survey on bid acceptance time from customer

[rider1000]

Just curious how long it takes most of you to get answers on bids back from your residential customers. We've had some that are taking up to 3 weeks to get an answer and some are getting back to us in 1-2 days. Is this pretty typical of most of your residential customers?

[65hoss]

If the person is home, usually its then. If we leave an estimate they usually call back within 1 day. I don't think I've ever had a residential that went longer than a few days.

[little green guy]

It depends on what time of year it is and how soon the people want the work done. I've had peopel tell me on the spot and some 3 weeks later.

[jrebeiro]

Same here.... longest was over a month later.

[Chopper Lover]

I have had from 24 hours to a month.

Something I started doing is adding to the proposal a "price good through" date. That tends to get faster responses and allows me to compensate for seasonal price changes if I need to.

Mark

[smburgess]

I agree with Chopper Lover... I always put in a "good through" date. I just think it makes sense.

[lawnman_scott]

most of mine are within a few days to a week. I have had customers keep flyers i have thrown for over 2 years though.

[jrebeiro]

I have a good thru date on all my proposals and some still take a long time. I usually like to do a follow up 14 days later if I get no response.

[jeffyr]

I offered a 10% discount on the first month if the contracts were returned in 2 weeks. That was in February so I could know if I needed to add cust. Some were 2 days...some were 6 weeks.

jeffyr

[little green guy]

On my landscape estimates I always but in it that the price is vailid for 30 days