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Posted: Sun Nov 21, 2010 3:13 pm
by meany
I'm wondering if you guys have a "best time" for posting quotes ?
Do you post quotes on a friday and let the customer have a think over the weekend ? Or post quotes mid week and customer may pick up the phone and invite other quotations.
My opinion on posting quotes on a friday is that by monday customers might think i'll go with that quote rather than inviting more builders round and explaining whats what.
Nearly all my jobs are local and i post through letterbox. Wondering if i should knock on door give the quote and go for the "sell"
Posted: Sun Nov 21, 2010 9:13 pm
by mickg
>>>>best time for posting quotes
my opinion is as soon as its typed
it either gets emailed which most do now
pushed through the door by hand or they may see me walking up the driveway and i will hand it to them personally
or stick a stamp on an envelope and put in a post box
Posted: Sun Nov 21, 2010 9:23 pm
by msh paving
any standard paving ,drive way,patio i give quote there and then,using pre printed fill in the blanks quote sheets stating method and materials etc, MSH 
Posted: Mon Nov 22, 2010 12:19 am
by Ted
My quotes tend to be for something slightly less standardised than say 20m2 of concrete at 4" and I have to quote in a foreign language (Portuguese; which normally means a lot of looking up technical terms in a dictionary and also speaking to fluent speakers about what I am quoting for as dictionaries tend to be a hit and miss on technical terms...).
I always try and do them asap if I want the work and I always try and meet face to face after I submit the quote. I am normally more expensive than many other contractors (Chinese-run firms in Angola are nearly always cheaper than me as they often get dust for free) but the face to face meeting lets me reiterate that by using a British contractor the client will get a quality job - if they use a Chinese firm they may get a good job but they may, and often do, get a job with corners cut...
Following up your quotes face to face is good if you have the time but it takes time... But UK is also different to Angola; in the UK, if you can do a good job this wil get you new work; Angola is not quite the same... and if you are doing a very standardised thing such as concrete driveways in one geographical area, it is hard to differentiate yourself marketing-wise. It is only your done work that will do this for you.
If you are selling a standardised product (eg, concrete drives) I would go more for getting the quotes out there and that should generate the numbers for you, particularly if you are any good...
Posted: Mon Nov 22, 2010 11:47 am
by Tony McC
I always preferred to send them out as soon as they were done. Get them off my desk and crack on with the next ones.
If I hadn't heard anything after 10 days, and it was a job I'd be keen to take on, I'd give them a call to see what was happening, which usually resulted in disappointment but there were a few occasions when it did actually prompt the customer into making an on-the-spot decision in my favour.
Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2010 2:56 pm
by henpecked
I'd say Thursday, as the 'quotee' will be busy at work. So they will get a good chance to look over the weekend.
Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2010 4:28 pm
by lutonlagerlout
as soon as the quote is done
I'm a builder, not a salesman, or pseudo psychologist.
LLL
Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2010 6:54 pm
by GB_Groundworks
soon as its done its gets emailed on headed paper and then put in the post the next opportunity also incase email goes into junk mail or lost etc
Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2010 7:51 pm
by DNgroundworks
As soon as its typed, then put in the post, then usualy follow up with a phone call a week or so later