Re: Charging for estimates
schrader@beaches.net
Sun, 10 Nov 1996 01:52:56 -0600
Charging for estimates is a tempting idea as it would be nice to save all that time estimating
work that is never performed and or spent pursuing work that is of minimal value, such as
the 10 bids on the $50.00 stump you mentioned. Optimistically I think most callers are
truly concerned with wanting to know what kind of costs their up against and are not
interested in taking up your time. In many cases I will try to give them an idea of the costs
over the phone, provided they can give me some accurate observations over the phone.
I never make on site bids for just stump grinding as an accurate cost can be established
pretty easily, I usually will promise to discount my services about 18 dollars if I don't have
to come out and they measure the widest width at ground level of the area they want
ground. Of course travel time, cut offs, accessibility, clean up and hauling all have an
influence on the costs developed. Some will commit, some will call back and some you
never here from again.
When a caller asks" Do you charge for estimates my reply is "Well I would be delighted to
give you a free estimate, provided of course that your serious about having the work
performed.. You will find that we are very competitively priced and that I am very
interested in securing your work."
At this point I usually give a pause so that the caller can lend some insight into the nature of
the work they desire and any other concerns they may have about insurance, skills and or
the urgency of which they need it performed. Getting pertinent information out of the
caller can help you make a decision as to whether you can satisfy their needs. Removals are
one thing pruning is another. The variations are as limitless as are arborists are different.
Uniformity isn't very common in this field of business
Unless your arborist friend is so busy he doesn't need the work he might wish to rethink
assessing bidding charges on callers who have been referred to him. It seems I almost
always secure work that is referred to me. I wouldn't ever consider such work as
unproductive. The costs associated with on site visits is always silently allowed in the costs I
propose through the overhead allowances that are a necessary part of doing business.
George Schrader SO-0448
AMERICAN TREE
1309 West 10th St.
Panama City, Fl. 32401-1901
home office (904) 769 4060
cel (904) 832 0274 daytime
pager 1 800 849 6162
schrader@beaches.net