FIRST CUSTOMER...how many said NO!

[XOFMOT]

Just a "WONDERING" type of question..........

When all of you first started out....you got that first phone call from all your flyers and such...a little ol' lady would like for you to cut her yard.....you go to take a look at it.....


AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH a rundown old house that hasn't been mowed in weeks, yard full of debris and so on.....not the type of property you were expecting to be your FIRST customer...did you pass it up or cut it?

THAT HAPPEND TO ME TODAY!

[Lawn-Scapes]

Cut it....

But charge accordingly! She may know a lot of other little ol' ladies... Plus, someone may see what a great job you did shaping up the place...

Kinda sucks tho...

How did she get the flier? If you put it there... your fault.

[XOFMOT]

TSG,

I just started running an ad in the "AT YOUR SERVICE" section of my local paper...thats where she got it!

[Lawn-Scapes]

Tom,

You're gonna get that from an ad... What did you do...say no?

[XOFMOT]

I told her that I will stop by tomorow evening to look it over...but I did a "DRIVE BY" tonight.

So I didn;t say yes or no reguarding cutting her property.

[lawnboy82]

i had gone to a house, where the landscaping was run down, house itself is worth about a million dollars. however if the house is in a good area, and you do a good job, people will notice. if you are in an undesirable area, then i would just say to pass on it.

[geogunn]

basically you ask if we have ever turned down work when we were new to the biz and had little work.

the answer for me is NO. but I did price a few out of reason so that if I got them they'd be worth it.

GEO

[syzer]

Yeah I'm with Geo, the undesirables I would price so if we did get them they were worth the while.

[Lawn DOG]

Starting out there is not much that I wouldn't do. My answer to your question is "no" was not in my vocabulary when I started. I am happy to report that "NO" is a word I use alot now.:D

[Calvin]

TSG is right she may know alot of other old ladies. One run down place I cut the first year ended up getting me over 30 accounts because the old lady was part of some church group. I would even give her a deal if she's your first customer, that will increase the chance she'll tell all her friends. You can allways dump her or jack the price next year when business picks up.

[Just Turned Pro]

Off the subject...... but I just got your screen name Tom. Duh, I have been looking at that for a month trying to figure out what the heck a xofmot was....

[Eric ELM]

Duh, I just got it too. :)

Very clever Tom ;)

[HOMER]

Ahhhhhhh shucks..................I been knowing what that meant!:rolleyes:

Not.

No was not in my vocabulary either....................I wish now it had been in there more. You need to decide early on what path you want to take. If your hungry follow the one that has food at the other end...............if your alright for now I would suggest you be a picker and a chooser from the get go. In a previous thread somewhere in the cyber filing cabinet I wrote that I was still paying for some of those early "accidents" if you will. You have more information at your disposal now than most of us ever thought about having................you need to ask yourself ...............................well.....................I guess you already did didn't you. If your asking then you really don't want to fool with it.......................so don't. Leave the trash lots to those that are following the can of soup, go after the steak dinner!

Nuff said.

[LAWNGODFATHER]

Originally posted by Lawn DOG
Starting out there is not much that I wouldn't do. My answer to your question is "no" was not in my vocabulary when I started. I am happy to report that "NO" is a word I use alot now.:D


yes I was like that but I always have to remember word of mouth ad. is free and I just price acordingly now and let the cust say no

and what other people see will help also

[65hoss]

If you can make it look really good, the neighbors will notice you. If you don't want to deal with it, then say no. But if you have time, go for it if the price is really really right.

[jmartmel]

I find that the type of calls you get have a direct relation to your (newspaper ad, flyer) Have one that is well worded, designed, professional, ect, you will recieve good paying accounts. Have ones that looks like a cartoon and you will get the less then great accounts.

[jmartmel]

I forgot to add that I would take it and be grateful for it. Seeing that it would be your first account, what better way to start your first account then on a lawn that looks like the owner will be happy if you just run over it every which way. Unless you feel you have much much more experience for an account like that and feel that your a pro already. I know i jumped at my first account and was happy to have it!!!

[MATTHEW]

The way I did flyers was to go door to door. I simply passed up the ones I did not want to do.I think I remember someone watching me pass by and stopped me. I can't remember what I told him, but I might have told him I was just a Jehova's witness.

[ron]

Just say YES and charge what you think would take you to do the job plus labor like maybe $35.00 per hour labor and $40.00 to cut the yard.........then do it and forget about it......

[Lawn-Scapes]

It's tomorrow...

What did you say or do?

[XOFMOT]

Yep, I'm going to do it!------Spoke with the homeowner and she accepted my estimate. (I over estimated about $10.00 and she went for it anyway:cool: . It also sounds like this will become a regular account after this first mowing (I told her not to decide until she see's the "FINISHED" look of her property.).

It's in a decent neighborhood, and I think I could stir up some more business in that area as well.

Other than that......Thing are going quite well for me, Been getting some phone calls about different "PROPERTY" needs from brush removal to hedge's to be trimmed...have about 3 estimates to perform this saturday!!!! Thanks again all for all your help and advice!

[Lawn-Scapes]

Glad to hear it! Make sure you smile the whole time you're there and wave to any passers-by... :)

Try to give your estimates ASAP. Don't leave any potential customers time to receive other estimates...

[jay]

Do it and sell her on improving her lawn. It can turn out to be a good job if shes willing to pay for you to improve it. If she is and shes happy with your work she'll spread the news around.