Depends, feel them out. I prefer email but if I'm hurting and need to turn those leads into sales, then I ask for another meeting. I want to get their response and to be able to respond quickly to their questions and/or concerns. Emails work in another way, you can get honesty through emails. As they reply they ask what they wouldn't face to face. I recently had two bids, both asked to reduce the price, I gave the same answer to both (no). I got one job out of the two.
I personally think face to face is best. It gives you a chance to go over the proposal line by line with them, then answer any questions they have right then and there. If they're really good, long standing clients, then email would be fine or even a phone quote. But for new clients I think you need every opportunity to sell yourself to the client and that's not something they can get electronically.
Just like every job is different, every sale is also different. I sometimes have the number right there, during the first meeting. I'll say "You know....I sell a lot of these jobs and know my stuff pretty well by now. You give me another 10 minutes I'll have you that number". The customer tends to be a bit suprised, none of the other contractors had a price for them so fast.
But like Ewing said, you feel them out. Other times I'll do an email response, or a second face to face. A second face to face is normally called for if there exist any grey areas in the design and I want input before I turn in my final answer. I no longer deliver my bid in person just because the second face to face provides an opportunity to sell sell sell. Personally I am not trying to convey desperation, nor do a hard sell, high pressure type thing.
So, when you need work you go face to face and when your making good money, buying expensive cigars and going golfing etc you just respond with an email?:whistling
Doing 13 to 20 bids a week most being for repeat buisness. Most the HO I do in person, and ya if I feel the emails are thhe way to go, that's the way to go.
Wow, I guess all I noticed in his post was "feel em out". I'm agreeing with you Mike. That attitude conveys the wronge message. All of my customers get my full attention.....even though I make it clear to them that I am booked three months solid. Never desperate, always attentive.
In-person is really your best chance of landing the sale unless its a repeat customer
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