To offer a better service.
That’s it.
And it works.
My offer – is a paid for survey with a money back guarantee – I charge a nominal fee of £50+vat and I’ll attend your property at a time that suits you with the following proviso:
Running around giving “free quotations” to anyone offering a hint they have some work is not sustainable.
It’s partly why trades are known to be unreliable – how can they take on work, give great service whilst running around giving free quotations to everyone that asks in the hope of winning work?
What’s the first thing that they drop when jobs run over…
…free quotations.
“He’s not turned up to quote 3 times now”.
I bet my left nut they’d turn up if it was a paid quotation/survey (lost the right one in a bet).
I can’t find where or when it was first considered acceptable to expect a free quotation from a small business or tradesman, though it seems a lot of people have this view.
Sure, lots offer free quotations and that’s because they’re terrible at selling and marketing.
Me, I did a 4-year apprenticeship.
Then 18 months part time study for a HNC in Electrical Engineering.
3 years travelling the width and breadth of the UK Commissioning and maintaining critical power supplies in operating theatres across the UK for a German Engineering company that patented pioneered electrical safety.
We’d offer technical support over the phone, even to clients out of service contracts etc. But we’d never attend site to ‘have a look and give a quote’. Sites would pay upfront for attendance, eye watering sums if they had no service contract and rightly so.
I know my worth and a thing or 2 about electrical safety. That’s what you’re paying for.
Safety, reliability, availability, and an efficient service.
If you want to work with me, I need to know you’re serious so I can dedicate my time to you and you know, turn up when I say I will…
…Get back to you when I say I will and put food on my table so I can focus on doing what I do.
If the thought of investing a few quid (with a money back guarantee) to get my full and undivided attention in your home or business at a time that suits you, is off putting – ask yourself why that is.
The bank won’t accept part payment and lots of free quotations in the diary for the mortgage.
Since I started offering paid for quotations the number of people who drop off the radar has increased.
Now the clients I am working with are more committed to achieving their desired outcome or resolving their problem. Viewing me as trusted advisor rather than hired help.
I’m able to dedicate more time and attention and as a result they get a better service and better outcomes.
Imagine your dog’s sick – does the vet come to your home carry out an assessment and give you a diagnosis before saying ‘if you’d like to go ahead it’ll be xxx, but there’s no charge for the 2 hours out of my day’.
Thought not.
The idea that trades should come out trying to win the work by impressing prospects is daft – how can we impress you? You know nothing about what we do.
Otherwise, you wouldn’t be calling us, would you?
By implementing a small charge I know who has ‘skin in the game’ and I devote my time accordingly.
If you don’t feel this is right then I’m not the sparky for you and that’s absolutely fine. I wish you success with your projects.
