M.D. Vaden
vadenphotography.com
Any ideas ??
I've been getting irritated about the free bid thing the last year.
First, I state in ads for people to "request" a free estimate. My bids are usually free, but I don't promise them to be free.
Also, when people ask if a bid can be free, I say yes, but tell them I'll charge $80 if the following happens:
a. they show my bid to another company bidding - that makes my bid an informational tool, and I charge for consulting.
I don't bid if they are "thinking" about doing the work. They must know for a fact it will be done.
Before bidding I ask if the people have criteria - certified bidding against certified. I try to get them to agree that they will require equal minimum standards. For example, no matter how experienced the estimator is, the bid will specify that the work will have a person with 5 years experience on the job site.
There is nothing wrong with multiple estimates, but I believe that in 10 years or less, the tree and landscape industry must develop a "device" that causes consumers to start paying for every estimate they get.
I've been getting irritated about the free bid thing the last year.
First, I state in ads for people to "request" a free estimate. My bids are usually free, but I don't promise them to be free.
Also, when people ask if a bid can be free, I say yes, but tell them I'll charge $80 if the following happens:
a. they show my bid to another company bidding - that makes my bid an informational tool, and I charge for consulting.
I don't bid if they are "thinking" about doing the work. They must know for a fact it will be done.
Before bidding I ask if the people have criteria - certified bidding against certified. I try to get them to agree that they will require equal minimum standards. For example, no matter how experienced the estimator is, the bid will specify that the work will have a person with 5 years experience on the job site.
There is nothing wrong with multiple estimates, but I believe that in 10 years or less, the tree and landscape industry must develop a "device" that causes consumers to start paying for every estimate they get.