Whats the longest time

[dhsanta65]

Got a call from a customer that I had done a quote for a splashback in her new kitchen 3yrs ago, she say that she is now ready for the tiling work
Whats the longest time anyone has left it before getting back to you ?

[Gall.B]

lol her tile choice will be discontinued, same price?

[Del W]

Got a call from a customer that I had done a quote for a splashback in her new kitchen 3yrs ago, she say that she is now ready for the tiling work
Whats the longest time anyone has left it before getting back to you ?

Better than no call !

[akinsontiles]

Are your rates even the smae as three years ago?

[Stewart]

I've had a customers call a few years after quoting for the work as they've been delayed for one reason or another. My quotes are only valid for 6 months unless stated otherwise, so depending on your work situation I would be adjusting the original quote.

[hillhead]

Yes Ian, a new look at quote might be in order.
If it's a day or two then your price is probably ok.
My prices haven't moved in 6 years.
Work is work so get in there.
I better get back to work here, the joiner is blowing shavings into my open grout joints!!!!!
Idiots everywhere.

[dhsanta65]

Yea customer knows that my quote from 3yrs ago will be adjusted. Would be great if all the other jobs I did not hear from in the past few years would now phone to confirm

[Rich]

How strange, I have just come from re-looking at a job that I priced about 18 months ago and she phoned me up last week to say that she wants to go ahead with it, Iv got to have a play with the quote as the price will not be the same.

[GirlRacerRed]

I was just thinking, does anybody follow up on quotes after a couple of weeks of giving them? Most of the tradespeople I've dealt with have always followed up with a call just to find out if I'm wanting to take the quote up etc.

But maybe it's worth contacting those people who you never got back to in the last 3-6 months to find out if they've had their job done? Perhaps just say that you're having a paperwork sort out and just wanted to make sure that the copy of the quote you have won't be needed anymore if the customer has had the work done. That might refresh the customer to actually get a job or two booked in.

It seems that if people are now coming forward a year or more after the original quote, maybe they got cold feet first time round because of the recession but now things may be a bit more stable for them, or they've had time to save some more money or whatever and finally get the work done.

sorry for rambling. just some thoughts going through my head.

[Rich]

Its not a bad idea, I have done it in the past but only when I had little work on and I didnt like doing it. I felt like I was hassling them into agreeing.

However if it gets a job in the diary when you would have had to take a week off, cant be a bad thing

[akinsontiles]

I always kept a diary of when I saw an estimate, the date it was sent and if a response wasn't received within seven days I would call them to discuss it. I did this with QS's as well as domestics. I felt awkward at first but you eventually get more comfortable with what to say and handle the people on the other end of the phone.

I'd say that it is good practice whether you or busy or not just to know if you are pricing competitively and if there's something you are doing that may put some customers off using you so you can adapt it for next time.

Also keeping a database of which houses you've been to can be useful if you are doing direct mailings or e-mail updates if you've got new offers on. Who wouldn't pass up free grout and adhesive or 15% off if they were thinking of getting something done soon. Especially if you say the offer is only valid for the next 30 days or something like that and they MUST call now to reserve you for their job.

[Stewart]

I always ask them to inform me if they are going with someone else. As most of my quotes are by email, I send out a follow up if they haven't been in touch, just asking how they got on with the quote and if they have any questions. Most of the time I know what jobs to follow up and which ones are a waste of time.

[Dan]

I'd chase up any quotes pretty soon after posting them out to be fair. Leaving it too long wouldn't work. Let's face it, they're only after the price so once they've opened the estimate they know that, so they've probably made up their mind right there and then. Give it a day for family discussions or whatever but after a few days I'd call them.