Hearing back from doing quotes

[mna78]

Pretty new to the whole quoting for work thing, how long on average do you wait to hear back from quotes that you've given? and whats an average ratio of quotes done to actually doing the work?

I know these are both a bit like "how long is a piece of string" type questions but just trying to get a feel for things.

I've done 8 quotes in the past 2 weeks and heard nothing back at all :sad_smile:

 

[GRAYLIN]

Hi ratio is a difficult one. Depends on location and types of jobs.
As for how long to wait to hear back. If unable to quote on the day I post the quote and ring back in about a week to ensure they received the quote. This gives you a feel of their response.
Incidently if you quote on the day and they accept always send a written quote. In my experience with quoting, Joe Public forgets what has been agreed so if it is in writing, no arguements come pay day.

 

[mna78]

Yeah I have a carbon book that I'm using to quote with, this is as much for my memory as the clients though unless it is a larger job, which I have then emailed the quotation over.

 

[Fekin]

A lot of people just get you round to quote even though they don't want to pay anyone to do the job in the first place, just more like... if we did have this done.. i wonder how much it's cost.

 

[joe brierley]

you must phone them up! i would of hardly had any work if i didnt phone up.
i got a job a few month back where i got over a grand profit and i got it because i talked the client out of using the other two guys who quoted. one guy proposed to tile over tiles that are two tile layers thick already!!!! and the other had some pretty silly ideas aswell. i was a few hundred quid more and they went for me cuz they could see i cared about doing a good job and basically said theyre cheaper cuz theyre taking shortcuts!
i started out last summer and got 80% of jobs i quoted on. even though i worked out i got £90 sqr mtr on one job (gotta do it on a day rate).

maybe your not targetting the right areas? youll struggle to get work anywhere that doesnt earn way over average income i reckon

 

[GazTech]

you must phone them up! i would of hardly had any work if i didnt phone up.
i got a job a few month back where i got over a grand profit and i got it because i talked the client out of using the other two guys who quoted. one guy proposed to tile over tiles that are two tile layers thick already!!!! and the other had some pretty silly ideas aswell. i was a few hundred quid more and they went for me cuz they could see i cared about doing a good job and basically said theyre cheaper cuz theyre taking shortcuts!
i started out last summer and got 80% of jobs i quoted on. even though i worked out i got £90 sqr mtr on one job (gotta do it on a day rate).

maybe your not targetting the right areas? youll struggle to get work anywhere that doesnt earn way over average income i reckon

----

Pretty new to the whole quoting for work thing, how long on average do you wait to hear back from quotes that you've given? and whats an average ratio of quotes done to actually doing the work?

I know these are both a bit like "how long is a piece of string" type questions but just trying to get a feel for things.

I've done 8 quotes in the past 2 weeks and heard nothing back at all :sad_smile:

A piece of string is exactly, Twice it's length from it's middle to it's end !.....as you can see, there are always answers to problems..just got to find 'em...Gaz

 

[clm]

realised lot lately to send quote after.you get the usual umms+arrs+looking at you like they waiting for a really cheap job,bearing in mind you dont know who else as quoted what.anyway,went to do ktn quote last wk+the woman told me what it was and i gave a price then few mins later husband came in frm work+was talking about,well thers still a cookerhood to go up,etc,so i sed it be extra+he sed i unproffesional as already gave a quote.i told him get sum1 else+he calmed down then+im getting what i asked but i wont be put in that position agen.so,go see job,go home+work out by self without any glaring pleading eyes+send quote bk then ring up a few dys later+ask what they think.

 

[penno]

Alot of people are just time wasters, and expect things to be done VERY cheap.
Quoted a bathroom the other day, womans reply "im not paying that much!"
That was £300 for 21sqm (cheap), was a woman who works with my wife.

Quoted a porcelain floor, splashback and a downstairs toilet 3 days ago, come to about £900, woman said thats great, booked her in and was all sorted. Phoned me last night saying her husband has found someone that can do it for £350 but would still like me to do the work. Said no prob i will be there on the day agreed, "excellent" she said "so you are ok to match the other persons price of £350?"
Phone went down

 

[mna78]

Thanks for the responses, will do some follow up calls/emails this evening.

 

[cameo]

ring the potential customer a week or so after sending the quote and ask ,if they recieved your quote, if they have then tell them what dates you have available in your diary as it is filling up quickly due to booking in other tiling work. they may feel that they wont want to miss out