Home Inspection Work Strategy

BamBamm5144

You let them know that it will cost so much for an estimate. I charge 150. If they have the work done by us, it gets credited to their account. That will save you a lot of time. I just had a realtor call me and I explained this to him and he said oh yeah thats a great idea to do that but he didnt want to pay for the estimate. Glad I didnt waste my time. I learned the way you did.

Hoof Hearted

I like that idea, CC. I'm going to think about using it.

John Mitchell

A nice way of handling a situation were a client just wants a price is to charge a fee for doing the inspection and tell them it will be taken off the work if you get the job. Any way I don't do free estimates. I have not given a free one for 20 years, and I am busy

Hoof Hearted

Good luck getting them to agree when so many out there give free estimates.

After thinking about it, I think I'll stick to free estimates.

Most of my work comes from referrals from happy clients.

They're already thinking about me for the job when they call me.

If I put in enough hours for them before they sign a contract, then maybe my potential customer will start to feel guilty for not paying me any thing and be more inclined to pay me what I'm asking.
I always try and go the extra mile for my customers and I don't think I'd be getting referrals if my practices weren't fair.

Still these are good insights into the process.

Hoof Hearted

Well John, now you've got me thinking again. Perhaps a customer wouldn't mind paying me a couple hundred bucks for an estimate and some solid advice, which I can't help but always end up giving.

May I ask where the majority of your work comes from; referrals or ads?

Darwin

Hoof, I agree with this idea. Only when a "potential customer" becomes a " client". To me, a "client" is, someone who hires your services over and over.

Then it's a different story. The clients are on board and are a part of my client list. I may not charge them for initial estimate time, but, this cost can easily be reflected in their final bill, if I spend significant time creating detailed specs for them.