Help, my first "real" estimate tomorrow!!!

[THEoneandonlyLawnRanger]

Hey guys i need some advice i am goin on my first real estimate tomorrow, what do i need to take with me, ive thought about getting some estimate books from Staples to make notes on and look professional,although im just a part timer i want them to realize that i know what im doing even if i dont these first couple of estimates..........so any tips on what i should tell them have with me, give them ? just any thing will help THANKS IN ADVANCE....Ben

[jarroo's lawncare]

i would just dress decent and give the customer your best guess on the type of work they want done. i sometimes write out an estimate sheet for just mowing and if it is a landscape job i will write down what they want done,take it home and print out a price/estimate sheet on the computer and take it back to them.

[Ric3077]

Bring your business cards, a clipboard, your job quote sheets, and your equipment...in case they want you to cut it right then.

[jarroo's lawncare]

Bring your business cards, a clipboard, your job quote sheets, and your equipment...in case they want you to cut it right then.
yeah and bring your equipment, i picked up an account yesterday and the customer wanted it cut right then. thankfully i had my equipment with me as always like i do this time year. priced it and had it cut within 45 minutes. so it would be a good idea to bring it with you.

[Grits]

I just estimated a 2 hour job yesterday. Told the guy $130 and he said OK...and when I said "I'll get it done today", his facial expression was priceless! Of course I didn't have my equipment with me and had to go get it but it worked out fine. Finished right before dark and the rain/lightning storm. But, by doing that it has opened a door for a couple thousand dollar job with the same guy.

[daveintoledo]

but to look like you know what you are doing, you need to know what you are doing.... and you dont yet....

take the advise given about dress and presentation, go make the bid, make a few mistakes, and learn from them, and you are on your way.....:)

[Grits]

but to look like you know what you are doing, you need to know what you are doing.... and you dont yet....

take the advise given about dress and presentation, go make the bid, make a few mistakes, and learn from them, and you are on your way.....:)

That's pretty much the only way to do it. Dive in head first. I have learned that you can't be scared to make mistakes...because it will happen and you will feel like a goofball. But that's part of it. daveintoledo has good advice. That is how you start out. Good Luck!

[crawdad]

Hand them a business card as soon as you get there, if you have any. By the way, how'd you come up with "the one and only Lawn Ranger?"
There are a bunch of them out there... There's a few right here in tennessee.
The following towns have "lawn rangers"
There are probably more, too.
Brentwood
Clarksville
Crossville
Hendersonville
memphis
lexington
bristol

[nobagger]

but to look like you know what you are doing, you need to know what you are doing.... and you dont yet....

take the advise given about dress and presentation, go make the bid, make a few mistakes, and learn from them, and you are on your way.....:)
Agreed 100% Dave, And I'm not so sure taking your equipment with you is such a good idea. For one I'm not sure what equipment you have, but if you came to my house with a crapsman 21" mower and a couple of other things I may think twice about hiring you. (first of all I guess it depends on what kind of estimate you are giving). Second, imo- that makes it seem like you are not a very busy company therefore maybe something's wrong. At any rate good luck.

[ATVracer]

Make sure you fully understand what they are wanting done. I made the mistake 2 times of quoting a weekly price to find out later that they only want service every 10 days-2 weeks. In that case I should have gave a higher quote.

[PMLAWN]

I am not one to bring equipment. First --Dress well AND bring your equipment????? Those two things do not mix-- Go home and take a shower-- Park the truck and get in your car. Crank the a/c. Look and smell good when you get there.
A person that shows up and can do the work right away has a very light schedule. WHY?? and will the customer wonder?
The customer that expects that or wants that I will wonder about.

Now if you are working at a home and someone askes to quote and cut, that is a little different. But I do not like showing up looking like I am begging for work. Just my feeling

[Ric3077]

A person that shows up and can do the work right away has a very light schedule.

I think it's the other way around...if you have time to make 2 trips out there (estimate and then cut) and you are driving around without equipment...you aren't busy enough. I want to waste as little time as possible.

[Brendan Smith]

I am not one to bring equipment. First --Dress well AND bring your equipment????? Those two things do not mix-- Go home and take a shower-- Park the truck and get in your car. Crank the a/c. Look and smell good when you get there.
A person that shows up and can do the work right away has a very light schedule. WHY?? and will the customer wonder?
The customer that expects that or wants that I will wonder about.

Now if you are working at a home and someone askes to quote and cut, that is a little different. But I do not like showing up looking like I am begging for work. Just my feeling
i agree with this to an extent. i usually schedule estimates for the end of the work day and thus have my equipment with me. i do however, have a gallon jug of water, some go-jo, change of clothes (shorts and company shirt), and deodorant in the truck. i'll give my face, hands, arms, and legs a quick wash, lather on some deodorant, and change my clothes before i go so that i look decent and don't stink. i also always keep my shirt tucked in both while working and on estimates and am clean shaven so i present the best image possible. i don't smoke or dip on initial meetings, and let the customer do most of the talking first. by asking basic questions and making observations, you can begin to develop rapport with the prospect and begin to get an idea of what they are willing/able to pay. for example - if there is crap all over the yard, instead of saying "you'll need to have this picked up" say "i see you have children, how old are they" with a big smile on your face. or if you see a boat in the yard, ask them what they like to fish for. if it's catfish, ok. if it's marlin, cha-ching :)
when you are done walking the prop with the prospect, then you can give an estimate. while doing this, MAKE SURE you say something to the effect of "i can service your property for x dollars per week. this will include mowing, edging all hard surfaces, string trimming, and blowing". word it how you like, but make sure to build value into the service. not $$ value, but perceived value such as free time, less backaches, professionally maintained appearance, etc. in fact, you should be doing this all along prior to the first mention of a dollar figure.
after it's agreeable to both parties, then say something along the lines of "if it would be possible to pick up the toys, i'd greatly appreciate it. i would hate to accidentally run over his favorite toy, because i know how my son would react" and give a little laugh at the end. (if you don't have kids, leave the last part off because you don't want a relationship predicated on falshoods).
good luck, and i hope this helps.

[THEoneandonlyLawnRanger]

First of all thank yall for replying and giving me some pointers they helped out, but i gotta tell ya i really got broken in today. First of all it was raining when i got there and second of all the grass was up to my waist in some places with about 4 cars "parked" in the back yard, the dog had gotten into the garbage can and chewed up DIAPERS all over the yard! Of all places the first thing i get thrown into is a mess like this, im not judging anyone at all, she was a very nice young lady that had a child and worked all the time, but its just kind of hard to estimate something like this, especially for my first time. I mean this would be a 20-25 minute job if it had been taken decent care of but i figure i'll be there at least an hour, anyways i gave her a bid and we'll see...........

[THEoneandonlyLawnRanger]

Hand them a business card as soon as you get there, if you have any. By the way, how'd you come up with "the one and only Lawn Ranger?"
There are a bunch of them out there... There's a few right here in tennessee.
The following towns have "lawn rangers"
There are probably more, too.
Brentwood
Clarksville
Crossville
Hendersonville
memphis
lexington
bristol

I only used theoneandonlylawnranger as my user ID on here because The Lawn Ranger was already taken, any more questions ?

[topsites]

That's pretty much the only way to do it. Dive in head first. I have learned that you can't be scared to make mistakes...because it will happen and you will feel like a goofball. But that's part of it. daveintoledo has good advice. That is how you start out. Good Luck!

No doubt, this is good advice.

As for me, it is very rare that I bring my equipment with me thou I know many Lco's who do, I take my car to give estimates because it costs a LOT of money to run the truck. Sure the car isn't free, but I don't feel as squeezed thinking about the 15 dollars it costs me per stop in the truck.

I always feel it when I'm in the truck, it's 15 dollars to go to someone's house, now I'm out of that 15 and before you know it I find myself willing to do a 40 dollar job for 30 dollars just to cover some of the cost, and I HATE THAT!

So, I take the car and it keeps me from lowballing because I already know I can't do it right now, so who cares if they say yes or no, I still have to leave with no money when my equipment isn't there and my overhead is a lot lower so this helps me.

But that's just me.

[fiveoboy01]

I am not one to bring equipment. First --Dress well AND bring your equipment????? Those two things do not mix-- Go home and take a shower-- Park the truck and get in your car. Crank the a/c. Look and smell good when you get there.
A person that shows up and can do the work right away has a very light schedule. WHY?? and will the customer wonder?
The customer that expects that or wants that I will wonder about.

Now if you are working at a home and someone askes to quote and cut, that is a little different. But I do not like showing up looking like I am begging for work. Just my feeling

Bingo. People do not want a dirtbag showing up to give them an estimate.

ANY time I do this, I make sure I am clean shaven, wear some khakis and nice shoes/shirt and a watch. I shower and put on deodorant. If you look like a stinking lawn boy, that is what the customer is going to look at you as. I wash the truck as well.

Generally, I just take my "leather" binder with me which has a pad in it to write things down. You need to have something of that sort with you. Having nothing and just doing a bunch of verbal stuff makes you look un-professional and un-prepared in my opinion.

I never have my equipment with me. And I always tell the customer I will have to see what my schedule is like before we set an agreed day for service. And that I will call them in a couple of days. Otherwise, it looks like you have a small amount of business.

[garth1967]

first one ,gee that takes me back.some good advice was given .i was so keen to get my first accounts i stuffed up big time.so dont get to keen.dont let the customer see this and dont let them dictate the terms.good luck mate:waving:

[Rcgm]

I am with you Garth I was just thinking first one that really takes me back I can recall my first estimate it was for weeding and paint a picket fence LOL I told her 50 dollars I was there 2 days LOL. Alot of good tips you guys gave out.


Take care all and enjoy your labor day OFF

[garth1967]

I am with you Garth I was just thinking first one that really takes me back I can recall my first estimate it was for weeding and paint a picket fence LOL I told her 50 dollars I was there 2 days LOL. Alot of good tips you guys gave out.


Take care all and enjoy your labor day OFF


:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: ya gotta laugh ,its learning thats for sure

[General Landscaping]

Equipment always goes on estimates.... around here you can't give them a chance to change thier minds. I'll go home a little late and have a new customer.

They never call when the grass is short:confused:

A few times, I've gotten a call just before lunch...... eat and cool off for a bit then head for the estimate for a little rest time..... get there just in time to see the back end of a trailer and a fresh cut lawn:mad:
One of two things could have happend there.....
1) Pedro's price was incredibly cheap and the customer didn't see the need to price anymore
2) The customer is one of those who want it done and doesn't BS around on price.

I'd like to at least be able to see if (2) was the case.

[crawdad]

I only used theoneandonlylawnranger as my user ID on here because The Lawn Ranger was already taken, any more questions ?
That makes sense to me now. These names were taken, LAWN RANGER or Texas lawn ranger or Lawn Ranger 13 or The Lawn Ranger or Lawn Rangers or Lake Claire Lawn Ranger or The Lawn Rangers or lawn ranger_34 or The Kiwi Lawn Ranger, so you chose theoneandonlylawnranger.
... ... I mean this would be a 20-25 minute job if it had been taken decent care of but i figure i'll be there at least an hour, anyways i gave her a bid and we'll see...........
Getting back to the estimate, what'd she say? What do you mean, we'll see? Did she say she'd have to think about it, or is she getting 4 other people to drive across town and look at her yard, to save a few bucks?

By the way, welcome to the site, neighbor. :waving:

[Tim Wright]

Is she going to clean up the messy diapers or are you?

Tim

[Poncho25]

I never unless I am called while working, bring my equipment with me, I set up most of my est during Fridays or Saturdays, My reasoning behind it is, that I want to look as professional as possible, and not desperate for work, I have a set route for the areas I work in, on specific days, so if they wanted the service it would have to be on the day that I am in that area. I have not had any issues with it as of yet, had a few ask me if I could, I would just tell them that it would throw off the route, they have all understood and appreciated knowing that their lawns needs were going to be taken care of on a specific day, not just any day during the week...

Just My .2 worth

I have shirts made up with my company logo on them, I keep 3 shirts that are collared polo's that I wear on those days i have an Est. I bring a binder with business cards. Take notes and so far I have only lost a few that I went on. In business since end of June, 27 yearly contracts.

[THEoneandonlyLawnRanger]

she said she would call me last night by 8 oclock and as of 4 oclock today i havent heard from her, it doesnt bother me i priced it at 50 dollars and i would be there a half a day tryin to get that place cleaned out, i know i priced it too low for what had to be done, aparently not low enough for her, o well her loss!...............No way would i pick up the diapers haha, she said she would

[crawdad]

That's OK, you can't get all of the jobs. Besides, that sounded like a nasty one.
All it cost you was a little time, and gas money to go look at it.
She probably got someone to do it cheap, and that's OK, too.
if you happen to drive by, let us know how it looks.

[PMLAWN]

The good thing is at 50 dollars you did NOT get it-- I believe you would have been there forever and it was crap work--
The bad news is someone bid less???:hammerhead:

[crawdad]

The good thing is at 50 dollars you did NOT get it-- I believe you would have been there forever and it was crap work--
The bad news is someone bid less???:hammerhead:

There is always someone who will do it cheaper. 40 dollars is a lot of money to someone who makes 6 bucks an hour at their "real job." Some guys will bust arse for a few hours for 40 bucks. And the scary thing is, there's probably someone who'll do it for 30.
Keep going, ranger. You'll get some work.
If you want practice estimateing, don't worry, leaf season's coming. Bid high, it's hard work. payup

[garth1967]

do i have to trow in a topsiteism here..............