Bids Won vs Lost | A discussion on bidding and quoting

Thanks for the kind words, it helps to vent that one! I understood it as- “my father independently got this other company to do the work and just told me”.
Things come around though. Went to a bid today and a $40 shrub job turned into a full day tree job.
Im thinking I might need to have a faster turn around on calls/bid time.
How long out do you all schedule your site visits?
 
Getting in early with a good rapport sometimes means you win the contract, and they don't get more bids.

Sometimes the last bidder has an advantage, as the homeowner have thought about the overall project more, and you can add services earlier bidders didn't add in their bid which the customer realizes are important. You might notice some stem-girdling roots or needed building clearance pruning or a tree with a bad cavity on the backside or fruiting bodies that have gone unnoticed.









One idea, you can choose to have all existing customers on one ring tone. If an existing customer rings with the 'existing customer ringtone', you may decide to answer or not. I tell existing customers they are "in" and always call if it's urgent (along with text or email if desired).

You can even have a ringtone only for top/ high dollar customers.


Rarely, it's urgent. Sometimes, it is. Especially storm season.


More to your question...
I could do better at getting back to people same day (for those new in biz, definitely asap amap, if only a text to acknowledge and suggest/ ask for some good contact/ appt times).
 
Personally I’m first come first serve and schedule a route every Saturday. That’s what works for me as I’ve found my prices are all over the map mid feild work week. I get most my bids but I think I’m good as sniffing out tire kickers and time waisters.

The jobs I’m not interested in with a client who I get good vibes in I typically give out referrals. It comes back around in time.

Literally looked at one an hour ago. Refused to bid on it as 1 the trees don’t need to come out, 2 they have bigger fish to fry, 3 the two removals they are fixated on are damn fine trees and they have 6 calls and 3 quotes already.

I bluntly asked prices and consulted for free. Their low bid is reasonable and told them just to go with that if they really want to remove the 2 good trees. I pointed out a few dying hemlocks which are higher priority and diagnosed laminated root rot near the new shop that’s under construction.

Explained that the clearing and edge trees are much more at risk. Referred a logger to get a load or two out to off the cost. They were taken aback at the lack of sales pitch.. Didn’t make anything, but it will come back around in time.
 
The other sting if it's your neighbour is you get to always re-see crap work that may have been done. How do I know this. Other customers of mine have been effed but I don't have to see it every day.
 
Bart_ said:
The other sting if it's your neighbour is you get to always re-see crap work that may have been done. How do I know this. Other customers of mine have been effed but I don't have to see it every day.
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Yesterday I had to drive by a newly lion-tailed silver maple I cabled a couple years ago. This was on a dead end street a family member lives on and I’ve climbed almost all the trees on the road at this point. It kill me because the tree is now way more hazard prone- what a complete waste of money.

But at least I get to enjoy the rest that I have worked on. I’m counting in my head a dozen separate properties on that road that I worked on over the years…
 
It’s part of being a business owner and if you’re not hurting business wise then you realize that you don’t need every job and most other companies in our area just make our Team look even better.

Everyone needs to experience the good the bad and the UGLY lol
If not we start to take things for granted and same goes for contractors we all need a rotten customer once awhile to appreciate the good one. Also to give us something to complain about.
 
I figured less than a week is good, 1 day or less is going to be my new goal. It’s surprising to me that people don’t shop around- they get one quote and go with them. I had another call last week where I scheduled a site visit for the next day but then got a callback saying they had immediately hired someone else. They were candid with me when I asked what the price was - $800 for a cut and leave. I guess they thought that was the best they could get. I’m running solo with no equipment, probably operating too cheaply
 
Neill said:
I figured less than a week is good, 1 day or less is going to be my new goal. It’s surprising to me that people don’t shop around- they get one quote and go with them. I had another call last week where I scheduled a site visit for the next day but then got a callback saying they had immediately hired someone else. They were candid with me when I asked what the price was - $800 for a cut and leave. I guess they thought that was the best they could get. I’m running solo with no equipment, probably operating too cheaply
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Many people (myself included) don’t really enjoy seeing contractors, so if one turns up, seems competent and comes in around the price they were thinking, they hire them on the spot.
 
Neill said:
I figured less than a week is good, 1 day or less is going to be my new goal. It’s surprising to me that people don’t shop around- they get one quote and go with them. I had another call last week where I scheduled a site visit for the next day but then got a callback saying they had immediately hired someone else. They were candid with me when I asked what the price was - $800 for a cut and leave. I guess they thought that was the best they could get. I’m running solo with no equipment, probably operating too cheaply
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I would say you are operating too cheaply. I don't know what a $40 shrub/ bush job is. I'd be paying for exposure to get a $40 job.

Regulars, 5 minutes down the road, one trip, $150-200.

2 apple trees pruned, no cleanup, $250 for elderly, new owners of a past customer's house.

$300 minimum, no equipment beyond what is in the truck, no hauling. $500 to bring a chipper or loader, minimum, no hauling.
 
Neill said:
I figured less than a week is good, 1 day or less is going to be my new goal. It’s surprising to me that people don’t shop around- they get one quote and go with them. I had another call last week where I scheduled a site visit for the next day but then got a callback saying they had immediately hired someone else. They were candid with me when I asked what the price was - $800 for a cut and leave. I guess they thought that was the best they could get. I’m running solo with no equipment, probably operating too cheaply
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Wouldn't be surprised if it was a "we can do $800 if you sign now".

I get a lot of people where I know I am the only call. I think that is pretty common if they get a reference...then like @Mick Dempsey! said, if somebody shows up, they are halfway to getting the job.
 
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