Ethics and morals belong in doing great work, not cutting corners, paying taxes, etc. I’ve been in this business long enough to know people will do anything to get an upper hand on you. I’m talking about getting a rough over the phone price - not sending some poor shmuck out to quote properties. Just hey “on average what would this cost looking for a couple of quotes.”
Say your hard up for work. Your worried about what the hell your going to do to pay for your kids school clothes or your house payment. The phone rings and it’s a realtor that needs a few quotes. It makes your day and gives you hope at a weak moment. Then you find out the the ■■■■■■■ down the road looking to get your prices. You wana be cut throat go work on wallstreet. This ain’t reality tv.
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I hate to be a jerk about so I’ll take a step back. It just seems completely unnecessary to me. I’m not trying to go overboard but you shouldnt be telling people to pull that crap. We are supposed to be pros here.
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This mentality does not belong in this forum.
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Well don’t call me asking that because it wont work. I don’t give ball park pricing. I have exchanged pricing back and forth with other companies but its on a very limited scope. I also have ways to find out other info I need to determine if its a real customer or not. Some people are just straight dumb when they call but a few questions and Im able to see thru the bull crap.
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Just to be clear this isn’t something I do, I’ve been in the business long enough to know pricing on it all. Just a suggestion to dealing with a problem. Like I said, I price high, I’d do less work for more money than vice versa. However, if that approach isn’t working out figure out what others are charging. I saw this on a YouTube video and thought it was pretty clever.
It is not clever. It is lying. A liar, or one that suggests that it is ok, is of low character and not honest. If you have read some of my posts, you have probably noticed that I find it to be intolerable in a person.
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Once again, this is your opinion, not fact. There is a time and place for not divulging the truth, or misrepresenting oneself.
It’s not to be used on a regular basis but it’s part of human survival.
It’s not this complicated. Every situation doesn’t need to devolve into an episode of the view. FACT Right is right, wrong is wrong.
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One way I figured my pricing was just watching the Google ads, did a few searches each day. Inevitably someone has a range posted like “average house $200 and up” or something.
That and just asking the customers you are working for can give you a range too. A lot of times my prices are higher than what they have previously paid, but when the work exceeds what they were expecting they don’t have a problem with paying.
It’s not an opinion. It’s fact. Ten commandments ring a bell? Perjury before a court? To think it is ok to lie is a major character flaw. Who in their right mind thinks it is ok to lie? I can’t even wrap my mind around that.
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Not in our profession. Only detectives that need to solve crimes should do this. Not lie but hold back important information to get the truth.
This shouldn’t even be a discussion. Lying and deceiving other people shouldn’t be part of how you run your business (or life for that matter but lets keep it to PW). If you feel the need to lie or deceive in order to be successful I can confidently say you’re doing it wrong. This isn’t a matter of opinion, it is black and white - one way is right the other way is wrong. If anyone out there still thinks is ok and feels the need to do it in order to gain an “edge”, that’s on them, just know that you don’t HAVE to resort to those methods in order to be successful
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Guys it’s literally just a 5 minute call to ask what a “average” price is for a home. I understand the moral dilemma and right from wrong - I don’t consider myself some evil person @dcbrock doesn’t have to say he’s a realtor; the video just said it makes the most sense to say that, as it explains why you are asking about more than one house.
Now apart from calling other companies, what I would suggest to do is build value by a very clear and thorough explanation of why I am charging what I am charging. Instead of sounding like a salesperson I drop some knowledge and then make it seem like I don’t need their business as I have a lot going on anyhow. That attitude (especially with rich clients) works quite well. To clear up the last sentence: I don’t negotiate, or if someone says I had it done for so and so, or if someone mentions a neighbour had it done for cheaper. Quality work comes with a quality price. Your home is likely your biggest investment - why let someone do a shoddy job, or worse, damage it, just over saving a few dollars?
I know you can’t!
Here’s an example. Ever watch Undercover Boss?
Yeah, when a criminal has a gun to your head and is demanding to know where your richest friends live.
Or you’re an undercover cop.
Misrepresenting oneself to a competitor to try and gain some intel, no matter how small it may seem or how little time you think you’re taking from them, is just not a smart way to do business. Morals aside, from a purely secular point of view, this sort of thing has a way of coming back around in negative ways.
You call up the wrong guy, and he sniffs out what you’re doing. He’s having a particularly lousy day/week/year, because he’s a miserable sob with lower standards than you. So he decides he’s gonna pour sugar in all your gas tanks. Or set fire to your rig. Or worse.
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Oh I agree, not wanting to call up my competitors…just trying to figure out what they charge. You gotta understand, this is KY, they don’t divulge such things.
Might depend on how you frame it. Let them know up front:
“hey, I hate it when people undercut me for window cleaning. I’m still pretty new to power washing, and just want to make sure I’m not undercutting the market here.”
I could try it. If they don’t perceive me as a threat, might work.
The ‘undercutting’ thing happened about 8 years ago when we were doing Angie’s List coupons $89/20 windows. I was just doing loss leaders back then, my how times have changed.
Sounds like the state is full of liars and those that won’t divulge to liars
