I think the approach is professional and sets you apart from the price guys, we quote by e-mail and paper, we have a 1 call contact policy and we answer the phone 24/7, sometimes we get 40% more than the competition, sometimes we discount if we like the buyer and the work, when necessary. I don't think our approach costs us a lot of business in terms of what we left on the table. We really don't have to clean every roof that I quote and I tell every prospect that it is OK that we don't do business, we don't take it personal if they don't buy from us, they might have us back sometime in the future. I just wish my competitors advertised and promoted more, they benefit from our marketing and since they do very little, the market has little awareness for roof cleaning in general as an option, they just call and order a new shingles like an oil change.
2-3 weeks back, we started a small job, roof and front bluestone walk $675. On the phone she was a bit condescending, skeptical, needed insurance, and by any means would not let us start til she got home at 1pm. But I put on my best pro hat and sucked it up. We got there (40 minutes away) and suprisingly she still had some snow on her roof from Nov 5th storm. She could of let us know, but I guess its not her job, whatever. Came back a week later. Husbands comes home 12:45 and says we can start. She rolled up 1pm and drilled my guys, and I mean drilled em for starting before she got home. My guys called me, I told them to rinse the walk and bounce. We cancelled the job.
She called me an hour later, confused. I told her our position, right or wrong we decided to cancel. She completely flipped out and promised to "blast me with negative reviews all over the internet" and that Im not a business man, unprofessional, blah blah blah.
People are not used to such treatment. I was not rude or insulting. I simply stated that we reserve the right to cancel the job without explanation. I knew she would be difficult.
How many times have people cancelled jobs on us, with no reason. I can tell she came from money and was used to getting her azz kissed.
2-3 weeks back, we started a small job, roof and front bluestone walk $675. On the phone she was a bit condescending, skeptical, needed insurance, and by any means would not let us start til she got home at 1pm. But I put on my best pro hat and sucked it up. We got there (40 minutes away) and suprisingly she still had some snow on her roof from Nov 5th storm. She could of let us know, but I guess its not her job, whatever. Came back a week later. Husbands comes home 12:45 and says we can start. She rolled up 1pm and drilled my guys, and I mean drilled em for starting before she got home. My guys called me, I told them to rinse the walk and bounce. We cancelled the job.
She called me an hour later, confused. I told her our position, right or wrong we decided to cancel. She completely flipped out and promised to "blast me with negative reviews all over the internet" and that Im not a business man, unprofessional, blah blah blah.
People are not used to such treatment. I was not rude or insulting. I simply stated that we reserve the right to cancel the job without explanation. I knew she would be difficult.
How many times have people cancelled jobs on us, with no reason. I can tell she came from money and was used to getting her azz kissed.
Good for you. I have had the same issue when talking to them on the phone. Once they start thier rant I just pass on the job. Because I do mostly cedar roofs I get alot of high end homes with that tends to come a better than thou attitude. Glad to hear others do the same, walk.
I learned a nice way to handle them when on the estimate. It only takes a minute or two to notice they are a pain in the azz. So a friend of mine in another line of work told me this and it works. Price the job three times what is normal if you don't get it good....if you do then with all the aggravation your going to get it's just about worth it. I think I have only gotten one job like that...maybe he's right?