I finally stopped sending estimates before meeting clients in person

I used to fire off a PDF quote right after a phone call, thinking it saved time. Then I lost three $2,000+ projects in one month because they ghosted me after seeing the number. Now I schedule a 15 minute coffee or zoom first - has anyone else found that face time seriously cuts down on price pushback?

3 comments

3 Comments

thomas.river17d ago

You're doing estimates before meeting them? I always thought you were supposed to meet first, then give a number. Like if you're a painter or a contractor, you can't really price a job right without seeing the space in person anyway. Photos and phone calls miss a lot. How do you know what you're dealing with if you haven't looked at the actual walls or the weird corner they want painted? That seems like the bigger problem here than the price pushback.

garcia.cameron17d ago

Why bring measuring tape if you're just gonna guess from a photo?

wade_anderson17d ago

You need to walk through the house first. Every time. Photos hide bad drywall, weird angles, and hidden damage. I learned that lesson the hard way when I bid a fence job based on a picture. Showed up and the ground was pure rock and slope. Took twice as long. Just bring a tape and a notepad. Write down every weird detail you see. That way when they push back on price you can point to the crack in the foundation or the crooked window frame. Makes the conversation a lot easier.