Estimates

[greenscaper123]

I'm taking on a new approach to giving my estimates for lawn maintenance. I attached them below. From now on every customer will receive a complete break down of my services and what they consist of. Along with that they will receive a letter outlining our full maintenance packages we offer and our billing options. With that, a business card would be paper clipped of course, and hand delivered to the customer. If nobody is home we will either leave it in the mailbox or mail it to them, giving them a call a few days later to follow up. I'm aware it's more money in paper, ink, and other supplies but I'm hoping this will increase my sign on rate as well as up selling. Thoughts?

Attached Files

	Service Sheet.doc (51.5 KB, 80 views)
	Service Estimate.pdf (480.5 KB, 60 views)

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Last edited by greenscaper123; 03-09-2013 at 08:54 AM.

[jymie]

Lawn care business tips

Have you thought about an area on the quote sheet for them to accept the agreement?

__________________


. http://www.lunchesruslawncare.com

[greenscaper123]

Originally Posted by jymie

Have you thought about an area on the quote sheet for them to accept the agreement?

I did originally have that on there but I took it off because I have all my customers sign service agreements. They are not contracts locking them into any length of service but just an agreement outlining all the services they agree to acquire and pay for. It seems redundant to have them sign twice. Plus if they change their mind and decide they don't want a particular service listed on this quote sheet, I don't have to send them another updated one for them to sign. I just include it all on the service agreement once they tell me which services they would like and send it over with the first months bill.

BTW I updated the quote sheet again..

[SECTLANDSCAPING]

I like it.

The one problem I see is no carbon copy. This is handy when writing estimates in the field.

The other the snow removal has just one price. Unless its a flat fee for the whole season it should be in depth increments.

[Mayor of Mow Town]

I find it slightly confusing.

Do you do the services listed on the quote sheet in isolation, as well as the packages?

[greenscaper123]

Originally Posted by SECTLANDSCAPING

I like it.

The one problem I see is no carbon copy. This is handy when writing estimates in the field.

The other the snow removal has just one price. Unless its a flat fee for the whole season it should be in depth increments.

yea I haven't figured out yet how to write the price for snow removal yet.. maybe have a little note section below where I can write for how many inches, not sure. any ideas?

what I've been doing about the copy for myself though is I walk around the property with a sales order book and write down all the prices they requested.. I might include some other stuff if they're open to just seeing a price. i'll always knock on the door first just to see. then I go back to my truck and fill out that service sheet and hand everything to them paper clipped together. so that way I have all my estimates in the carbon copy book and they get the professional looking estimate.

[greenscaper123]

Originally Posted by Mayor of Mow Town

I find it slightly confusing.

Do you do the services listed on the quote sheet in isolation, as well as the packages?

just out of curiosity, how do you find it confusing? i'm looking for perspective. the services listed are a complete list of all the maintenance services I offer. if they request lawn maintenance, mulch and fertilizer, then that's what I'll quote them for. I leave the other stuff blank. i'll usually write down other stuff they didn't request, so if they call me back and say "umm how much for mulch" well now I have it ready in my hand and I can just give that price over the phone.

the sheet that explains the packages is something they can look over and decide later on. for example, if they want a spring/fall cleanup, lawn maintenance, regular weeding and fertilizer. i will fill that quote sheet out for those services. then, after I give them everything they might read that paper later on describing the packages and realize it makes sense to just do the standard package.

i find it's easier than trying to sell this every time i meet a customer. it's like they don't want the sales pitch, I might explain but they don't fully understand. this gives them something in writing that they can sit down and look at carefully after i leave. sometimes it goes in one ear and out the other. i'll briefly describe what's on that paper when i give it to them, but if they want to look it over along with the pre-pay discounts I offer, well then they might decide they want to do that too.

[aduttonater]

So your going to flier the area with a customer service agreement. I think the first step would be to flier the area with a flier. Then when they call you, you can meet with them and outline your service and have them sign the customer agreement form in person.

[greenscaper123]

Originally Posted by aduttonater

So your going to flier the area with a customer service agreement. I think the first step would be to flier the area with a flier. Then when they call you, you can meet with them and outline your service and have them sign the customer agreement form in person.

no... we're talking about ESTIMATES. those things you go on after someone responds to to your flyer...????

[Steve]

Ok you are changing your process for a reason. What is that reason?

i find it's easier than trying to sell this every time i meet a customer. it's like they don't want the sales pitch, I might explain but they don't fully understand. this gives them something in writing that they can sit down and look at carefully after i leave. sometimes it goes in one ear and out the other.

Can you give us an example of what the customer may not be getting in your sales process?