If you’re given the privilege of bidding a job for someone you can and should see if there’s anything else you can do to make their life easier.
Attached are invoices where we got calls for a single service requests, but noticed gutters over flowing, vinyl fences that needed love, or a second driveway that wasn’t on the customers mind. These customers were over the moon about getting all the projects tackled at once.
And even if they’re not interested in doing it this year when you call next year to follow up and check in you have something to bring up and a price quote already.
What’s the difference between all these estimates?
22% or $3068 we wouldn’t have earned and the customer calling someone else potentially or doing it on their own when they didn’t want to and are ecstatic about someone else taking it off their plate.
(33% if you don’t include the townhomes. They had no clue the gutters were growing stuff in them until I brought it up and sent pictures. Not 1 resident in 100 units, maintenance guy, or sales office person had said a word.)
Agree - you’re already there looking/pricing what they (the customer) contacted you about, so why not take the little bit of extra time to quote/package everything. Little time now could equal big money in the near future.
@squidskc what’s the MPR Discount? - multiple package rate?? Also, you charge by the linear foot for fence?
No. I normally don’t charge for linear foot. I normally charge by the hour in a roundabout way, but they had a bid and wanted to see the bid broken down apples to apples.
MPR is Missouri Pitbull Rescue. Emma is a volunteer and this customer did the website for MPR pro bono so she got a huge discount but peanuts compared to the time she put in.
I know a lot of times you bid your jobs right over the phone. Let’s say you bid a house on the phone, show up, and it could use a bunch of other cleaning. Do you just try to upsell in person after you walk around and notice everything? Do you upsell before you finish the house, after, or does it matter. Does it work better after because they can then see how well things can clean up? If they turn any extra work down at the time of the house wash do you then mail or email them a new 3 tier package with everything else?
I guess I’m just wondering how you implement the 3 tier package when most estimates are over the phone? When you bid over the phone do you just go ahead and email/mail a 3 tier package even though you don’t know the condition of gutters, driveway, porch, etc? Is it just for houses that are somewhat close to you? I’m going to have a pretty wide area of coverage so there’s no way I’ll be able to quote them all in person. I will if the job is big enough though.
You are correct. 80% of residential estimates are over the phone. You always ask what the house is sided with. If they have a fence, wood or vinyl. If they have noticed any water over flowing from gutters, leaking from down spouts. When was the last time they had their gutters cleaned out? Etc.
Then you let them know while you’re there washing the house you’ll Inspect the gutters and the fence as well.
You pull up the picture of the house on google maps. You already know how many stories the house is because you asked if a picture doesn’t come up. You send the estimate with other options and you already know the flat rate for the options.
Sometimes they’ll say yes to some of it. Sometimes they’ll say no until you take a look in the gutters or at the gutters (you can tell if there’s over flow or not) and when you have photo proof that they have full gutters and that’s why the gutters are dirty and it’s only going to happen again even after you wash the house it’s typically a yes.
Have you noticed any black or green patches on your driveway? Do you have a patio?
90% of stuff you can figure out over the phone with the right questions. If you get there and there’s a curveball knock on the door or text them pictures, but don’t start work until you let them know.
That makes sense and sounds like a great way to go about. Thanks!
Sounds like we need a live satellite feed or maybe a military surveillance drone. There seems to be enough veterans around here I bet if we put our heads together we could probably sneak one off base. It would be great until we see a news story about a drone being blown out of the Kansas City sky by a F-22 Raptor and the rest of us don’t get a turn to fly it.
There will be a video coming out about DIY v Paying Someone. It really is so true what you are saying. The conveneience factor and trust factor are soo valuable.
This something I will remember as Springtime approaches and more resi jobs come through.
I remember reading a thread on here about some using them or thinking about it. I think it was Steve who said he has one. I can’t remember if he said he uses it for work or not. I think he’s more of a window guy though. He did say you have to get a license through the FAA to fly it for commercial work or something like that. It might be any drone needs a license. Even with the license it would save so much time and pay for itself in no time at all especially if you did a lot of gutters and roofs. Get a big enough drone and you could drop a 500 lb water balloon bomb that’s filled with roof mix in it and be finished with the roof in about 30 seconds.
@Jordie I enjoy watching the videos you post. They’ve been very helpful. Keep them coming!
Did you ever end up trying The Customer Factor? The reason I ask is that TCF is $20/month for the 1st 6 months and then only $45/month (or $450/yr) after the introductory rate. Also, you are locked into that price, can have unlimited users/accounts, they seem to be constantly coming out with new developments, etc. Was wondering if House Call Pro is worth the extra markup?
P.S. - I just reread my post and it sounds like I work for TCF. Haha. I swear I don’t, have just been researching different CRM
Seems a little clunky though. Housecall will add stuff if you suggest it. Has a few more features. The customer service is top notch. Has built in email marketing and can send an email before letting them know how to prepare for our visit and a follow up with review links. I love it. It’s worth the $140 to me.
