Quotes - I never hear anything back!

[Brindle]

Sibs - I'm in a similar position here, so will take some of the great advice on board from everyone else. I do know for a fact though that there are people tiling for peanuts in some places. I quoted a cheap price to a friend who was doing his bathroom, and was massively undercut by a tiler provided by a tile shop for £60 per day!!!!!!!!
I know another customer I quoted has just had family problems even though she seemed happy with the price at time of quoting. Some people will never pay the going rate, but I am coming to the conclusion that it's their loss when they get a cheaper person in to **** it up, and I do point this out to them sometimes.
I'm very new to this too

 

[sibs]

Bless you Brindle thanks for your post. Things are very tough at the moment. Got another quote to do tomorrow let you know how I get on.

 

[Raja]

Bless you Brindle thanks for your post. Things are very tough at the moment. Got another quote to do tomorrow let you know how I get on.

gud luck lil lady from ur fan in sheffield chin up no arguing tonite lol

 

[GazTech]

When new to this game , times can seem very hard, you tend to question yourself when quotes don't come back. All I can say Sibs is ride out the storm, act naturally when with customer, try to get them laughing....they buy when they are relaxed, and remember....appreciate the jobs you do get and think that 10 yrs down the rd you will do their son/ daughters house etc. the longer you stick at it the easier it becomes, repeat buisness and recommends come a plenty, so be patient, the good times are just around the corner........Gaz

 

[sibs]

aww bless you too Raja..... I don't think we argued at all I just think it was a healthy debate and a very interesting one at that. We can't all have the same opinions can we. I love a good debate and a bit of banter and if I think I have a valid point to make I will argue it as elequently as I can and without getting personal about it. You are all a great bunch on here so I am looking fwd to many more discussions. I don't think anyone could mention chanderleers ever again without thinking of del & rodney! Would be interesting to see how the law stands on that particular case though....... ay rodders? :lol:
----
Much appreciated Gaz!

 

[sWe]

Sorry for entering this thread a bit late.

I've found that a few good points to have in mind when trying to land a job, are the following:

1. Be yourself, but with a professional overtone. If you like a little banter, then by all means engage in it, if it's appropriate. There's no need to get to know the customer during this phase, though that said, you should be courteous and answer questions, etc. Don't be distant, but do keep the customer at half an arms length, so to speak.

Getting to know customers a little is more appropriate once you're actually doing the job, as it might encourage them to do some free marketing.

2. Don't stick around much longer than necessary. There's no need to stick around one and a half hours when checking out a splashback job, the reason being you're not making any money by talking. You might also be inconveniencing the customer. Half an hour is usually more than plenty, unless it's a big job.

3. When quoting, always be specific. If a customer is unwilling to part with his or her £, or if they're just careful, he or she will likely appreciate a detailed quote. They want to know what they're getting, and not getting, for your fee, not just that it's going to cost them 20 odd punds per square meter plus materials. It's adds safety for you too, as you can refer to the quote if they want extras, and say "anything not on the quote will cost extra", and then you charge a day rate or whatever for it.


Another thing I've learned about dealing with customers, is this:

As you're doing a job, or when you're just completed one, never, ever, ask them if it looks good. That is for them to say. You're a craftsman, a professional, and you should know wether or not it looks good yourself. Asking makes you look like a jolly amateur who's hoping for the best and doesn't know the differance.

You can however, point out details of particular cleverness and/or technical correctness, but don't overdo it, and do not bragg.

"Note how I've seamlessly made x intergrate with y" or something like that is enough.



My fingers are tired. Time for some coffee.

Cheers.

 

[sibs]

Great post sWe

 

[sWe]

Great post sWe

Thank you May your customers be many, satisfied, and generous

 

[tiler tom]

Great post by swe and has got good points to learn by.

Case in point went to quote yesterday kitchen floor floor was far from even so I decided to be honest and say it could be tiled but unless it is levelled first there aint no way it is going to look level after tiling. I was thanked for my honesty and complimented on being the only tiler willing to quote and see the job as the others had quoted over the phone ????? So I was asked to measure and quote their splashback with the response thats great. Now refering to SWE's post I got want a brew, how many kids you got and so on. So the quote went on over an hour. Finally it was a case of have you a card we will ring you tomorrow with what we have decided. Tonight nothing. Case proven, get in there quote honestley, dont overstay your welcome and leave them with the quote to discuss. Time is money and sometimes too much time you lose the job.

 

[Brindle]

Sibs...
I went to quote 2 small bathroom floors yesterday (both upstairs), was there half an hour, measured up. Told the customer I only use proper materials etc (i.e not the cheapest) and that I would have to ply both out first. Rang her back later on same day with price for the ply. Was polite etc. Rang me tonight to offer the job.
She told me she had 4 prices to come in. I would be interested to know why she plumped for mine, but unless I ask them, I won't know. But I will price in the same manner everytime if the formula works

 

[sWe]

Sibs...
I went to quote 2 small bathroom floors yesterday (both upstairs), was there half an hour, measured up. Told the customer I only use proper materials etc (i.e not the cheapest) and that I would have to ply both out first. Rang her back later on same day with price for the ply. Was polite etc. Rang me tonight to offer the job.
She told me she had 4 prices to come in. I would be interested to know why she plumped for mine, but unless I ask them, I won't know. But I will price in the same manner everytime if the formula works

To me, that formula seems to be expediency, polite professionalism, and honesty.

If you're not the cheapest tiler around, tell the customer so, and why. It is likely to win them over if they care about quality.

 

[Raja]

Sorry for entering this thread a bit late.

I've found that a few good points to have in mind when trying to land a job, are the following:

1. Be yourself, but with a professional overtone. If you like a little banter, then by all means engage in it, if it's appropriate. There's no need to get to know the customer during this phase, though that said, you should be courteous and answer questions, etc. Don't be distant, but do keep the customer at half an arms length, so to speak.

Getting to know customers a little is more appropriate once you're actually doing the job, as it might encourage them to do some free marketing.

2. Don't stick around much longer than necessary. There's no need to stick around one and a half hours when checking out a splashback job, the reason being you're not making any money by talking. You might also be inconveniencing the customer. Half an hour is usually more than plenty, unless it's a big job.

3. When quoting, always be specific. If a customer is unwilling to part with his or her £, or if they're just careful, he or she will likely appreciate a detailed quote. They want to know what they're getting, and not getting, for your fee, not just that it's going to cost them 20 odd punds per square meter plus materials. It's adds safety for you too, as you can refer to the quote if they want extras, and say "anything not on the quote will cost extra", and then you charge a day rate or whatever for it.


Another thing I've learned about dealing with customers, is this:

As you're doing a job, or when you're just completed one, never, ever, ask them if it looks good. That is for them to say. You're a craftsman, a professional, and you should know wether or not it looks good yourself. Asking makes you look like a jolly amateur who's hoping for the best and doesn't know the differance.

You can however, point out details of particular cleverness and/or technical correctness, but don't overdo it, and do not bragg.

"Note how I've seamlessly made x intergrate with y" or something like that is enough.



My fingers are tired. Time for some coffee.

Cheers.

u never seem to amaze me thank u from me once again ur no. 1 fan:lol:

 

[tiler burden]

hi sibs

i think being a women in the construction industy is difficult because whether we like it or not and whether we agree or not, most people would associate tiling as a male industry and it will take a while to change that consception. its not right and its not fair so, heres how i would get round it if i where you..

become an 'interior tile designer' the reason i say this is because of 2 things.

1.interior designing is a female dominated industry and you can add some paint finishing to the repetoir..ie marbeling, scumbling textured finishing..
2. you will get the high end / creative end of the market ££££

find a niche where the money is..avoid going toe to toe with your local paper merchants..

advertise in high class hair salons, florists, day care nursuries, restaurants, etc

just an idea and another angle,,,hope its helped in some way ;0)

 

[Matthew77]

Hi Sibs

I've just started my tiling business at the begining of this year, so i can understand the worries that your going through. I've had a few sleepless nights worrieing about whether i've priced up jobs too high or low. I also am never sure if i'm too expensive or not when on day rate (as i'm not very fast yet).

So far i've under quoted for most of my jobs and had to work on extra days to get them finished, but as mentioned earlyer that is all part of the pricing up & hopefully soon i'll be tiling a bit quicker and my pricing up should be a bit more accurate. I work for £120 day rate at the moment as I thought i'd start at the lower end of the scale & put my prices up abit later on if i'm getting plenty of work. This seems to have worked ok so far for me as every job i've gone to look at i have got & if a job takes me a bit longer then I might only earn £100 a day, but that is ok by me as I've worked out thats about the minimum i can work for as self employed.

When working in peoples homes its really important to cover everything over with dust sheets and be as tidy as possable I even tidy up before i leave of the evening if i'm coming back the next day. Customers have told me that they really like how tidy I am and gone on to say they had another trade in last week and they were really messy ect, I think this really helps get recommended for more work by them & they will pass on your name to thier friend. Also one customer said that they know alot of elderly people that want work done & its reall important for them to have someone who is tidy & they can trust (this may well work in your favour as I think alot of elderly would rather have a lady turn up to do some work that a hairy arsed builder:yes:

hope this is of some help.
Good luck

 

[sWe]

Hi Sibs

I've just started my tiling business at the begining of this year, so i can understand the worries that your going through. I've had a few sleepless nights worrieing about whether i've priced up jobs too high or low. I also am never sure if i'm too expensive or not when on day rate (as i'm not very fast yet).

So far i've under quoted for most of my jobs and had to work on extra days to get them finished, but as mentioned earlyer that is all part of the pricing up & hopefully soon i'll be tiling a bit quicker and my pricing up should be a bit more accurate. I work for £120 day rate at the moment as I thought i'd start at the lower end of the scale & put my prices up abit later on if i'm getting plenty of work. This seems to have worked ok so far for me as every job i've gone to look at i have got & if a job takes me a bit longer then I might only earn £100 a day, but that is ok by me as I've worked out thats about the minimum i can work for as self employed.

When working in peoples homes its really important to cover everything over with dust sheets and be as tidy as possable I even tidy up before i leave of the evening if i'm coming back the next day. Customers have told me that they really like how tidy I am and gone on to say they had another trade in last week and they were really messy ect, I think this really helps get recommended for more work by them & they will pass on your name to thier friend. Also one customer said that they know alot of elderly people that want work done & its reall important for them to have someone who is tidy & they can trust (this may well work in your favour as I think alot of elderly would rather have a lady turn up to do some work that a hairy arsed builder:yes:

hope this is of some help.
Good luck

Very good point that, being tidy. Another good thing to do along the same lines, is to warn the customer(s) to wear shoes when they're moving through the work area, so that they don't get stray shards from nipping or some such in their feet. Lil' ol' ladies espcially, appreciate being "watched out for" a bit.