Giving quote over the phone

[mikedavey]

Got my first phone call from a potential customer.....exciting stuff.

He told me that he wanted a bathroom tiling (Wall & Floor) & could i give him a rough guide over the phone as it was for his daughters bathroom.

I told him that i could not give an accurate quote over the phone & that i could give him an estimate but i would need to come round & measure up & check that no other prep work was required.

Not sure if it was another tiler finding out my prices. I really wanted to get this job just so i could get one under my belt so i was prepared to do it cheap (But not too cheap) Basically i quoted him £190 which included adhesive & grout (He already had tiles).

Thinking back now i wish i never quoted anything over the phone, but i really wanted to get this job. It's been nearly 2 days now & he hasn't phoned back. Should i phone him back & ask if he's thought about my quote?

Was i too cheap??? it was for 2.5m squared on wall & 1.5m on the floor. Are quotes over the phone a real no no?

Surely he hasn't been quoted cheaper.....if he has, then i'll never make it charging that kinda money...... Any feedback please would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[Grace'sDad]

Hi Mike, Price wise - is entirely up to you. It sounds like the kind of job you could get done in a day and if not, tnen nip back the next to grout up. With the early jobs just concentrate on getting them right - a happy customer is more important in the early months than profit margin. Speed comes in time!

I would also shy away from phone quotes, in fact now I refuse to quote or estimate over the phone. I always put myself out to go and see the job (at my cost). Remember that whilst the "potential" customer is on the phone you have one really good chance to nail a meeting. I would suggest a time or ask what is convenient for them. It should be your meeting them which wins you the job, not just your price!

I also always follow all quotes with a phone call after 24hrs or 2 days maximium.

I wouldn't worry too much about being undercut. Your price is keen!

Rememer; customers are human and as such can be pretty strange at times.
They also have other stuff going on in life aside from their tiling requirements.

Give him a call then you'll know....!

[whitebeam]

Hello Mike, You cannot price what you can't see, you don't know the condition of the walls and floors, I've had the same in the past, just say you don't price over the phone. If you go and see them and they ask you for a price there and then can you give some idea how much it will cost we won't hold you to it, they do, or they try. If your start out, go home work the price out, either phone or put in a written estimate, with as much detail as poss. Hope this helps.

[brian c]

best not to give quotes over the phone because the area measured may be wrong,the walls may be in a mess the floor might need plyed out,so always try and meet them and see the job,i thought the price was ok as you will need to go back next day and grout up walls.
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Originally Posted by whitebeam

Hello Mike, You cannot price what you can't see, you don't know the condition of the walls and floors, I've had the same in the past, just say you don't price over the phone. If you go and see them and they ask you for a price there and then can you give some idea how much it will cost we won't hold you to it, they do, or they try. If your start out, go home work the price out, either phone or put in a written estimate, with as much detail as poss. Hope this helps.

posted at the same time m8.lol

[mikedavey]

Thanks everyone.

He did state that the walls were flat & could be tiled on, but i know what he thinks is flat actually isn't. I also forgot to ask what kind of tiles he bought.

This was my first phone call for a quote & i did panic a bit & forgot the thought of things to ask.

What are the general questions you ask client when they ask you if you can give a quote or that they want a bathroom or kitchen tiled?

If i phone him again tomorrow should i just ask if he's considered my quote? or if he wants the job doing still?

If they say no, do you ask why?

[whitebeam]

Originally Posted by brian c

best not to give quotes over the phone because the area measured may be wrong,the walls may be in a mess the floor might need plyed out,so always try and meet them and see the job,i thought the price was ok as you will need to go back next day and grout up walls.
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posted at the same time m8.lol

I was confused