Your policy giving estimates

Introductions
1

Three part question,

  1. What is your policy once you get an estimate request? ( Ours is to try and get the estimate completed in 24 hours or less).
  2. Do you charge for your estimate? ( We currently do not).
  3. Do you build in a trip charge on your estimates? (We add in 4.00$ to 6.00$ per job).
    Thanks,
    George
    P.S. Thanks to W.C.R. for having me. The more I visit the site the more I like it! Made my first purchase from W.C.R. this morning!

“Go Steeler’s” “Go Pitt” “Lets go Pens”
:smiley:

2

I hate Jets Fans…

Just kidding…

My policy is to get it done as soon as I can. 24 hours is great, sooner is better. However, I do wait until it is convienant for the customer if they request to be there.

No, we don’t charge for estimates. Does anyone really still do this?

What is the $4.00 - $6.00 for? Gas? Paperwork?

Shouldn’t your estimates be built with more profit than that in mind?

Welcome to the WCR. I hope you enjoy your time here.

3
  1. I set up estimates for days I’m in the area. Usually it’s the next day but if I’m going the opposite direction they may have to wait another day.
  2. No. I never have either.
  3. Since my service area is 3 counties I add a variable trip fee to each job to cover the travel expense.
4

I do my estimates over the phone unless it’s a commercial job. When I was driving out to site I did them only on Mondays. They are free. They expire after 15 days and I do not charge for gas. Back when the gas prices were $4 per gallon. I was charging a travel fee but only if the customer booked the job. I never charged for any estimate. I don’t think you will get many people wanting an estimate if you are charging. In todays day and age it’s common place for free estimates, quotes, etc.

5

We do it the same day of the request. We always try to give the estimate while the customer is there but if not then we email the estimate and follow up. We do not charge for the estimate but we do charge gas for the trip to and from the estimate and job.

Cowboys are still America’s Team!

6

  1. In Michigan if I am not there within fifteen minutes of the call, three other guys have already been there. So ASAP is the answer.

  2. No for window cleaning, yes for insurance claim estimates. That goes with our lines of work we do. Pressure Washing, Landscaping, etc.

  3. Yes, I figure in time to the job and back depending on how many guys I believe it will take to do the job.

7

I can’t imagine a service that charges for a quote. That would really limit the calls coming in. I am not sure I have ever even seen one that charges.

It’s hard to give away free quotes!

I like to give quotes ASAP. The more time it takes the more variables take part in their decision.

Get them when they are ready to buy (that could change in 10 minutes)

8

I think a trip charge would be more than $4-6 dollars. I think all those charges should just be built into your rate.

9

I’m trying to move toward giving more quotes over the phone because sooner the better.

We don’t charge for estimates, but if a client were far away (everyone has their own idea about what’s too far) I would give a minimum price of work to be done upon arrival … 'cause we aren’t driving that far for nothing :slight_smile: