What do you bring on estimates?

Free quotes do seem to get in the way sometimes.

Bottom line is quotes for known or work specified by the customer are free. If we happen to chat while I'm looking at the trees to figure costs and they get some free advice that is fine...call it value added.

If they call looking for advice, diagnosis or to have me prepare specifications for work then those are always billable services.

Yes I lose some customers when they hear there will be a charge.

Callers who still object when it is explained to them may require more information or may just be lookers or cheapskates.

More often than not, if I cave and do what amounts to a free consult then that customer ends up being being the "problem child" of my client base.

We can't serve or please everybody. You ought to qualify your prospects first. Ask lots of questions and determine if they are buyers or lookers.

Lookers are almost always looking for something free. Buyers may simply be cautious to not commit money until they are sure they will receive value.

I give them a choice, "here is what we offer..." one is free the other is not. "Which best suits your needs?"

And then I ask questions. "do you mean to say that you know you want to have the limbs pulled back away from the house but don't know which ones?" If the answer is "YES" then that is a free estimate.

If the answer is "No, I just don't know what my trees need and want someone to look at them." Then this is a billable service call.

I don't argue or use cliches. If I must, I'll explain that like any professional I can be held liable for the advice I give and consequently I must charge for that information.

Usually they understand.

Anyhow, just my 2cents worth
 
That's pretty good and straight forward.

I think all our approaches to bids vary considerably and even each of us are flexible on a policy. There are big differences in small to larger businesses, personalities, and the tone and demeanor of the caller asking us -that dictate how we present what we offer. Bet there aren't many who at the last minute on a job might forgo the invoice and stay for dinner instead? It's happened on the occassional single roof contact and the chemistry of the arborist w/ the customer. On the other hand a last-second spike of the invoice to compensate for the trouble involved with coming to an agreement?

The costs of travel and time have always factored into the big picture of our work, as much part of the job as buying new tires for the chipper. Part of what customers learn that we're not a labor pool or an hourly lawn service. Sent out an invoice this morning that covered the work last week that I'm billing for, in addition to the two bid's time and fuel I used on other potential work. Do I itemize the liability premiums I pay on each job invoice? No. It's part of the job and business overall.

Fuel prices have tumbled downward at the wholesale level, a little bit at the pumps...so who's adjusted-down their surcharge accordingly?
 
Who added a surcharge? Did it escalate with pump prices or was it set at a point that is below the current price point? I would really stay away from a floating price surcharge as it makes the price a market rate variable. We ate the increases for a time and then put up prices so now we have an opportunity to recoup some of those losses.
 
I have said this before, but I still feel like all the fuel surcharges, estimate fees, extreme hazard charges, disposal fees, etc. should simply be included into the price of the estimate. The cost of estimating jobs that never confirm is figured into the price of the jobs that do confirm. Most people I deal with don't want to feel like they are being nickel and dimed to death with additional charges. This makes it important to prescreen on the phone to minimize the wasted time on lookers, and focus on the true potential customers. This approach has worked really well for me, but we are a very small company, and I realize that this business is very different wherever you go. Just wanted to put in my 2 cents, to let people know it can work either way.
 
I agree with Noel.

Just give the free estimate, eliminate the tire-kickers on the phone if possible, give ONE inclusive price, and live happily ever after.
 
Whether it is a pre-qualified free estimate or a paid consultation (~80% of my stops) I pack a diagnostic kit, pole tools and ropeandsaddle. Gotta be ready to go on the clock and do more work, whether it is RCX's or aerial inspection or treatment or pruning. It all fits into my honda wagon, 33 mpg, 212k miles and still kicking.

I still offer a free 3-minute consult if people email me pictures--that has been a big win-win, them getting a wee teaser of a freebie and me getting a pic and very often a job.

:)
 
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