Tree World - View Single Post - CONSUMERS:- Arborists are a profession, see what others charge!

groundpounder · 14th September 2007, 06:40 AM

I believe we have all felt that sick feeling when you show up to do an estimate and realize that you are doing a free consultation. I would love to be able to charge for estimates, but the sad fact is that the know nothing hackers will always give free estimates because it is the only way they can get onto a property. Most consumers will not pay for something they can get for free, and they have no idea of the knowledge required to get to the actual root of their tree problems. So it is and so it always shall be. Amen. The only way around it that I have found is to "learn to decern". If you get the feeling that your potential client is just looking for the cheapest way as opposed to the right way, do not waste time trying to convert them. They already know what they want. Run away. I have gone as far as to snatch my estimate out of a person's hand when they give me that "so and so gave me a quote for half of your price" crap. Some folks can only learn the hard way. On the other hand, if you run into someone that understands that there is a difference between an arborist and "someone to cut their trees",give them all you've got. Make them an apostle. On occasion I have had the price shopper call me back after they happen to to talk to the apostle, and with a whole new attitude. That's a victory for me personally and for our industry that would not have happened any other way. My apostles bring me pre qualified people that already know there is a difference. My apostles create other apostles before I ever even step on their property. I have never gotten a referral from a price shopper so they get as little of my time as possible. The apostles have built my business and my reputation, and I will drop what I am doing to help them if they need me.
Any time that I agree to do a paid consultation I get the fee in my hand before I breathe a word of advice. If that's not acceptable to the client, I walk away, as that to me is a sign of larger problems to come. I always offer to apply the fee to the cost of any work we may do, which gives value they can understand up front.

14th September 2007, 06:40 AM	#6 (permalink)
groundpounder Sappling Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Centennial Co. Posts: 21	Re: CONSUMERS:- Arborists are a profession, see what others charge! I believe we have all felt that sick feeling when you show up to do an estimate and realize that you are doing a free consultation. I would love to be able to charge for estimates, but the sad fact is that the know nothing hackers will always give free estimates because it is the only way they can get onto a property. Most consumers will not pay for something they can get for free, and they have no idea of the knowledge required to get to the actual root of their tree problems. So it is and so it always shall be. Amen. The only way around it that I have found is to "learn to decern". If you get the feeling that your potential client is just looking for the cheapest way as opposed to the right way, do not waste time trying to convert them. They already know what they want. Run away. I have gone as far as to snatch my estimate out of a person's hand when they give me that "so and so gave me a quote for half of your price" crap. Some folks can only learn the hard way. On the other hand, if you run into someone that understands that there is a difference between an arborist and "someone to cut their trees",give them all you've got. Make them an apostle. On occasion I have had the price shopper call me back after they happen to to talk to the apostle, and with a whole new attitude. That's a victory for me personally and for our industry that would not have happened any other way. My apostles bring me pre qualified people that already know there is a difference. My apostles create other apostles before I ever even step on their property. I have never gotten a referral from a price shopper so they get as little of my time as possible. The apostles have built my business and my reputation, and I will drop what I am doing to help them if they need me. Any time that I agree to do a paid consultation I get the fee in my hand before I breathe a word of advice. If that's not acceptable to the client, I walk away, as that to me is a sign of larger problems to come. I always offer to apply the fee to the cost of any work we may do, which gives value they can understand up front.