i would say estimates should be good for 30 days,gives the customer a shorter time to make a decision,any sales we have always expire at the end of every month to speed up decision making process.

 

[Mike Hughes]

I never leave estimates unattended..........and never will. Your competition or someone else will either read them or possibly remove/destroy them. Their kid will come home and stick it on the kitchen counter where the parent won't see it till next thursday night.........two days after he hired someone else.

A vast majority of my estimates are now done by email. I ask every person that requests an estimate for an email address, and I get it more then 60% of the time at least. The rest of them I call or mail or both.

 

[Tim Smith]

Mike

You are building a great email target list. Do you send mailers every couple of months to your customers?

An approach that I find is less intrusive: I send mailers that educate the customer. For example, I recently sent mailers that explain "Where does those black streaks on your roof come from?" I explained in detail and then educated about treatment. I didn't give any prices or even offer to do their roof. I allow them to make the decision about their roof and if they wanted to call. Basically, this is a technique used to get the customer to call you and then make the sale. The objective of this technique is to get the customer to think of your email as educational & interesting, not just another sale, cold call, spam, etc. The delete button is too easy to hit. Grab their attention.