I shouldn’t be doing what can be systematized, I should create systems and implement them for employees to do
I should be managing systems not technical work (I can explain more with what I mean by this if you’d like).
There’s a few things here:
I failed to mention I have my remote office person doing most of my bids, because its
time consuming in general
replicable process (for residential)
IF however I’ve laid off my office person at the end of season, or I’m short staffed and have to answer phones myself there’s many benefits I see to doing bids over the phone whether its myself or an office person doing them
It’s completed quickly, cutting labor costs, or the ability to offer a more competitive price
I don’t have to upcharge the client for the time spent driving to their house to do the bid in person
They get a bid almost instantly increasing my odds of closing the sale in a pinch
If I have an office person doing it, I can hire someone from halfway around the world to complete the task, providing a competitive advantage in multiple ways because:
I’ve got a larger talent pool to choose from
lower overhead costs because of less driving
Along with other benefits.
I will say however, I’ve probably got a 20 ish% increase in closing if I do in person residential estimates, STILL I don’t think the means justify the end with all of the other tasks I could be doing to improve or manage my business.
I usually write back something like this.
The best way for me to give you an exact price is to come do an onsite quote. I can come by this afternoon. Is there a time that best Work for you?
If not I’m happy to give you a ball park figure if there are any photos of your property online or you could send me some.
If someone doesn’t want an onsite estimate then they are probably searching for the cheapest price. I have a form I use for phone quotes to get a pretty good picture of what the job will entail, but it DOES NOT reveal the true condition of the windows and therefore can’t get a real expectation of the job.
EXAMPLE A:
CUSTOMER: Hey, I just bought a car (make-model-year-mileage) I need it to run smoother, how much will that be?
GARAGE: Um, bring it in so we can check it out, there could be any number of things it needs.
EXAMPLE B:
CUSTOMER: Hey, I need my windows cleaned (glass-frames-tracks-screens/no screens-horrible vegetation/ladder sets-algae on the shady side), how much will that be?
CLEANER: Um, a general price of $$$.¢¢, if just a normal clean; anything else can cost extra. An onsite quote will give you an exact price, I could swing by at the end of the day to see what the job entails. (In person helps to show any issues/answer any questions/let customer see you are a professional window cleaner.)
CUSTOMER: May or may not dial the next phone quote.
Can’t argue with that you said. Very valid points.
Garry, also can’t argue with that. I do exactly what you are mentioning, because unless I am there…I don’t know the condition of the glass. That does make all the difference imo. That is the DIFFERENCE between an easy 2 hour clean outside…and a 4-5 hour “hasn’t been cleaned in 5 years, water stained on half of every window” job. And the price difference between these would be more than what it costs me to drive in person, even if you factored in your time spent driving at 100/hr.
“Free estimates”— Sure, no problem. With today’s technology I can see via milage what it will cost me just to drive there and back. 56 cents a mile. Driving 20 miles round trip costs you about 11-12 dollars. You are doing that twice if you are going to give an estimate, then return another day. This is why I factor that INTO my bid, as soon as I know the miles I have to drive and what it costs when I write off 56 cents a mile.
Thanks for the clarifications. It sounds like it really works for you and that you’re in the “designing” stage and have long term goals in mind.
I think it may also come down to what is a company’s target market. If you can streamline your quoting system that is amazing. I could never do this for my target market because each job has it’s own challenges and specific needs and this is where I am most profitable in my business.
Good for you for applying growth principles in your business!
I love text quotes. the standard statement is:
“Hi! Thanks for reaching out to us. I can get you a quote by visiting your home/building on XX/XX at X:XXam/pm or you can text or email images of the exterior of your home. I do not need individual windows but rather as many windows in as few images as possible. Which do you prefer?” Once they say images I then review the images and text questions about the last time they were cleaned/house wash, construction, etc. If they are low ballers it is easy to figure out because they don’t want to answer too many questions, they want a number and I’ve been raising the number more lately. I close about 75% of my text quotes with images and getting better at the true estimate price the more I see them. It’s a big time saver for me.
