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Greetings, I'm hoping you guys can help me out without violating the NO PRICING rule. I went to an estimate yesterday and the notes from my office manager said this, "Contacted us in June 2013 for the same estimate (wood rot) Service call fee $69 was never approved. Customer re-contacted us in April 2014 for the same thing. Updated service call fee $99 sent. Forwarded us email with photos, which was sent to another contractor, we were cc'd. Customer is price shopping. Not likely to approve service call fee."
I treated the customer like all the others and then doubled the estimate. I was praying they would say no as it is in a remote area and I'm booked til August. I also try to avoid price shoppers, they usually want filet minion on a McDonalds budget. The customer sent this email today,
"Good afternoon,
Just wanted to make sure you received my email yesterday concerning getting on the books for an appointment to get the work done. Mr. Bailey was awesome and we were very impressed with his assessment (we have had several...smile)! We would love to get an appointment in early August but will wait to hear from you...smile! Also, please let me know how much we need to put down "upfront"....it is probably on the estimate but I don't have it with me...LOL!
Thanks so much,"
So now I'm concerned. I honestly take pride in being one of the more expensive contractors. I take ALOT of pride in doing that and staying booked out 4-12 weeks year round with repeat or referral business. So, was I the cheapest? The nicest? The last in a long line of estimates? The job is 90' of 8" PVC fascia, 110' of 5" seamless k style gutter, 60' of 12" soffit and 2x6 sub fascia. It's all 2 stories up, and a days labor for 2 guys. My estimate was between 3 and 5 THOUSAND. Obviously, I knew he was shopping around thanks to the office managers note's. Clearly I priced it so high he would say no, or did I just price it right? Have I been leaving money on the table all along?
I treated the customer like all the others and then doubled the estimate. I was praying they would say no as it is in a remote area and I'm booked til August. I also try to avoid price shoppers, they usually want filet minion on a McDonalds budget. The customer sent this email today,
"Good afternoon,
Just wanted to make sure you received my email yesterday concerning getting on the books for an appointment to get the work done. Mr. Bailey was awesome and we were very impressed with his assessment (we have had several...smile)! We would love to get an appointment in early August but will wait to hear from you...smile! Also, please let me know how much we need to put down "upfront"....it is probably on the estimate but I don't have it with me...LOL!
Thanks so much,"
So now I'm concerned. I honestly take pride in being one of the more expensive contractors. I take ALOT of pride in doing that and staying booked out 4-12 weeks year round with repeat or referral business. So, was I the cheapest? The nicest? The last in a long line of estimates? The job is 90' of 8" PVC fascia, 110' of 5" seamless k style gutter, 60' of 12" soffit and 2x6 sub fascia. It's all 2 stories up, and a days labor for 2 guys. My estimate was between 3 and 5 THOUSAND. Obviously, I knew he was shopping around thanks to the office managers note's. Clearly I priced it so high he would say no, or did I just price it right? Have I been leaving money on the table all along?