Scruffy car = bad image?

[colin178]

Hi

Think im going to take the plunge and start advertising in the new year. I've been thinking about it for a few months to be honest, been doing jobs for friends and family for past few years.

My question is will not having a van affect my chances of getting work?

I cant afford to buy a van and am working out of the back of my N reg vw golf which to be honest is in a bit of a sorry state.

From a customers point of view if a proffesional tradesman turned up to do a quote/estimate in a clapped out car i would instantly think cowboy!

What do you guys think?

Col

[jay]

tend to agree if you intend charging like a pro you may have to look like one first impressions and all doesnt have to be a rolls just decent

[peckers]

I agree with what jay has said, as long as it is clean and presentable it doesent have to be brand new! I also find that you to have to be clean and presentable when you meet the clients to view the job to be done for the first time!(not in your work clothes) and as long as you present yourself as being proffesional at what you do then you should be ok.
I used to have a transit an old one that was rather rusty around the edges, i applied to do a tiling contract for an up market company and they turned me down because my transit wasnt respectable enough for them! so i had the rust treated and the bottom of it resprayed! it transformed the looks of it, and at a later date they then gave me the contract! I have never had a new vehicle but i do keep it clean and washed etc,

[arthurdaley]

Not sure if l agree, lf i was the customer i would be more concerned about your appearance and the way you conducted yourself, if your cleanly dressed and shaven and well mannered this would impress me more than the car you turned up in.

The last thing you want to do is put yourself under financial pressure,
been there done that. lm just a little bit older wiser and uglier now.

[garretridge]

even if you could buy a cheap van i bought a renualt kangoo £900 got it valeted and spent £140 on sign writing you dont need a new one it really does make a difference i have had loads of work through having the van then you could upgrade as i did could you borrow money from your parents to get you started?

[colin178]

even if you could buy a cheap van i bought a renualt kangoo £900 got it valeted and spent £140 on sign writing you dont need a new one it really does make a difference i have had loads of work through having the van then you could upgrade as i did could you borrow money from your parents to get you started?

unfortunately not mate my dad is recently retired so cant steal his pension off him, lol.

Suppose i'll have to use the mrs' ford focus (i'm sure she wont mind) until i can afford a clean cheap van.

[Diamond Pool Finishers]

chavetastic ,you deffo dont want to appear to be un-pro m8

[faithhealer]

Personal appearance and a friendly disposition are more important than whats parked outside the house. Due to a stict budget after starting up a few years ago I have just bought my first van (best thing I've done I admit) No point in having a van if you can't afford to live if the work doesn't come in!

[garretridge]

unfortunately not mate my dad is recently retired so cant steal his pension off him, lol.

Suppose i'll have to use the mrs' ford focus (i'm sure she wont mind) until i can afford a clean cheap van.

ok mate if you really cant at the minute then your next best bet is to get your logo put on polo shirts -jumpers and a jacket. really has a big impact were ever you go i get work from wearing them in b&q or local tile shop people will think your more professional and will approach you for your apinion and get business cards printed to hand out whe they ask it works and wont cost more than about a £150 quid to do all this hope this helps!

[kilty55]

isnt the governments scrappage scheme still active? not sure how it works but is it not the case you trade your old banger in and get 2 grand off next purchase?

[enduro]

isnt the governments scrappage scheme still active? not sure how it works but is it not the case you trade your old banger in and get 2 grand off next purchase?

Only if you buy a brand new vehicle, not second hand.

[doug boardley]

it's a two sided arguement imo, if you turn up in a new(ish) smart van, people think, "how on earth does he afford that, he must charge a lot"
or
"he must be good at his job to be able to afford a nice van and have a lot of satisfied customers"
I know a few tilers that work out of the back of their car and do okay. The trick is,as previously stated, to keep it looking clean and tidy

[Colour Republic]

If you haven't got the money to get a new/clean van then just park round the corner for the time being.

I always go dressed in my work clothes to meet a new customer but make sure I’m clean and tidy... If I’ve got my trainers on a swap them for my timberlands, if I have a paint splattered t-shirt I swap it for one of my cleaner ones, same with jeans. I'm clean and tidy but you can tell I’m a builder. Some people (not all) are savvy and if you go dressed to the nines and don't look like you are on the tools yourself then you may appear expensive because they know they will be paying for your overheads which another company may not have. I always go with a big note pad, business cards, tape measure, pencil, camera (always ask first if it's ok to take pictures).

Just my view on it.

[Diamond Pool Finishers]

imo i think it's all yes all about your work, if you are good at what you do it will shine through anything ,it's no good at all having all the latest kit and being a crapp tiler iv'e met them , and sacked them, i think two thing's about tradesmen to fancy ,1 if he think's im paying to keep that lot going think again or 2 what's he trying to hide is he crapp