How do you filter out time wasters?

[ppblaster286]

I've had a huge problem where people are not serious about hiring me or anyone. So far I've learned a few red flags:

"You're the only one who actually showed up!"
"I'm in no rush"
People who are in the house flipping business.

I've gotten to the point where I give them a ballpark and ask them if they still want me to come do a quote. I've managed to filter out a lot of people that way who have not the slightest clue what these things cost. But still I waste time and gas driving to places where they never had any intention of hiring me. So what more can i do?

I'm not overbidding and I'm good at my interpersonal interactions from prior experience in another business so it's not like I'm turning people off.

 

[sjessen]

Are these requests from referrals or leads gained through advertising? The same happened to me when I was first starting out. It seems there is a portion of the market that is always looking for "fresh meat", the newbie who is underbidding, etc. Referrals from present clients have already been screened and have a much higher closing rate.

Have had clients say "My neighbor asked for your information but I didn't give it to him. You don't want to work for that guy."

 

[OakNut]

What type of work/quotes are you talking about?

Full blown landscaping, or mowing?

 

[Valk]

Determine if what you have to offer has any major caveats...then let them know.
My caveats:
I don't bag clippings/leaves when mowing or haul anything away...which is very easy to communicate on the initial call. Voila.

 

[Mark Stark]

You can ask the client with their budget is. If they put up resistance to giving you a number you can ask them to give you a budgeted range. If they don't want to do that, they are probably just tire kickers or looking for the very lowest price.

 

[JFGLN]

You can ask the client with their budget is. If they put up resistance to giving you a number you can ask them to give you a budgeted range. If they don't want to do that, they are probably just tire kickers or looking for the very lowest price.

This seem like a good solution for install projects.

 

[ppblaster286]

These are for install projects. Many were from advertising through Google and Facebook ads. I am not underbidding at all. Right in the middle of the pack with my prices. The job sizes though are on the smaller side (under 5k vs say in the 10s of thousands). Yes I am relatively new and don't have referrals.

 

[ArTurf]

This is sort of an experience thing. There's no clear answer to your question you just learn to look for signs which I suppose are different everywhere.

One thing I look for is what part of town is it in. After a point you get to where you can read people, profiling if you will. I know it may not be socially correct but it's usually right.

 

[ppblaster286]

This is sort of an experience thing. There's no clear answer to your question you just learn to look for signs which I suppose are different everywhere.

One thing I look for is what part of town is it in. After a point you get to where you can read people, profiling if you will. I know it may not be socially correct but it's usually right.

Ya I was going to bring that up but didn't want to get banned. Unfortunately I can't really tell over email certain "groups" and really I just want to avoid driving there, spending 30 minutes talking, and 30 minutes coming up with a plan in my head and quote to send them. As much as I hate dealing with certain groups I always try to give everyone the same treatment. Not being woke here at all but it's just what I try to live by, always, even if the end result pisses me off.

 

[ArTurf]

Ya I was going to bring that up but didn't want to get banned. Unfortunately I can't really tell over email certain "groups" and really I just want to avoid driving there, spending 30 minutes talking, and 30 minutes coming up with a plan in my head and quote to send them. As much as I hate dealing with certain groups I always try to give everyone the same treatment. Not being woke here at all but it's just what I try to live by, always, even if the end result pisses me off.

It's part of doing biz, you'll get better at it with experience. After each experience ask yourself what questions could I have asked to avoid wasting time.