This estimate is good for 30 days

[Edi]

Really 2 days? What do you tell them that you will set up another estimate to come back out? How often do you go back out and the price changes after 2days. I understand your point about not letting people set your price but whats the reason for only having a proposal good for 2 days? Seems like this just creates alot of extra hassle. Maybe they read that on the proposal and it spurs them to call back and schedule the work quickly, I can see that. The problem I see there is they may change their mind later after a rushed desicion. Unless of course you take a deposit. I agree with the other points, no winter discount. My cost is the same and actually working in winter is usually more difficult so why make it cheaper. Informal proposal and a formal proposal thats an interesting idea.

Two days is a fare amount of time for serious customers to have 3 or 4 bids to
compare, customers who look around for more than 4 quotes they are just cheap customers that you don't need.
I told them that the price I'm giving is because I'm setting up my route for the next couple days to work in their town after that, price would increase $100 to $200.
It's not always enforced, but it's a way to stand my ground against those " customers" who abuse the free estimates, calling 10 or more companies for a $300 job worth.

 

[27RMT0N]

Something I do is take multiple photos of the tree and access, some of which I attach with the emailed bid.

Trees/work are itemized and circled in the photos which also shows the general worksite, and a description of work is given in the bid. That way the conditions at time of bid are documented, and any changes between the bid and actual job can be easily justified. Fortunately I've never had any problems, but it is a good system for me at least.

For example:

 

[climbingmonkey24]

I don’t bid on the spot either. Usually send a bid within 24-48 hrs, but I like to think about it. So I take pics of the job so when I’m home writing the bid I can consult pics.

 

[Zacchaeus]

I don’t bid on the spot either. Usually send a bid within 24-48 hrs, but I like to think about it. So I take pics of the job so when I’m home writing the bid I can consult pics.

and copious notes...

 

[Zacchaeus]

Something I do is take multiple photos of the tree and access, some of which I attach with the emailed bid.

Trees/work are itemized and circled in the photos which also shows the general worksite, and a description of work is given in the bid. That way the conditions at time of bid are documented, and any changes between the bid and actual job can be easily justified. Fortunately I've never had any problems, but it is a good system for me at least.

For example:

View attachment 71248

I'd love to start doing emailed bids after the onsite visit... What do you do when you get someone without email?? (yes, they exist, haha)

 

[Zacchaeus]

I don’t bid on the spot either. Usually send a bid within 24-48 hrs, but I like to think about it. So I take pics of the job so when I’m home writing the bid I can consult pics.

Do you email yours out or USPS?
What do you do when you get someone without email??

 

[cerviarborist]

Do you email yours out or USPS?
What do you do when you get someone without email??

Expect to be paid with chickens and canned goods.

 

[Zacchaeus]

Expect to be paid with chickens and canned goods.

You know, my girls are really starting to eat like champs, so that may not be such a bad thing... haha

 

[Rooted.Tree.Solutions]

Do you email yours out or USPS?
What do you do when you get someone without email??

We have a portable printer that is kept in the truck. We can print out the proposal and hand it to the customer on the spot. Pictures and detailed write ups are so important. Explain in the proposal what the clients can expect.
One of the reasons that the proposal is only good for 30 days is because you will add to it if you get an approval later than that just so that you can go back out to look at the job, which costs time and money. We have received late approvals because they went with the cheaper option and later wanted us to come out to fix that guys mistakes. Well, that costs more! We’ve also had clients install fencing or additions to their house which totally add to the original work because now we’re rigging wood out instead of just letting it fly. It’s just good to have a safety net so that you can manage expectations with your clients. And that’s the key, manage their expectations.

 

[27RMT0N]

I'd love to start doing emailed bids after the onsite visit... What do you do when you get someone without email?? (yes, they exist, haha)

I've had a few, usually the very old. I still write up a proposal with photos as normal, just email it to myself so I've got that on record the same way as any other bid. Usually they are fine with just getting a price over the phone then having me do the work, and I can bring the printed out proposal write up with me so they have a hard copy. Never had a problem.

 

[climbingmonkey24]

I'd love to start doing emailed bids after the onsite visit... What do you do when you get someone without email?? (yes, they exist, haha)

Been there.

What I’ve done is give them the quote over the phone verbally after writing it up and then if we go forward with the work give them the written copy.

 

[climbingmonkey24]

Do you email yours out or USPS?
What do you do when you get someone without email??

Email. It would take too long in my opinion to be sending it out by mail and making a potential customer wait. Between that time they could’ve already found someone else.

Just my opinion.

 

[Zacchaeus]

We have a portable printer that is kept in the truck. We can print out the proposal and hand it to the customer on the spot. Pictures and detailed write ups are so important. Explain in the proposal what the clients can expect.
One of the reasons that the proposal is only good for 30 days is because you will add to it if you get an approval later than that just so that you can go back out to look at the job, which costs time and money. We have received late approvals because they went with the cheaper option and later wanted us to come out to fix that guys mistakes. Well, that costs more! We’ve also had clients install fencing or additions to their house which totally add to the original work because now we’re rigging wood out instead of just letting it fly. It’s just good to have a safety net so that you can manage expectations with your clients. And that’s the key, manage their expectations.

When you write up your proposal in the truck, do you do it on a laptop, or pad, phone, etc? Do you have a tree software program that you use for that, or just a general template that you fill out?
My wife would love for me to go paperless (with a tree software), but i'm not sold yet. It's a cost that I don't really wanna pay yet...

 

[Jehinten]

I'd love to start doing emailed bids after the onsite visit... What do you do when you get someone without email?? (yes, they exist, haha)

I use an app on my phone for bids (joist) it allows emails and text messaging for quotes. Most people have one or the other and its just a single paragraph with a hyperlink that sends them to the quote. As for the people without either option, I've considered a portable printer but it'd be used 2 times a year and likely get broken in my truck. Besides I often do quotes in one of 3 vehicles so it may not be with me when it is needed, so i print and mail those quotes.

 

[Jehinten]

My wife would love for me to go paperless (with a tree software), but i'm not sold yet. It's a cost that I don't really wanna pay yet...

My last post mentioned that I use joist, it can be used on any device and multiple devices on one account. This allows me and my wife to both be able to check on the status of quotes and invoices, I also have the option of making hand written notes on my galaxy note and send it to my wife to type into joist. We do pay for our program to receive extra functions but its pretty cheap and there is the option to use the free version.

 

[Rooted.Tree.Solutions]

When you write up your proposal in the truck, do you do it on a laptop, or pad, phone, etc? Do you have a tree software program that you use for that, or just a general template that you fill out?
My wife would love for me to go paperless (with a tree software), but i'm not sold yet. It's a cost that I don't really wanna pay yet...

We use ArborGold. It is expensive, however, I believe the cost is worth it when we factor in time saved due to organization and customer service. Our office staff (owners wife) inputs all of the clients information. When our salesman shows up to look at the work he just has to focus on writing a detailed proposal with pictures. The client can sign on the iPad to accept it or we can email it to them. The software then allows us to schedule the work, once the work is complete if a check isn’t received on site we can send an invoice. All of that is done through the software which really helps keep everything organized and in one place. We’ve also done better at tracking outstanding invoices and have been able to get paid in a more timely manner. In my opinion the software easily pays for itself if you’re utilizing it properly. Please note, if all you do with the software is email proposals and don’t utilize any of its other features, then it’s not worth investing in.

 

[southsoundtree]

When you write up your proposal in the truck, do you do it on a laptop, or pad, phone, etc? Do you have a tree software program that you use for that, or just a general template that you fill out?
My wife would love for me to go paperless (with a tree software), but i'm not sold yet. It's a cost that I don't really wanna pay yet...

Getjobber.com has a two week free trial. Also, they used to have a referral program where the new and existing customers get a free month after the new customer has been onboard for a few months.

Use me for the referral!

Was about $600-700/ year. Well worth it to me, even with being largely a one-man-band.

If I used Jobber to the full capacity, it would be more worthwhile.

 

[VenasNursery]

When you write up your proposal in the truck, do you do it on a laptop, or pad, phone, etc? Do you have a tree software program that you use for that, or just a general template that you fill out?
My wife would love for me to go paperless (with a tree software), but i'm not sold yet. It's a cost that I don't really wanna pay yet...

For me it’s more of a old dog learning a new trick
I still watch friends and kings of queens lol

 

[Reach]

Getjobber.com has a two week free trial. Also, they used to have a referral program where the new and existing customers get a free month after the new customer has been onboard for a few months.

Use me for the referral!

Was about $600-700/ year. Well worth it to me, even with being largely a one-man-band.

If I used Jobber to the full capacity, it would be more worthwhile.

We also use Jobber, and use most of its features. It does great writing quotes from a computer, or a tablet or phone if your line items are set up correctly. Most quotes take me less than two minutes to create and email from a customer’s driveway.

 

[colb]

We are running at 4 months. Had a client install halloween/Christmas light strings under our pruning zone in the interum...